FORESTRY. . 547 
FORT CRAIG. 
WILLIAM J. WILSON, assistant surgeon, U. 8S. A., makes the follow- 
ing report: 
There are no forests in the immediate vicinity of this post. The country is arid, 
and but very little rain falls, supporting only a scanty vegetation. The only excep- 
tion is along the river bottoms and in the high mountains. 
On the banks of the Rio Grande cottonwood: trees grow to a respectable size; the 
other natural growth consists of willows and mesquite bushes. The latter have im- 
mense roots, hich are largely used for fuel. The cottonwood grows very rapidly; it 
will not make lumber, but is a beautiful shade tree, and answers most of the require- 
ments in building and fencing. 
The exact area of forest in this country I have no means to determine. In the foot- 
hills and mountains grow trees of good size, especially scrub oak, cedar, pine, spruce, 
ash, walnut, and piion. The garrison of the post is supplied with scrub oak for fuel 
which is obtained in the mountains about forty miles from the post. The wood is cud 
down mercilessly, and nothing whatever is done to keep up forests. The contractors 
have to go farther out in the mountains every year to get their supply of fuel. Pine 
timber in dimensions fit for building purposes (scantling, &c.), is to be obtained of 
ood quality in some of the mouptains, and there is one saw-mill in operation about 
orty miles from here. ‘ 
e altitude of this post, as determined by Lieutenant Fillman barometrically a 
few years ago, is 4,619 feet. See annual report upon the geographical survey west of 
the 100th meridian in New Mexico, Arizona, &c., by G. M. Wheeler, first lieutenant of 
Engineers, U. 8. A., page 13. No barometer is at my disposal. Formerly it was cal- 
culated at 4,576 feet, and was so carried on for many years in the meteorological reg- 
ister. 
In the Rio Grande and the arroyos leading to it (tributaries which are always dry 
except immediately after heavy rains) drain the post and its neighborhood. 
The rainfall for 1870 amounted to 9.14 inches; 1871, observations incomplete ; 1872, 
amounted to 7.12 inches; 1873, amounted to 5.85 inches; 1874, amounted to 9.08 
inches; 1875, amounted to 13.31 inches; 1876, amounted to 11.68 inckes; which gives 
9.35 inches as yearly average of rain. The average amount of the annual fall of rain 
west of the Mississippi River is 24 inches. Most of the rain, about 75 per cent., falls 
within the months of July and August, sometimes also in September. 
The general want of forests in this country has a deteriorating influence on the cli- 
mate. Extremes intemperature within twenty-four hours, stifling sand-storms cover- 
ing everything with dust, and which sweeps over the country without any obstacles, 
uneven distribution of rain during the different seasons and its very limited amount 
during the year, are some of the effects of the wanton destruction of trees and forests, 
wherever found, which has been going on in this country for ages unobstructed. 
FORT BAYARD. 
Captain OscaR HAGEN, Ninth Cavalry, reports: 
Fort Bayard is inclosed on the north, east, and west by mountains een a great 
distance in the three directions, but the south is open, over irregular, rolling, and 
rising grovnd. Pine, cedar, and scrub oak are found in quantities on the surrounding 
hills and mountains. M[eavy timber for building purposes is plenty about twenty or 
twenty-five miles from the post, in the Miembres Mountains and along the Rio Gila, 
especially pine and heavy oak. 
There is no timber on either side bordering upon the plains, except cedar and scrub 
oak. The lines and drainage trend generally north and south. ‘The elevation is 5,322 
feet, ascertained barometrically. The rainfall at this post has never been ascertained. 
Except during the rainy season, which lasts from about the end of June until the mid- 
dle of September, there is very little rainfall. 
During the rainy season there is rainfall nearly every day, sometimes torrents. The 
post is supplied with water from a constant spring, lined with a wooden casing, from 
which the water is conducted through wooden pipes, a distance of about 450 yards, to 
a tank, where the water passes through a filter of charcoal, and thence is delivered by 
water-wagons to the quarters of the post. The Rio Miembres and the Rio Gila are, 
respectively, 19 and 33 miles distant from the post. The country around is but little 
suited for agriculture, as the climate is so dry that vegetables and cereals can be raised 
only by irrigation, and the springs and streams available for this purpose are far dis- 
tant from each other. It is much better suited for stock-raising, as the grass is in good 
quantity and nutritious for animals, and there is an immense range for cattle around 
and in the immediate vicinity of the water. 
