THE F0RP:STS of the united states. 567 



and border it on the south are either treeless or only supi)ort a few stunted yellow pines or firs widely scattered or 

 forming small, isolated patches of open forest upon the highest slopes of the most sheltered ravines. The most 

 important forests of the territory are those in the northeastern corner covering the western extension of the Black 

 hills of Dakota, those upon the foot-hills and slopes of the caiions of the Big Horn mountains, and the dense 

 forests of small lodge-pole pine {Pinus Ihirrayana) which occupy all the northwestern ijortion of the territory 

 studded bj' the system of mountains surrounding the Yellowstone park. 



The most valuable timber of the Big Horn mountains consists of yellow pine {Pinus ponderosa), attaining on the 

 foot-hills sufficienlrize to furnish saw-logs. Probably one-third of this timber on the east side of the mountains 

 has already been cut to supply mills located upon the streams from Crazy Woman creek to Tongue river. The 

 table-land on both sides of the range between the crests of the foot-hills and the base of the Snow range is covered 

 with a belt, from 8 to 10 miles in width, of small white fir (Abies subalpina). The trees are small, rarely exceeding 8 

 or 10 inches in diameter. They afford, however, useful material for fuel and fence and telegraph poles. This forest 

 has suffered seriously from wind storms and fire. A heavy growth of cottonwood, with which is mingled a little 

 green ash, occupies the banks of all the streams of the Big Horn region, with the exception of No- Wood creek, 

 flowing from the western flank. 



The forests of the Yellowstone region, composed for the most part of small lodge-pole pine, are confined to the 

 mountain slopes and high valleys, at an elevation of between 5,000 and 10,000 feet. These forests are capable of 

 supplying great quantities of fuel and fencing material. They contain, however, little timber suitable to manufacture 

 into lumber. 



The forests of all this arid central region suffer seriously from fire. These increase with the settlement of the 

 country and inflict great damage upon the forest. In northwestern Wyoming, however, the forests of lodge-pole pine 

 {Pintis Murrayana) destroyed by fire reproduce themselves, and the area occupied by this species in all the Eocky 

 Mountain region is increasing. This is due no doubt to the fact that fire does not destroy the seeds of this species, 

 protected in the cones, which remain closed upon the trees for years. The heat of the fire causes the cones to open 

 and shed their seeds upon the burned surface of the soil, where they germinate quickly and freely. 



During the census year 83,780 acres of woodland were reported destroyed by fire, with an estimated loss of 

 $3,255,000. These fires were set by Indians, trappers, and prospectors. 



A little lumber, in addition to that manufactured in the Big Horn region, of which no returns have been 

 received, is sawed in the Medicine Bow and other ranges in the southern part of the territory. A large amount of 

 fire- wood and many railroad ties are cut in the southern mountains and delivered by chutes along the line of the 

 Union Pacific railroad. 



COLORADO. 



The forests of Colorado are confined to the mountain ran ges and high valleys which cover the western half of the 

 state ; the elevated, rolling plateau which extends from the eastern base of the mountains to the eastern boundary 

 of the state is entirely destitute of tree growth, with the exception of an occasional stunted willow or cottonwood 

 found in the bottom lands of the large streams. The important forests of the state cover the mountain slopes 

 between 10,000 and 12,500 feet elevation, and are almost exclusively composed of spruce {Picea Ungelmanni), with, 

 which are mingled diff'erent alpine pines of little economic value. Below the spruce belt a more open forest of red 

 fir and yellow i)ine, occupying ravines or scattered over the ridges, extends down to the foot-hills. These are 

 covered with an open growth in which the nut pine and the western juniper are the prevailing trees, while the 

 borders of streams and bottoms of the canons are occupied by cottonwoods, willows, cherries, oaks, and other 

 deciduous trees and shrubs of little economic importance. Large areas upon the sides of the high Colorado 

 mountains are exclusively covered with a dense growth of the quaking aspen. This tree very generally takes 

 possession here of ground from which the coniferous forest has been removed by fire, and, as the number of forest 

 fires is rapidly increasing in Colorado, it seems destined i:o become the only widely-distributed forest tree of this 

 region. The high valleys, or "parks" as they are here locally called, when timbered at all, are covered with a dense 

 forest growth in which the lodge pole pine (Pinus Murrayana), also common at high elevations in the spruce forests, 

 is the prevailing and often the only species, disputing with the aspen the possession of the burned soil. The high 

 plateau of southwestern Colorado is either treeless or is thinly covered with an open growth of small, stunted 

 junipers. 



The increase in the number of forest fires raging in the taountains of Colorado is alarming in a region where 

 the forest once destroyed cannot easily reproduce itself, and upon mountains where forest covering is necessary to 

 preserve the integrity of the channels and the constant flow of numerous important streams essential to the 

 irrigation of wide areas of arid territory. 



During the census year 113,820 acres of forest were reported destroyed by fire, with an estimated loss of 

 $9.35,500. These fires were set by careless hunters, miners, and i)rospector8, and bj' Indians or whites through malice. 



The forests of the Colorado foot-hills atFord abundant fuel and fencing material to supply the wants of the 

 present population of this part of the state. Coarse lumber, suitable for the timbering of mines and railroad 



