80 SURVEYS OF FOREST RESERVES. 



The yellow pine reaches the following average dimensions: Height, 

 80 feet; diameter, 18 inches; length of clear trunk, 35 feet. Young 

 growth is nowhere plentiful, but it occurs here and there in groups out- 

 side the cover of old trees. Growth is slow, and the total amount of 

 timber per acre is small. 



The open yellow-pine forest suffers comparatively little from fire, 

 except as unsoundness follows wounds made by burning at the surface 

 of the ground. How great this source of loss may be in this reserve it 

 will require lumbering operations to show, but elsewhere, as in the 

 Black Hills, it has been found to be very great. 



The forests of this reserve have little effect on floods or irrigation, 

 except as their influence may be felt upon the general climate of the 

 region. It is a common observation that showers falling over the 

 desert are evaporated by the hot air through which they must pass to 

 reach the ground. In this way rain may fall in the upper air without 

 benefit to the dry ground beneath. The cooler temperature above 

 forests must tend to prevent this source of loss, and it is probable that 

 in many other ways the presence of these forests is beneficial. 



Except in Grand Canyon mining is not believed to promise well in 

 this reserve, nor have mines of any importance been developed. 



AGUICULTURE. 



In the absence of water available for irrigation stock raising is the 

 only cultural use to which this area may be put. No part of the reserve, 

 so far as I am acquainted with it, requires to be excluded on this ground. 



Considerable herds of stock graze near the brink of the canyon. It 

 is reported that their owners illegally inclose public lands. The regu- 

 lation of this pasturage should be undertaken as soon as the necessary 

 forest force is available. 



FOEBST FORCE. 



Since the Grand Canyon is certainly the most august and wonderful 

 piece of scenery in North America, and probably upon the globe, it is 

 of great importance that its surroundings should not be impaired by 

 fire or by vandalism of any kind. As soon as means are provided 

 by Congress a forest officer should be stationed on the border of the 

 canyon at the Hance trail for the protection of the forest against fire, 

 and to prevent the defacement of the brink of the canyon. Portions 

 of the reserve should be protected under the direction of this oflBcer 

 against grazing of any kind, and especially it should be seen to that 

 the herds of sheep which now occupy portions of the area should be 

 carefully restricted in their range. The reproduction of the yellow 

 pine must be protected if this forest is to survive. Three forest guards 

 and 10 fire watchers would complete the force under the standard 

 adopted for other reserves. 



