28 SURVEYS OF FOREST RESERVES. 



The valley of Cascade Elver, for a distance of 6 miles within the west 

 boundary of the reserve, by half a mile in width. 



The valley of Skagit Eiver, from Euby Creek to Goodells, with an 

 average breadth of 2 miles. 



The valley of Baker Eiver, from Baker Lake to the boundary of the 

 reserve, with an average breadth of 4 miles, and above Baker Lake, 

 with a breadth of 1 mile. 



The valley of North Fork of Nooksack Eiver, below Euby Creek, 

 with a' width of 1 mile. 



The total area of these tracts is estimated at 230 square miles. 

 Upon the east side of the divide the agricultural lands generally 

 require irrigation, and are therefore limited, not only by their location 

 and surface, but by the amount of water available. They are as fol- 

 lows: A few tracts in the Methow Valley and along Twisp Eiver, a few 

 trifling patches on the shores of Lake Clielan, and a narrow strip in 

 the valley of Stehekin Eiver. Altogether, the area of the arable land 

 in this part of the reserve is trifling and has already been filed upon 

 or is held by squatters. 



Orazinq. — There i§ very little pasturing of stock within the reserve, 

 and none whatever of sheep. The western portion of the reserve 

 affords but little pasturage, owing to the density of the forest. The 

 eastern portion, on the other hand, affords much excellent summer 

 grazing in the high mountain valleys and slopes, but it is little utilized 

 as yet. 



Means of communication. — These are extremely scanty. The Everett 

 and Monte Cristo Eailway, which connected the mines at Monte Cristo 

 with Everett, upon Puget Sound, some 60 miles, ran for half its dis- 

 tance within the lines of the reserve. This, however, has been com- 

 pletely washed out recently, and is, we understand, not to be rebuilt. 

 There are wagon roads from Barlow Pass to Goat Lake, from the mouth 

 of White Chuck Eiver down Sauk Eiver and along Cascade Eiver, all 

 on the west side of the reserve. These form about 30 miles of wagon 

 roads within the reserve on this side. Upon the east side there is a 

 road for a short distance up the valley of Methow Eiver. 



There are numerous trails, passable for pack horses, connecting dif- 

 ferent portions of the reserve. The principal one of these, which coii- 

 nects the valley of Methow Eiver with Marblemount, at the junction of 

 Cascade and Skagit rivers, by way of the Twist, Bridge Creek, Stehekin 

 Eiver, and Cascade Pass, is now being improved at the expense of the 

 State, and may be developed into a wagou road. 



Mining. — There is considerable mining, consisting mainly of develop- 

 ment work, going on within the reserve. At Monte Cristo and Silver- 

 ton are developed producing mines, which were worked actively until 

 the recent destruction by flood of the Everett and Monte Cristo Eailway, 

 These two mining camps contained several hundred inhabitants each. 

 The destruction of the road has, however, entailed a cessation of activity. 

 Mineral discoveries have been made at other points along this road and 

 in its neighborhood. 



Many discoveries have been made in the Euby Creek mining district, 

 on the upper waters of Skagit Eiver, in the Methow district, on the 

 upper waters of the Methow, and in the mountains west of the upper 

 end of Lake Chelan, but, owing to the lack of transportation, little has 

 been done beyond development work. 



Settlements. — Upon the west side the mining towns of Monte Cristo 

 and Silverton have already been mentioned. Besides these there is 

 some little settlement in the valley of the Stilaguamish below Silverton. 

 Upon the Sank, within the reserve, there are a few ranches. Upon 



