14 SURVEYS OF FOREST RESERVES. 



of south to the southern boundary. Its breadth ranges from 10 to 12 

 miles, and its altitude within the reserve from 6,500 to 7,000 feet. It is 

 drained by Snake River, which traverses it from north to south, receiv- 

 ing the waters of several large branches from the east, including Buf- 

 falo and Grosventre rivers. There are several lakes in the valley, the 

 largest of which is Jackson Lake, near the north boundary of the 

 reserve, through which flows Snake River. The surface of the valley 

 is, in the main, a gravelly bench laud, quite level, and producing a 

 scanty growth of sagebrush interspersed with grass. The bottom land 

 of the river is broad and inclosed between low bluffs. It is covered 

 with a dense growth of cottonwoods, willows, and other brush. 



The country east of Jackson Hole consists of high, massive mountain 

 spurs, descending from a high plateau, 11,000 to 12,000 feet, whose crest 

 lies east of the reserve. In this plateau head Pacific Creek, Buffalo 

 River, and the Gros Ventre, which iiow westward, through narrow 

 valleys, to the Snake. 



Forests. — The broad, rugged summit of the Teton Range is without 

 forests, partly because of its great altitude and partly because of its 

 extremely rugged character. The small portion of the Teton Basin 

 which is within the reserve, and most of the area of Jackson Hole, 

 together with the lower portions of the narrow valleys of Buffalo and 

 Gros Ventre rivers, are also naturally treeless. The.remaining portion 

 of the reserve is covered, but more or less sparsely, with timber growth. 

 In few localities is the timber such as could properly be called dense, 

 and the trees are nowhere large. Over most of this area the timber is 

 scattered in small groves, interspersed among open, park-like areas. 

 Four-fifths of the timber consists of lodgepole pine (Pinus murrayana), 

 the remainder of Engelmann spruce, Douglas iir, juniper, and aspen. 

 The trees are small and of little service for any purpose other than fire- 

 wood, fencing, and such uses. Thus, although the entire area in which 

 timber is found is well adapted in climate and soil to timber growth, 

 still the amount of timber contained upon it at present is trifling. All 

 indications jjoint to fire as the cause for this condition of things. It is 

 evident that, in times past, this region has been devastated by fire so 

 frequently that forest growth has been well nigh prevented. The proof 

 of this is seen in the existence everywhere of dead and charred stumps 

 of trees and fallen logs, and in the fact that over great areas young 

 timber is starting.- 



Upon the whole reserve it is estimated that there are not over 22,000 

 acres of merchantable timber — that is, of size suitable for saw logs — and 

 that they contain not over 75,000,000 feet, B. M., of lumber. These areas 

 are scattered widely over the reserve. 



Agricultural lands. — As stated above, the west boundary includes a 

 small area of the upper part of Teton Basin. This is a triangular tract, 

 widest at the north, where it may be 6 miles in width, and diminishing 

 southward to a point. Nearly all of township 45 north, range US, is 

 within this area ; also the west half of township 44 north, range li8 ; 

 and the western tiers of sections iu township 43, range 118, are included 

 within it. Although elevated and cold, and therefore capable of pro- 

 ducing only the hardiest crops, this laud is susceptible of irrigation 

 and cultivation. 



Jackson Hole comprises a large amount of agricultural land. It lies 

 easy for irrigation, and the supply of water is ample for the entire area. 

 The altitude, however, is great, and the consequent severity of the 

 climate will prevent the production of anything except the hardiest 



