190 



I. 



AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 



185 



various mining companies. There are 

 nearly 200 mines in the district shipping 

 ore, and the indications are that Cripple 

 Creek as a mining camp will continue ac- 

 tive for years to come. 



Not the least important factor in the 

 success of the mining operations carried 

 on in the Cripple Creek district to date 

 has been an adequate supply of timber 

 near at hand. In consequence fuel and 

 mine timbers were secured at low rates. 

 The surrounding mountains were, at the 

 discovery of gold in Cripple Creek, well 

 timbered and for a few years afforded a 



near the great mining camp were almost 

 stripped of their forests while the demand 

 for lumber of every description rapidly 

 forced the lumbering operations further 

 into the mountains. The cutting was care- 

 less, wasteful, and wholly without system. 

 The excitement that took possession of 

 the district over the continued rich dis- 

 coveries of gold extended to the lumbering 

 operations and there was but one thought 

 -that of getting fuel and mine timbers 

 with the least possible expense and delay. 

 The future growth of the forest was never 

 thought of. Then fires followed the cut- 



SCENE NEAR CRIPPLE CREEK, SHOWING HOW TIMBER ON MOUNTAIN SIDES HAS BEEN 



DESTROYED BY FIRE. 



steady supply. However, the new min- 

 ing camp drew to it thousands of prospec- 

 tors, many new mines were opened, ore 

 in paying quantities found and the devel- 

 opment of the entire district went forward 

 with marvelous rapidity. The great in- 

 crease in the number of mines, with the 

 accompanying demand for fuel, mine tim- 

 bers, and building material to house the 

 rapidly increasing population, drew heav- 

 ily on the supply near at hand. 



Within a few years the mountain sides 



ting and the destruction in many cases was 

 complete. Here again the old story of 

 an " unlimited timber supply." careless 

 methods of lumbering, followed by that 

 most destructive enemy of forests fire. 

 To-day the country near Cripple Creek is 

 almost destitute of trees of any size. < >ne 

 must go some distance into the mountains 

 to find timber of any value. 



Cripple Creek of to-day is slowly but 

 surely learning a lesson from the past a 

 costly lesson it promises to he. A lesson 



