cart wheels? They are cross-sections of stone logs,
some large and some small, seemingly thrown together carelessly. It is a
characteristic of petrified trunks to break into cross-sections or
blocks, varying from a few inches to several feet in length; and this
tendency prevails here.

We are told that the trees of this forest antedate those of the
Yellowstone Park by a long period of time. How the loftiest flights of
the imagination are piqued as we contemplate the marvellous changes
since this primeval forest depended on the soil and sun for their
life-giving elements! As we wander through this wonderful forest our
feet seem to be treading on the rarest gems. And well may it seem so,
because when polished these pieces display a beauty of coloring and a
lustre that rivals the glint of precious stones. There is no other
petrified forest in the world in which the mineralized wood assumes so
many varied and interesting forms and colors.

Many years ago a firm at Sioux Falls undertook to manufacture table
tops, mantels, pedestals, and various decorative articles out of
sections of this agatized wood by cutting them into the desired forms
and polishing them. Tiffany and Company, the famous jewellers, also used
this material for the base of the beautiful silver testimonial presented
to the French sculptor, Bartholdi.

At a later date, an abrasive company of Denver conceived the plan of
grinding up these trunks to make emery because of their extreme
hardness; in fact, a plant was shipped to Adamana station for that
purpose. Fortunately for the public, however, it was not put into
operation because the company learned that a Canadian firm had put on
the market an article at such a reduced price that to grind up these
beautiful logs would be unprofitable.

Fragments, branches, and trunks of all sorts and sizes are found lying
around, many of them richly colored, forming chalcedony, opal, and
agate; some approach the condition of jasper and onyx.

Before the Petrified Forest was set aside as a national park by
Congress, many acts of vandalism were committed, to say nothing about
the quantities of mineral carried away by manufacturing firms and
curiosity-hunters. Keepers now have charge of the park, and no one is
permitted to take away specimens for commercial use. Previously many of
the finest logs were destroyed by blasting in order to procure the
beautiful crystals which are found in the centre of many of them.

One obj