Old Missoula

Biggest Pine

Tree 1,100 Years Old Makes 10,700 Ft. Lumber.

The largest western yellow pine tree to be felled in this part of the country, according to available records, was cut during the week by the Polleys Lumber company a short distance east of Evaro, it is reported by Ray N. Shannon, an officer of the company.

The tree was 1,100 years old, he reports, and was 150 feet in height. The diameter on the stump was 63 inches and the tree scaled 10,700 board feet. This tree will cut enough lumber to build three good-sized five-room houses, Mr. Shannon says. It was measured and scaled by the Indian forest service scaler.

Not only is this the largest tree recorded in western Montana, but it also is the oldest, says R. H. Weidman, silviculturist in charge of the Priest River experiment station of the forest service. It also establishes a record for height, according to Mr. Weidman, who has had many years’ experience in western Montana forests. The highest heretofore reported measured about 130 feet, it was said.

When this tree began its growth, Egbert was king of England and nearly 100 years were to elapse before King John was forced to sign the Magna Charta. This tree was a seedling when Leif Ericson, in the year 1000, first set foot on the shores of America, and when Columbus set forth on his voyage in 1492, the pine was large enough to be cut for lumber.

While the war of the Revolution was in progress, this tree continued to add to its stature, and when Lincoln freed the slaves it towered above its neighbors. Montana was settled, Missoula became a city, and at last the giant of the forest fell before the saw and axe of the lumberman to be made into boards to add dwellings to the city.

Other large trees, felled in forests of district No. 1 of the forest service as shown in the records of Assistant Director Elers Koch, include a yellow pine cut in 1908 on Lick creek, in the Bitter Root forest which scaled 10,200 board feet; an Idaho white pine felled in the St. Joe forest which measured 84 inches in diameter at the stump, and a cedar tree cut in the Coeur d’Alene forest measuring nine feet in diameter about four feet above the ground.

The above article appeared in The Daily Missoulian on December 13, 1925.

https://www.newspapers.com/image/348904443

 

A Bigger Tree than the one described above was reported within one week. It was cut near Plains, Mt.

Record Yellow Pine Is Cut By Plains Loggers

Monster Tree Scales 11,010 Feet, Says Owner

The record yellow pine tree cut last week by the Polley’s Lumber company has been eclipsed by one felled near Plains by John Miller, it is reported by John Helterline, on whose property the tree was located. This monster averaged 67 inches in diameter on the stump exclusive of the bark and was 158 feet in height. Its greatest diameter was 71 inches, Mr. Helterline says, and the total scale was 13,310 board feet, of which 2,300 feet were docked for breaks, leaving a net scale of 11,010 feet.

This exceeded the Polleys tree by 310 board feet, as the lumber company’s giant scaled 10,700 feet and was 150 feet in height. Its diameter was 63 inches.

The age of the tree at Plains was not stated, whereas the Polleys tree was 1,100 years old, as the count of the annual rings disclosed.

The average yellow pine tree in western Montana scales about 500 board feet, according to Elers Koch, assistant district forester. The size of these two record trees may be appreciated when it is seen that they are more than equal to 20 ordinary trees.

The above article appeared in The Daily Missoulian on December 17, 1925.

https://www.newspapers.com/image/348905921

 

The Yellow Pine trees above were likely what are known today as Ponderosa Pines. This tree has had several names, including Bull Pine and Black Pine. It is the Montana State tree, since 1949, when it was designated so.

https://statesymbolsusa.org/symbol-official-item/montana/state-tree/ponderosa-pine