SUKVET? OF FOREST BESERVES. 117 



a mach denser sjo^^h of timber will occupy the Flat-tofis. and that its 

 presence will have a mosr decided influence on the flow of the streams, 

 the water of which, lower down, is estensively used for irrigation. 



Irrigation is practiced on at least two sides of the reserve, and indica- 

 tions are jJain that the piesence of a dense forest on this area would 

 be exceedingly valuable in this direction. I saw no evidence of severe 

 floods, nor am I informed that such floods are common. 



Silver miidng has been prosecuted to some extent at Carbonate and 

 elsewhere, but I do not understand that, in general, mining has a^umed 

 importance in any region of this reserve. 



AGEICULTTBE. 



As already mentioned, the climate is to-j severe and the supplies of 

 wat^er too sc-anty to permit agriculture on the Flat-tops. .Some few 

 ranches pxisr on the bottom lands of the river valleys. Provision 

 should be made to x>ermit any unentered land of this character to be 

 taken up. 



The most important economic use jiossible for the reserve at present 

 is for pastarage. Great quantities of grass exist throughout the Flat- 

 top-, and eventually this area will be used for raising cattle. Since, 

 however, the spread of the forest depends on the protection of the 

 scanty young giowth, it would be decidedly unwise to open the whole 

 area of the reserve to pasturage except under .suitable regulations 

 suitably enforced. 



FOREST FORCE. 



Until abundant appropriations become available, a forest ranger 

 located at ^Tewcastle or at Glenwood Springs would he able to adminis- 

 ter both this reserve and the Battlement Mesa Forest Beserve south of 

 the Grand Eiver. Four forest guards sliould be stationed at suitable 

 localities, and a limited number of fire ^archers sh'iiuld be employed^ 

 I am unable, without further .study, to indicate more precisely the loca^ 

 tion of the gnai ds or the number of the fire watchers that would be 

 required. 



FOREST MAXAGEMEST. 



.Some form of localized selection must be used in the spruce timber, 

 while clear cutting in strips or squares will be found to answer all 

 requirements of economy and safety in the !• idge-pole pine, and also 

 perhaps in the localities where the spruce forest is dense and high. 



Transportation by way of ^Vhite Eiver and Wflliams Fork of the 

 Yampa may be made available, while to the southwest roads already 

 exist over which .some lumber has been taken from the reserve. It 

 does not appear likely that the resources of this reserve will be in 

 urgent demand to supply neighboring x>opnlations except at a few 

 I>oints. such as Meeker, on the western border, where provisions should 

 early be made to supply the necessities of the settlers. 



