CHAPTER V 



GEAZmG LANDS OF COLOEADO. 



The native grasses of the West, the buncli or buffalo and the grama 

 grasses, though more nutritious than most of our Eastern grasses, do not 

 seem to have the same amount of vitality, and do not resist close crop- 

 ping and trampling as well. The result is, that all ranges which are 

 used nearly up to their full capacity are soon destroyed, the grass re- 

 fusing to start up again. This is especially true of ranges used by sheep, 

 who graze in close herds, and eat every thing eatable and constitutes 

 the principal objection to their introduction. The cattle-men say that 

 " sheep kill the range." 



The grass over large areas of Colorado has thus been destroyed by over- 

 crowding the range with cattle or by the pasturage of sheep. 



It is said that the grass will recover its footing if left alone for a 

 year or two. I do not know whether this has been demonstrated. 



The same short sighted policy prevails in this case as in that of the 

 buffalo and other wild game ; to kill the goose that lays the golden 

 eggs ; to make as much as possible in the shortest possible time, with- 

 out regard to the future. 



PRINCIPAL GEAZING AREAS. 



The plains, as mentioned above, are pre-eminently pasture-lands. 

 Their principal natural products are the most nutritious of grasses — buf- 

 falo and grama. The character of the pasturage varies very much in 

 different localities, ranging from the richest meadows to a comparative 

 desert. Again, there are great extents of the plains absolutely without 

 water, even in sufficient quantity for cattle, thus rendering consider- 

 able areas valueless for stock purposes. Still, by far the larger portion 

 of this great area of 40,000 square miles is a valuable stock range. 

 Anywhere on this range cattle, horses, and mules can winter, without 

 protection or feed, with almost absolutely safety. 



North Park contains about 700 square miles of fine grazing land. 

 The elevation, about 7,600 feet, implies too cold a climate for stock to 

 Avinter without assistance. 



Middle Park contains several fine valleys of pasture-land. Those of 

 the Grand, Muddy, and Troublesome, Frazier and Williams Rivers may 

 be mentioned as the principal ones. The elevation of these valleys is 

 from 8,000 to 9,000 feet, and this, coupled with the latitude, make the 

 Middle Park practically valuable only as a summer range. 



The South Park is used mainly in the same manner. In the southern 

 and lower part, where the elevation reaches only 8,000 feet, and in 

 sheltered nooks and little valleys in the mountains, cattle can and do 

 winter, but the returning spring finds them in very poor condition, and 

 an unusually hard winter or late spring often proves too much for them. 

 The pasture area in South Park is 700 square miles, and the character 

 of its grazing is excellent. 



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