FOREST POLICY. 



Logs on the stump are worth $1.12 per thousand; at mill, 

 $4.99. There are 155 saw mills of $3,883 average investment, 59 

 of which are said to control 671,000 feet b. m. stumpage. Mineral 

 products of the State are worth $30,000,000 annually. Stock pas- 

 ture plays a very important part. 



6. Forestry movement: Colorado's constitution is the only 

 constitution emphasizing forestry. State forestry association since 

 1884. Various attempts to transfer custody of the United States 

 forests, for protective purposes, to the State. Irrigationists 

 strongly in favor of reserve policy. 



7. Laws: In 1885 a State forest commissioner and "forest 

 conservators" (justices of the peace and county commissioners) 

 for the protection of forests. Fire law notices to be kept posted 

 by the conservators. Law of 1897 creates a Department of For- 

 estry, Fish and Game; its forest commissioner is charged with 

 forest extension, with water preservation and with the care and 

 records of all woodlands at any time belonging to the State. 



The State agricultural college has four experiment stations 

 and ofifers a course in arboriculture. A law of 1901 practically 

 prohibits lumbering on public domain above irrigation districts. 

 Campers must secure permits. Non-resident hunters must secure 

 "game and forest wardens" for guides. Railroads are required 

 to keep right of way cleared, to supply engines with spark arrest- 

 ers, to be responsible for damage by fire started by locomotive 

 sparks. 



The Denver and Rio Grande has the privilege of obtaining 

 repair material from United States forests. 



8. Reservations: The reserves, in 1902, cover 4,849 square 

 miles, which is 5% of area of State and 15% of wooded area They 

 are well selected and should be increased in the southwest. 



The South Platte forest reserve (683,520 acres). Plum Creek 

 timberland reserve (179,200 acres) and Pike's Peak timberland 

 reserve (184,320 acres), north of Colorado Springs, are extremely 

 valuable for mines and irrigation purposes. They contain little 

 merchantable timber, due to cutting and burning. 



The Battlement Mesa forest reserve contains 858,240 acres; 

 the White River forest reserve, 1,129,920 acres. These two reserves 

 drain towards the Colorado River. The standing live timber of 

 these two reserves,, after Sudworth, consists of the following 

 stumpage, in million feet b. m. : — 



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