116 SUEVEYS OF FOREST RES^EEVES. 



Revised lines can not be drawn without further stndy and a map. 



Force recominended : One ranger, 4 guards, and about 20 fire watchers, after other 



more pressing reserves have been taken in hand. 

 Sources of information : Personal examination, October 6-9, 1896. 



A high plateau region, cut by deep canyons, partly covered with forest, chiefly of 

 Engelmann spruce. 



Fire has cleared a considerable proportion of the forest, and keeps it clear. Irri- 

 gation below the reserve demands the protection of its streams. 



Mining is not of great importance. 



Agriculture does not exist within the reserve. 



Grazing may be extensively developed with safety to the forest under suitable 

 restrictions. 



Timber supplies from the reserve are urgently needed at but few points. 



The White Eiver Plateau Timber Land Eeserve is situated in north- 

 western Colorado, and covers an area of 1.198,080 acres. It lies in an 

 elevated region locally known as the Flat Tops, and embraces parts of 

 the watersheds of the TVhite and Tampa riTcrs. both of which flow 

 into the Green, and of the Grand, which unites with the latter to form 

 the Colorado. The high plateau which constitutes the larger part of 

 this reserve is overtopped by a number of high mountains, of which 

 Pagoda and Pyramid peaks are among the best tnown. It is a region 

 of canyons intersecting more level stretches. Its climate is too harsh 

 for agriculture, and its trade relations have been of small importance 

 hitherto. A small amount of timber has been cut within the limits of 

 the reserve. 



THE FOREST. 



The original forest with which this reserve was clothed appears to 

 have consisted chiefly of Engelmanu"s sjiriice, although the prevalence 

 of fires through many years has made it difficult to retrace the forest 

 history of the plateau. Considerable areas are here and there covered 

 withlodge-pole pine, while the yellow pine and the blue spruce are com- 

 mon in places along the streams. Frequent parks interrupt the forest. 

 It appears unmistakably, on examination, that the trees which surround 

 these parks are gradually encroaching upon them. These trees are 

 necessarily of hardy species, adapted to maintain themselves against 

 the dryness and severity of the conditions which they must face. As a 

 rule, tliese trees are small. I am unable to give specific dimensions, but 

 the following figures will convey my impression. The average size of 

 Engelmann spruce is: Height. 80 feet; diameter, 1 foot: length of clear 

 trunk, none. The blue spruce is at times larger, since it chiefly occupies 

 moister and more favorable situations. The dimensions of the lodge- 

 pole pine are : Height, 50 teet : diameter, S inches ; length of clear trunk, 

 15 feet. For the yellow pine: Height. 60 feet; diameter. 14 inches; 

 length of clear trunk. 25 feet. It should be added that in places Engel- 

 mann spruce gTows in dense forests, averaging over nm feet in height, 

 with not less than 40 feet of clear trunk, bnt such groups are rare. 



The parks which form so characteristic a feature of this region 

 undoubtedly had their origin in the fires which have swept across them 

 for many years. Occasionally fragments of old trees in the parks, as 

 well as the fact that groups on tbe edge of open land are almost always 

 surrounded by young growth, indicate plainly that the forest was once 

 more extensive than at present. My opinion, subject to correction by 

 the results of longer experience, is that with even moderate protection 



