THE FORESTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 577 



The forests of Wasco county, on the western slope of the Cascade, range, when above 3,000 feet elevation 

 are important. The most valuable trees are the red fir, the yellow pine, and the larch. The eastern part of the 

 county is covered with a light growth of pine, principally yellow pine. 



The slopes of the Blue mountains iu Umatilla and Union counties are covered with an open, stunted forest, 

 consisting of red iir, yellow pine, larch, and, above 4,000 feet elevation, a heavier continuous growth of lodge-pole 

 pine (I'hntN Mnrrut/aiia). 



Lake county is destitute of timber except on the eastern slope of the Cascade mountains and the southern 

 part of the county, which contain a light forest growth confined to the high ridges of the mountains, and 

 principally composed of yellow pine. 



Grant and Baker counties are treeless except in the northern part, where the Blue mountains are covered with 

 a light, open growth composed chiefly of yellow pine, with some larch and scrub pine. 



The forests of Oregon have sull'ered serious losses from forest fires. Along the Coast Itangc, from the 

 Columbia river to Port Orford and through the entire length of the Cascade mountains, fires have raged nearly 

 every summer since the first settlement of the state, destroying thousands of acres of noble fir, spruce, and cedar. 

 Forests similar in composition to those destroyed soon spring up again and cover the burned surface, but the loss 

 iu material which the state has snUercd in this way is incalculable. 



Forest fires are increasing in frequency, especially west of the summit of the Cascade mountains. During the 

 census year, however, only 132,320 acres of woodland were reported destroyed by lire, with an estimated loss of 

 $593,850. These (ires were set by hunters, Indians, and by farmers clearing land. 



The abundant spruce, cedar, cottonwood, ash, maple, and alder of western Oregon have developed flourishing 

 industries. At Portland large quantities of ash, maple, and aider are manufactured into furniture, and cottonwood, 

 spruce, and cedar supply numerous establishments engaged in the production of cooperage stock and all kinds of 

 wooden ware. The supply of this material is large and of excellent quality. 



The principal centers of the lumber-manufacturing interests are at Portland, where fir, spruce, cottonwood, and 

 hard woods are sawed for the local market, and at Empire City and Marshfleld upon Coos bay. Port Orford cedar 

 and red-fir lumber arc manufactured here, and shipped by schooner to Portland, San Francisco, and Mexican and 

 South American Pacilic ports. The first mill was established upon Coos bay, at North Bend, 4 miles above Empire 

 City, in 1853; other mills were soon built, and in 1854 the first shipment of Port Orford cedar was made to San 

 Francisco. Great quantities of this timber have been cut, while fires have destroyed even more than the ax. The tire 

 which rageu through the forests of Coos bay for three months in the summer of 1807 destroyed cedar estimated to 

 amount to between 200,000,000 and 300,000,000 feet of lumber. This tree, however, reproduces itself very rapidly, 

 and after the forest has been burned over it is the first arborescent species to reappear, springing up generally in 

 the third year. 



The heaviest continuous body of Port. Orford cedar now standing is on cape Gregory, extending south to and 

 beyond the mouth of the Coquille river. It is about 20 miles long by an average width of 12 miles, and lies along 

 the western slope of the foot-hills of the Coast Eange, extending to within 3 miles of the coast. In this forest two- 

 thirds of the trees are Port Orford cedar, the others tide-land spruce and a lew red firs. There is great danger, 

 however, that the Port Orford cedar, one of the most valuable trees of the American forest, will soon be exterminated 

 as a source of lumber supply, so far as this generation is concerned. 



The following notes upon the forests of Wasco, Umatilla, Union, Grant, and Baker counties, the only portion 

 of the state visited by Mr. Watson, are extracted from his report: 



"WASCO COUNT? (17,700 square miles). The timber of this county is confined almost wholly to the steep 

 eastern slopes of the Cascade range; the low spurs of the Blue mountains, which enter the county on the east, 

 bordering John Day's river and southward, being only partially supplied with pines, etc. I know nothing about 

 Walker's range, and the Paulina mountains in the southwest, but they are probably low, with little or no wood. 

 The trees of the Cascades are doubtless nearly the same as those to the north of the Columbia, the larch reaching 

 to the headwaters of the Deschutes river, the most southern locality for it that I have seen mentioned. 



"The total more or less wooded area may be estimated at from 2,500 to 3,000 square miles. 



"UMATILLA COUNTY (6,100 square miles). The Blue mountains occupy the southern and eastern borders of 

 this county, and are the only source of timber. They are for the most part well wooded, especially in the ravines, 

 the trees growing to a fair size, and consisting of yellow and scrub pine, spruce and balsam (Abies sulalpina and 

 A. grandis). 



"The wooded area is about 1,500 square miles. 



" UNION COUNTY (4,300 square miles). This county has the main range of the Blue mountains on the west 

 and north and the Cedar mountains on the east, separated by the valleys of the Grande Koiide and Wallowa 

 rivers. A large portion of these mountains is well timbered, the amount decreasing toward the cast. 



" The wooded area may be estimated at about 2,000 square miles. 



"GiiANT COUNTY NORTH OP LATITUDE 44 (5,800 square miles). This portion of the county is traversed by 

 the valley of John Day's river, to the north and east of which lie the main ranges of the Bine mountains, which 

 are to a considerable extent well wooded. The mountains to the south are low and probably scantily timbered. 

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