292 PETRIFIED FORESTS OF ARIZONA. 



This "wood agate" or "wood opal" is now cut and polished into floor tiling, man- 

 tels, clock cases, table tops, paper weights, etc. The silver testimonial to the French 

 sculptor Bartholdi, made by Tiffany & Co., had for its base a section of this wood 



Prof. Lester F. Ward, an eminent paleobotanist, who, while officially attached to 

 the staff of the United Stales Geological Survey, also holds the position of associate 

 curator in the National Museum, expects to visit the Pacific coast this summer, and 

 may return by the southern route. He tells me that if you so desire he would be 

 pleased to visit the region in question for the special purpose of procuring further 

 information regarding the features covered by your inquiry. 



In conclusion I would say that all with whom I have consulted are agreed that the 

 "Petrified Forest," or "Chalcedony Park," of Apache County, Arizona, should be 

 preserved as a public park for the benefit of the American people. In no other area 

 is there such a profusion of highly colored stone trees. Fossil wood is scattered over 

 a very great area of Arizona, but the densest portion and chief place of interest is 

 "Chalcedony Park," an area of less than 5 miles square. This region is about 20 

 miles south of Carrizo station. 

 A list of papers relating to the Arizona forest trees is appended. 

 Very respectfully, 



Richard Rathbun, 



Acting Secretary. 

 Hon. BiNGER Hermann, 



Commissioner General Land Office, 



Department of the Interior, 



Washington, D. C. 



Growing out of the paragraph containing my offer to visit the 

 locality, and a personal call at the General Land Office, the Hon, W. A. 

 Richards, assistant commissioner, in the absence of the Commissioner, 

 wrote me as follows: 



Department of the Interior, General Land Office, 



Washington, D. C, August 19, 1899. 

 Dear Sir: As requested by you yesterday, I have written a letter to Hon. Charles 

 D. Walcott, Director of the Geological Survey, requesting that you be instructed to 

 visit the "Petrified Forests" of Arizona, in order that you may make report as to the 

 advisability of setting that locality apart as a national park. 



I also have had prepared a copy of the memorial of the Arizona legislature relating 

 to the subject, which I inclose herewith. 

 Very truly, yours, 



W. A. Richards. 

 Prof. Lester F. Ward, 



Paleontologist, Geological Survey. 



Owing to your absence in Canada and my departure for the Pacific 

 coast, where I remained during September and October, 1 did not 

 receive your instructions, above quoted, until the middle of October. 

 At about the same time I received the following letter from the secre- 

 tary of the Smithsonian Institution: 



Smithsonian Institution, 



Washington, October 13, 1899. 

 The Smithsonian Institution takes pleasure in introducing to its friends Prof. Lester 

 F. Ward, Paleontologist of the United States Geological Survey, and associate curator 



