92 SURVEYS OF FOREST RESERVES. 



Springs and a tributary region of considerable extent, and its chief, 

 but not its only, importance is believed to lie in this direction. As the 

 nearest .source of timber supply for Colorado Springs and the tree- 

 less region to the east it has a decided value, which will be immensely 

 increased when adequate protection enables its forests to regain their 

 productiveness. 



THE FOREST. 



The forest consists chiefly of small aad isolated trees of Engelmann 

 spruce, blue spruce, Douglas fir, and limber pine (white pine), while 

 large areas are covered by .quaking aspen, usually as the result of fires. 

 The reproduction of this forest, like the growth of its trees, is slow, and 

 in consequence the injuries which it has suffered from indiscriminate 

 cutting for mining and other purposes will be visible for many years to 

 come. 



Fires have spread over practically the whole area of this reserve 

 wherever the vegetation was dense enough to sustain them. At pres- 

 ent the danger from this source has disappeared over considerable 

 stretches because little or nothing remains to be burned. 



The fact that this reserve is the source of water supply for a numer- 

 ous population has already been referred to. Not only its protection, 

 but the restoration of the forest to its original condition is, for this rea- 

 son, urgently recommended. My visit was too hasty to enable me to 

 secure conclusive data in this direction, but I am strongly of opinion 

 that further study will demonstrate the necessity to which I have just 

 referred. 



Mining in this region, both within and without the reserve, is exceed- 

 ingly important, and mining timber has been cut from the reserve Avlth- 

 ont stint. Thus the chief direct value of these forests may be said to 

 be rapidly disappearing. The effect of the exhaustion of this source of 

 timber supply upon mine owners will be serious. Protection against 

 fire and illegal cutting is therefore of vital importance if the value of 

 the reserve for any purpose is to be preserved. 



AGKICULTURB. 



Agriculture does not exist within the reserve, so far as I am informed. 

 This elevated region is chiefly useful, in this direction, to supply water 

 for lower-lying agricultural lands. 



GRAZING. 



Pasturage within the reserve appears to be of little consequence. 



FOREST FORCE. 



The forest force necessary to administer this reserve must depend 

 upon the dispositions made for the l^lum Creek and South Platte Forest 

 reserves, which lie near it. Further study will be required before defi- 

 nite recommendations can be made. 



