402 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



lands. On the Colorado 

 extension but 162 acres are 

 listed by the assessors as 

 agricultural, while but 6402 

 acres are meadow land. 

 The remainder is assessed 

 as pasture land and valued 

 at $2 to $3.50 per acre. 

 Roughly speaking, 25,000 

 acres of this is owned by 

 the State, 50,000 acres by 

 railroads, 125,000 acres by 

 individuals, and the re- 

 mainder represents claims 

 pending. So thoroughly 

 have private interests 

 searched this area for pos- 

 sible values that, although 

 a period of over eight 

 months elapsed from the 

 date of introduction of the 

 bill January 27, 1916 to 

 the date of its passage 

 October 2, 1916 during 

 which time petitions to se- 

 cure the withdrawal of the 

 lands from entry were un- 

 availing, yet in that whole 

 period but 14,260 acres of 

 additional claims were filed, 

 leaving a quarter of a mil- 

 lion acres of Government 

 land which no one could be 

 tempted to claim. 



The sharp contrast between the fertile plains, of 

 which practically every acre capable of irrigation is in 

 cultivation, and the foothills immediately adjoining, cov- 

 ered by this withdrawal, where the only land capable 

 of being cultivated lies in a few narrow ribbons along 

 portions of the larger streams, is, an excellent illustration 

 of the natural classification of land into agricultural and 

 non-agricultural areas. Many false statements have been 

 made in the past about the inclusion of lands valuable 

 for agriculture within National Forests in Colorado. The 

 history of this foothills region shows conclusively that 

 at least in this locality the National Forests failed to in- 

 clude an immense area of land so poor that no one would 

 have it after many years of opportunity. 



ALONG LITTLE 

 A beautiful bit of road in the proposed 



These lands either have 

 been or will be placed under 

 the permanent care and 

 management of the Forest 

 Service following the Presi- 

 dential proclamation. In 

 spite of their poverty for 

 agriculture, they will pro- 

 duce timber crops of great 

 value, and their protection 

 from fire and retorestra- 

 tion will have an imme- 

 diate effect in regulating 

 the stream flow and sup- 

 plying additional water 

 during the dry months 

 when it is most needed. 



The accompanying pho- 

 tographs show the character 

 of lands to be added to the 

 National Forests, and re- 

 veal both their possibilities 

 for the production of tim- 

 ber and their absolute unfit- 

 ness for agriculture. 



The National Forest 

 policy has come to stay. It 

 has won on its own merits 

 in Colorado, in the face of 

 bitter and prejudiced oppo- 

 sition. The solid citizens 

 of the West, whose inter- 

 ests lie in creating and 

 maintaining conditions mak- 

 ing for stability and permanent prosperity, are behind 

 the broad constructive policies of the Forest Service, 

 and their influence is becoming increasingly important 

 in overcoming the harmful activities of the elements 

 whose principal aims are exploitation and specula- 

 tion. The difference between mushroom prosperity inci- 

 dent to the rapid exhaustion of natural resources, and 

 the slow but far more lasting and beneficial development 

 resulting from the protection and renewal of the timber 

 and forage by regulated use, is beginning to be recognized 

 throughout the entire West, and, with this changing view- 

 point, hostility to the National Forest policies has given 

 way to a cordial and intelligent support and cooperation. 



THOMPSON' RIVER 



addition to the Colorado National Forest . 



DURING the present summer the Extension work of the 

 New York State College of Forestry will be developed 

 along the line of woodlot improvement demonstrations. 

 Calls for advice along this line have become so frequent 

 that trips will probably be arranged in the fall to take in a 

 number of woodlots in given localities. A trained Forester 

 from the College will demonstrate methods of improving 

 the stand by taking out unprofitable trees and planting 

 rapidly growing species in large openings, and in simple 

 methods of estimating the volume and value of woodlot 

 stands. 



A TREE census has recently been taken by the school 

 children of Binghamton, New York. The work was 

 done in cooperation with The New York State College of 

 Forestry at Syracuse University, and the information 

 resulting will give the number of trees by streets, the 

 species, condition, and other points valuable in working 

 out a definite Shade Tree Program for the City. This 

 work is done in accordance vnth the agreement of The 

 State College of Forestry to cooperate in village improve- 

 ment work along Landscape Engineering lines. Professor 

 Henry R. Francis represented the College at Binghamton. 



