536 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 
a little south of east of this post, and vary in width from fifteen to forty miles. To 
the west and south of the post the hills are destitute of trees of any magnitude. On 
the western slope of these hills occasional pineries are found in some sheltered localities. 
With the exception of the pine no timber is found available for any purpose except 
fuel and fencing. The hard-wood trees are almost invariably hollow. 
The post is situated in a large valley of the Verde River at an elevation, barometri- 
cally ascertained, of 3,500 feet. 
The average yearly rainfall is 8.97 inches. 
The country for sixty miles to the north and nortawest, for ten miles direct west, 
and for fifty miles east, is drained by the Verde River, whose principal tributaries 
before reaching this post are Hell Cation, Oak Creek, and Beaver Creek. Four miles 
below the post and to the southeast Clear Creek runs into the Verde River. All these 
streams drain the southwestern slope of the Mogollon Mountains, become very low in 
the dry season, and are liable to sudden and heavy floods in rainy seasons, and when 
the snow melts in the spring. The general direction of the Verde River through the 
valley in which the post is situate, that is for about thirty-five or forty miles, is from 
northwest to southeast. 
CALIFORNIA. 
CAMP GASTON. 
Is situated in Hoopa Valley, Humboldt County, California. Latitude, 41° 5’ north; 
longitude, 123° 15’ west. Elevation, 397 feet. The country surrounding the post for 
eighty to one hundred miles (and how much farther is not known) is very rough and 
mountainous, and a large portion of it very heavily timbered, consisting of black and 
live oak, pines, yellow spruce, and fir, cedar, redwood, maple, madrona, &c. The 
lines of drainage are Mad River, Eel River, Redwood Creek, Trinity, Klamath, and 
Salmon Rivers. The general direction is northwest, and empty into the Pacific Ocean. 
Rainfall from April 1, 1877, to April 1, 1878, 69.41 inches. 
CAMP BIDWELL. 
Latitude, 41° 51’ 34”; longitude, 120° 5/59”, Elevation above sea-level, 4,680 feet. 
The commanding officer reports that the extent of timber is limited, being confined 
to the mountains (Warner) on the west side of Surprise Valley, between it and Goose 
Lake, a distance of about fifteen miles, half of which distance probably has timber, 
and extending in direction of the mountains fifteen or twenty miles. 
The drainage on this side is by small creeks which empty into a lake in Surprise 
Valley without an outlet. The timber is principally white pine and grows from one 
to three and a half feet in diameter at bottom, making quite excellent lumber. ‘These 
trees generally grow at some distance apart and are straight, clear, and tall. Added 
to the white pine, cedar (red and white), mountain mahogany, and cottonwood (along 
the creeks) are found in limited quantities. The timber seems to have been cut away 
considerably and does not appear to be renewing to any extent. The average eleva- 
tion at which the pine grows is about 5,200 feet, the others somewhat lower. Aver- 
age rainfall about 17 inches. 
NEVADA. 
WDERMITT CAMP. 
Latitude, 41° 58’ 3” north; longitude, 117° 45’ west. The commanding officerreports 
post at an altitude of 4,700 feet. Average rainfall since 1871 (per observations), 7.14 
inches. No forests in vicinity, even fuel being obtained thirty miles away. Few 
sinall cottonwoods on the banks of Guinn’s River. 
OREGON. 
HARNEY CAMP. 
Latitude, 43° 30/ north; longitude, 118° 30’ west. The only timberin vicinity of post 
is that covering the Blue Mountains, and consists of pine, fir, and tamarack, which are 
found in great abundance in sound and healthy condition making excellent Inmber. 
A belt of timber extends north to the Snake River, is two hundred miles in length and 
seventy-five in width. Average elevation (by barometer) 6,500 feet. Direction of 
ere ae lines north to branches of the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Average rainfall 
.69 inches. 
