11 



been carried far euougii to give us solutions to all the problems con- 

 frontiug the stockman, but it has been sufficient to reveal pretty clearly 

 the causes that have led up to the preseut exhausted condition of the 

 range. It shows that the past methods of handling the range have 

 been shortsighted, and that while these practices are being in a meas- 

 ure corrected by the natural course of events, it is imperative that steps 

 should be taken to restore and preserve tlie productiveness of the native 

 meadow and pasture lands before the destruction has g'one too far. 

 The improvement in the native forage noticeable in some localities dur- 

 ing the past one or two seasons is likely to be but temporary, as already 

 stockmen in these localities are trying to increase their herds, and the 

 lands will soon be overstocked again. 



The investigation has also resulted in a large amount of valuable 

 data regarding the native grasses and forage plants, the wealth of spe- 

 cies found in the region, their value in the natural condition, and their 

 possibilities under cultivation. There can scarcely be any doubt that 

 vsome of these native forms will ultimately become as valuable for 

 general cultivation as many of the so-called " tame " sorts. 



GENERAL TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES OF THE REGION. 



The topograi^hical features of the three States comprising the greater 

 part of the Eastern Eocky Mountain region are, in umny respects, very 

 similar. The continental divide, which traverses Montana about LOO 

 miles east of the western boundary and nearly parallel with it, enters 

 Wyoming a little to the southward of the northwestern corner of that 

 State and continues its general trend to the southeast until it reaches 

 central Colorado, where it turns rather abruptly "to the southwest. 

 Approxiuiately fivo-sixths of Montana, three-fourths of Wyoming, and 

 two-thirds of Colorado lie east of this divide. While in each State the 

 greater part of the mountain area is found in the immediate vicinity of 

 this divide, numerous outlying ranges occur which exert a great influ- 

 ence, not only upon the physical character of the country, but also 

 upon the climatic conditions, particularlj^ in the distribution of the 

 moisture; as, for example, the Big and Little Belt Mountains, Snow 

 Mountains, Bears Paw ]\Iountains in Montana, Shoshone Mountains, 

 Big Horn Mountains, Bear Lodge Mountains, and Laramie Mountains, 

 in Wyoming, and the Sangre de Cristo and other ranges in Colorado. 



In most cases the mountains along the main divide are rugged, with 

 precipitous sides, more or less thickly covered with timber, which is 

 chiefly evergreen, or coniferous. Sometimes the forest covering is so 

 heavy that the growth of grasses is very limited, but usually there are 

 numerous "parks" or "opens," in which flourish certain grasses and 

 other forage plants. The slopes of the mountain ranges are cut up by 

 numerous gulches and canyons, through which flow streams of water, 

 fed largely by the melting snows on the mountain tops. The valleys 

 of these streams widen out here and there into grass-covered areas of 



