104 SURVEYS OF FOREST RESERVES. 



although its chief importance will probably consist in the protection of 

 the water supply. Further study must precede any definite recom- 

 mendations for the management of the forest on this reserve. 



BOUNDARIES. 



I am not prepared to recommend changes in boundaries. It is alto- 

 gether probable that a complete examination of the reserve will indi- 

 cate the necessity for such changes, although not of any considerable 

 extent. 



SIBREA FOREST RESERVE. 

 SUMMARY. 



Situation : Central California. Acres. 



Area within present lines i, 096, 000 



Adverse lioklings, i ailroad lands 195, 000 



er cent of 

 total area. 



Area of forest land (?) 85 



Area marked by fire (?) 50 



Area badly burned (?) 20 



Revised lines can not be drawn without further study. 



Force recommended: For the present the jurisdiction of the superintendent of 

 national parks in the Sierras should be extended over the whole reserve. 



Sources of information : Statements of John Muir and his writings. Personal exam- 

 ination, September 5 to 18, 1896. 



A steep and rugged mountain region, densely forested at moderate elevations with 

 one of the richest and most beautiful forest floras of the earth. 



Fire has done and is still doing serious injury. 



The prosperity of the valley of California to the west depends very largely on 

 irrigation from the streams which rise in this reserve. 



Mining has little present importance. 



Agriculture practically does not exist within the reserve. 



Sheep grazing has been extensively practiced, to the serious injury of the forest. 

 It should be prohibited altogether. 



The commercial development of this reserve is not imperative at present. 



The Sierra Forest Reserve lies on the long and gradual western slope 

 of the Sierra Nevada in California, and extends across the range down 

 its exceedingly abrupt eastern side. With a total area of 4,096,000 

 acres it contains 195,200 acres of railroad lands. Topographically the 

 area consists of steep, rugged canyons, separated by more or less gently 

 sloping plateaus, with here and there mountain peaks and ridges of 

 exceptional steepness and grandeur. The rock is granite and the soil 

 produced by its disintegration is generally dry and poor. Tlie climate 

 of the western slope is moist enough to support what is perhaps the 

 most beautiful coniferous forest in the world, although others are denser 

 and richer in timber. To the east of the range the air rapidly loses its 

 moisture, precipitation falls oft', and rain finally ceases almost altogether 

 along the desert areas oii both sides of the Nevada line. 



Lying, as it does, within easy reach of the fertile and populous valley 

 of California, the Sierra forest is of great economic importance. Exten- 

 sive lumber operations have started in various parts of it, and the time 

 is probably near when the commercial demand for the timber of the 

 reserve will require and permit its economic development. 



THE FORESTS. 



The forests of the Sierras grow almost without exception on glacial 

 moraines. They are open as compared with those of the Coast Eauge 

 of Washington and Oregon, but the trees which compose them are 



