428 



RECREATION. 



ing, and is built with marvelous adapta- 

 tion to produce a deep pond. It is thrown 

 across the creek where the meadow nar- 

 rows again into canyon, and is located just 

 where a maximum depth of water could be 

 obtained, and the creek most easily ob- 

 structed, with wonderful adjustment to 

 bank and creek bed. The cut made in times 

 past by the creek over the lower edge of 

 the meadow is there about 6 feet deep 

 and 15 feet wide. Across the meadow at 

 that point is, the new dam, laid in the form 

 of a double curve like a tall and straight 

 letter "S." Even the most careless and in- 

 different observer could not fail to note 

 how extraordinarily it serves its purpose 

 and how surpassingly well it is made. 

 Small willow and alder trees 6 to 8 feet 

 long are used in its construction, the 

 larger branches near the bases of the trees 

 having been neatly trimmed off. 



Plainly every tree was dragged down the 

 creek base first, and so placed that the tops, 

 with spreading, small branches, made the 

 curved line of the dam, while the bases of 

 the trees were piled below, forming a wedge 

 or slight point of support for the mass 

 above. The effect of piling the trees in 

 that way was such that the interlacing 

 branches of the tops quickly rose to the 

 level of the creek bank. Then in and on 

 this tangle of branches was placed a layer 

 of mud. So well was all this done that 

 scarcely a drop of water leaked through. 

 One photo shows the pond made by this 



dam, the irregular branches projecting 

 above the water's edge, and in the back- 

 ground, a short distance away, the ranch 

 barn. The meadow behind this dam is 

 perhaps 1,000 yards long, and 200 yards 

 wide. Across it in many places extend 

 old dams, so numerous that one is reminded 

 of the stream described by Ernest Seton- 

 Thompson in Recreation of October, 1897. 

 The upper side of each of these dams pre- 

 sents a smooth, perfectly tight surface, most 

 admirably fitted to hold water. The alti- 

 tude of this beaver meadow is about 8,000 

 feet. 



In Geneva park, at an altitude of 10,- 

 000 feet, along Geneva creek, a tributary of 

 the Platte river, there is a large, recently 

 drained beaver meadow, within which are 

 many dams and houses, the latter wholly 

 exposed and giving one a good oppor- 

 tunity to study their structure. One of 

 these dams and a house with its door un- 

 covered by the lack of water are shown in 

 one of the accompanying photos. This 

 dam has a deeply worn game trail along 

 its top, a trail still in use, for the morn- 

 ing I examined it there was in its 

 fresh, moist surface a wolf track. The sa- 

 gacity of wild creatures in selecting this 

 dam as a crossing place over the treacher- 

 ous, boggy meadow is noteworthy. The 

 dam made a firm and safe bridge, while 

 above or below any large animal would 

 easily be mired, as I know to my discom- 

 fort and chagrin; for I spent an unhappy 



BEAVER HOUSE, 

 Geneva Park, Colo. Door Uncovered by Low Water. 



iTEUR PHOTO BY W. H. BERGTCLD. 



