GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE TERRITORIES. 247 



tory — one which very soon strikes the traveler passing through the 

 eastern section. And this applies to all the sections into which I have 

 divided the country, except the mountain district. 



The amount of cottonwood and box elder found along the banks of 

 the streams is quite small, consisting generally of very narrow fringes 

 along the immediate borders of these streams. This is inferior timber 

 at best, and can afford a supply but for a short time, even when we 

 take into consideration the fact that many of the houses are built of 

 adobes. The mountains are generally clothed with a growth of pines, 

 but these are often of a very inferior character, especially along the east- 

 ern slope nearest the arable lands. But as we penetrate further into the 

 mountains, these are of a better quality, and saw-mills are being erected 

 in the interior of the mountain districts which at present are furnishing 

 a supply of lumber at comparatively moderate prices, as water-power is 

 easily obtained along the little creeks. But even here, notwithstanding 

 the repeated assertions to the contrary, I do not think the sup]3ly inex- 

 haustible. The rapid increase of the mining operations and population 

 in the mining sections, which are in the heart of the pine regions, is 

 rapidly consuming, for building purposes, fuel, &c., the ]3ines around 

 these points. And the numerous fires which occur here, and sweep up 

 the mountain side with a wild fury, like that of a burning prairie, are 

 destroying vast quantities of this timber. Even now we can scarcely 

 travel a single mile along the mountain canons where we do not see the 

 slopes on either side marked by broad strips of burnt timber, which 

 appear as somber spots on the otherwise beautiful scenery. 



I have no doubt but that this view will be controverted; yet when we 

 look at the broad expanse of untimbered lands which sweeps out east- 

 ward from the mountain base, and compare it with the timbered strip 

 in reach, it is scarcely possible to arrive at any other conclusion. But, 

 as 1 am now pressed for time, I will reserve the discussion of this sub- 

 ject for the more extended report I desire to present on the agriculture 

 of Colorado and New Mexico. Even now, sawed lumber has frequently 

 to be hauled for seveniy-five to one hundred miles, and even further; 

 but the building of railroads will greatly reduce the expense of trans- 

 IDortation. 



I bring this matter forward thus prominently m order, if possible, to 

 impress upon the farmers and citizens of this Territory the great neces- 

 sity of commencing at an early day the work of planting trees. It is 

 certainly one of deep interest to them, and every effort should be made 

 to induce not only farmers, but all who have lands and lots, to com- 

 mence this important work. 1 am sorry to say that throughout our 

 journey I saw but few houses surrounded by growing trees. 



In regard to the supply of fuel, the difficulty of supplying this want 

 will doubtless be met when the various coal mines are opened, and 

 railroads traverse the country. But the supply of fencing material, at 

 a reasonable rate, is not so easily met. To avoid expense on the larger 

 farms, that portion intended for cultivation is generally inclosed under 

 one fence, and corrals are made for the stock which is in use. And I 

 have noticed some cases where two or three small farmers have combined 

 and inclosed their farms under one fence. Around Denver wire fences 

 are being introduced, and will probably prove cheaper than any other 

 kind, unless hedges can be made. If this latter kind can be made, I 

 think they will prove the best that can be adopted, not only for the 

 same reasons urged in their favor in the prairie States, but also because 

 they will assist in increasing the amount of moisture, and in drawing, 

 birds, thereby tending. to decrease the grasshopper pest. 



