The National Forests of New Mexico. 15 



Range, and two — the Mogollon and White Creek refuges — are within 

 the Mogollon Mountains. These refuges are established as safe 

 sanctuaries in which game may breed and from which it may re- 

 plenish adjacent hunting regions. 



The principal industries of the Gila National Forest are mining 

 and stock raising, the steady development of which has made the 

 region well known as one of the most productive in the State. The 

 forest area can safely carry about 56,055 head of cattle and horses 

 and 19,415 head of sheep and goats. This is approximately the 

 number now grazed on the Forest by 172 permittees; and it may be 

 continued indefinitely without danger to the forest growth and to 

 watershed values from overgrazing. 



The mining industry, although now somewhat dormant, will un- 

 doubtedly revive with the increase in the price of copper, for this 

 region contains a number of the best copper properties in the State. 

 Here are found the mines of the Chino Copper Co., the Tyron mines 

 of the Phelps Dodge interests, and the famous Mogollon gold mines, 

 as well as many smaller ones. Most of these mines are more or less 

 dependent upon the National Forest for mine timbers, ties, lumber, 

 and fuel. Especially is this true of Mogollon, where, because of the 

 brisk demand for forest products, all the surrounding National For- 

 est lands are being managed so as to give this community a perma- 

 nent timber supply. 



Large parts of the Forest are now quite inaccessible and little 

 known. With the certain future development, however, of its inac- 

 cessible timber resources, as well as a fuller appreciation of the at- 

 tractions it offers to sportsmen, travelers, and summer visitors, the 

 Gila National Forest will contribute in an increasing degree to the 

 prosperity of southwestern New Mexico. 



THE LINCOLN NATIONAL FOREST. 



(In Chavez, Eddy, Lincoln, Otero, and Torrance Counties.) 



In the southeastern part of the State, comprising a gross area of 

 1,472,079 acres in the Guadalupe, Sacramento, White, Capitan, and 

 Gallinas Mountain ranges, lies the Lincoln National Forest. Its ad- 

 ministrative headquarters is at Alamogordo. Surrounded by great 

 expanses of the lower treeless plains, the high-wooded slopes of the 

 four mountainous divisions of this Forest provide the timber and 

 water which are of vital importance to the general development of 

 the southern portion of the State. 



Especially is this true of the east side of the White Mountain, 

 Sacramento, and Guadalupe divisions, for they embrace the head- 

 waters of the Rio Hondo, Rio Felix, and Rio Penasco, all feeders of 

 the Pecos River. The Rio Hondo is the source of water supply for 



