The National Forests of New Mexico. 13 



of timber that are now accessible supply material for several small 

 but active sawmills. These mills cut about a million feet of lumber 

 each year, all of which is absorbed by the immediately adjacent com- 

 munities. That the timber resources of the Datil National Forest 

 can and will indefinitely sustain a great lumbering industry is hardly 

 open to question. The development of this industry will begin im- 

 mediately upon the construction of railroads into the vicinity of 

 the forest area. 



An extensive and thriving live-stock industry is supported by the 

 forage resources of the forest. In the calendar year 1921, 357 per- 

 sons had grazing privileges on the Datil. The stock under permit 

 for that period consisted of 53,609 cattle and horses and 106,271 sheep. 

 Under the system of scientific range management which has been 

 inaugurated by the Forest Service in cooperation with the resident 

 stockmen, there is every indication that this number of stock can 

 be indefinitely supported on the grazing ranges of this Forest. 



A few of the mountain valleys and open lands at the lower eleva- 

 tions are chiefly valuable for agriculture. Many of these lands were 

 entered by homesteaders before the creation of the Forest and 271 

 additional tracts have been listed by the Forest Service to settlers 

 desiring to make entry under the forest homestead act. These tracts 

 include nearly all of the remaining land on the Forest that is 

 adapted to agriculture. 



The Datil National Forest is largely off the beaten path, much of 

 its country is wild and rugged and many portions of it can be reached 

 only on horseback. Road development, however, is being steadily 

 pushed, and the Forest is rapidly becoming more accessible. It is 

 used very little by tourists and others seeking recreation, although 

 it has been for many years the favorite grounds of many residents 

 of New Mexico for the hunting of deer and turkey. On most portions 

 of the forest game is plentiful and camping places are beautiful. 

 Recently 10 game refuges, with an average area of 21,000 acres, have 

 been established by the State game commission. These refuges 

 are well distributed over the entire Forest and will furnish protected 

 breeding grounds from which game will overflow to the surrounding 

 country. It is expected that this " backwoods " country can be main- 

 tained as a real sportsman's paradise. 



The extensive live-stock industry which is already supported by 

 the Datil National Forest, the beneficial effect of the conservative 

 administration of the headwaters of its important streams, together 

 with the certainty of a great development of its timber resources, make 

 this Forest one of the most important in New Mexico and one whose 

 development will be a large factor in the prosperity of the western 

 part of the State. 



