SURVEYS OF FOREST RESERVES. 73 



does not attain large size, but has a long, clear trunk, and produces 

 excellent material. 



The lowland fir (white flr) is often not of great size, as compared with 

 other species growing with it, but it has excellent reproduction, and 

 great sylvicultural value as undergrowth. 



The lodge-pole pine is less widely distributed on the western than on 

 the eastern slope. It occurs chieiiy in portions where its great repro- 

 ductive powers give it peculiar value. 



The noble flr, a valuable lumber tree chiefly known locally as larch, 

 reaches, in exceptional cases, a height of 300 feet, with a diameter of 6 

 or 7 feet near the ground. It is a common tree throughout the larger 

 part of the reserve. 



The sugar pine, whose northern limit is near the center of the reserve, 

 extends also to the eastern slope, near Grater Lake. It is a large tree 

 of the first economic value, but its reproduction in this locality is not 

 strong. 



Other trees are the Sitka spruce and the incense cedar, neither of 

 which is common. 



FIRE, WESTERN SLOPE. 



Fire has done less damage on the western than on the eastern slope. 

 Still, its ravages have been exceedingly severe, and it is of the first 

 importance that they should be checked. Keference is made to the 

 description of a flre in dense forest on the eastern slope. When such 

 fires are assisted by violent winds they travel with great rapidity, and 

 while the wind continues eflorts to subdue them are ineffectual. As 

 has already been mentioned in a previous part of this report, the object 

 of organization against flre should be to reach the scene of a conflagra- 

 tion before it has liad time to gather strength. Trails, therefore, are of 

 the flrst importance. 



WATER, WESTERN SLOPE. 



Water for irrigation is of comparatively little importance except in 

 the eastern part of this reserve. Floods are dangerous, and the pro- 

 tection of the mountain slopes is required on their account. 



MINING, WESTERN SLOPE. 



Mining is not known to have reached any development, nor to show 

 promise for the future. 



AGRICULTURE, WESTERN SLOPE. 



Except in the vicinity of Detroit, where the agricultural lands within 

 the reserve are practically all taken up, the climate usually forbids 

 development of this kind within the boundaries. No special measures 

 are required. 



GRAZING, WESTERN SLOPE. 



About one-third of the sheep pastured within the reserve occupy 

 ranges on the western slope. Still more than those on the east, these 

 bauds depend for their livelihood on areas which have been cleared by 

 fire, and from which the presence of the sheep excludes all but the 

 most meagre reproduction. The measures which seem to be required 

 have already been referred to. 



