The National Forests of New Mexico. 11 



tion to the agricultural communities whose water supply is de- 

 pendent upon those two streams. 



The timber resources of this Forest are also of considerable magni- 

 tude, the total stand being estimated at 1,017,000,000 board feet of 

 saw timber and 968,000 cords of wood. Of this amount 11,063,000 

 board feet of lumber, railroad ties, and other forest products were 

 cut in the fiscal year 1921. These timber resources now supply 14 

 active sawmills with the material for their operation. Among these 

 is one of the largest sawmills of the Southwest, which is operated 

 in connection with 35 miles of especially constructed railway lines. 



The extensive grazing resources of the Carson Forest are becom- 

 ing fully utilized by the large population of the numerous small 

 towns included within and adjacent to the forest boundary. There 

 were 687 grazing permittees who used range on this forest during 

 the calendar year 1921. Permits were issued for that year for a 

 total of 10,889 cattle and horses and 155,935 sheep and goats. In 

 addition several thousand milk and work animals were grazed free 

 of charge on the forest ranges by local settlers. The country in and 

 near the Carson National Forest is one of the oldest settled regions 

 in the United States ; and although it has been used for grazing for 

 hundreds of years there is every indication that under the admin- 

 istration of the Forest Service the forest area will continue to sup- 

 port as many head of stock as are now permitted, or even more. 

 There are a few small unused areas consisting of rough mountain 

 range suitable for the summer grazing of cattle, which offer oppor- 

 tunities for settlers desiring to enter the stock business. 



A small amount of agricultural land is found at the lower eleva- 

 tions within the forest boundaries. This land was for the most part 

 homesteaded before the creation of the Forest. Almost the entire 

 remainder is included in 326 tracts listed to settlers under the forest 

 homestead act. 



Hardly second in interest to the economic resources of the Carson 

 National Forest are its historical and archseological monuments and 

 its value for purposes of recreation and public health. Throughout 

 the Amarilla and Jicarilla division of the Forest there are numerous 

 ruins of prehistoric cliff dwellings, which will greatly interest both 

 the tourist and the student of archaeology. Among these the most 

 famous and the only large ruin is that at Ojo Caliente, near a hot 

 spring having medicinal qualities, just south of the Amarilla divi- 

 sion. There is a legend among the Taos Indians that Montezuma 

 lived here and from here led into Mexico the great migration which 

 is supposed to have been the origin of the Aztecs. In this country 

 the early Spanish explorers also left their marks in the form of 

 numerous old adobe missions. Every Spanish placita, of which there 

 are many on or near the Forest, has its picturesque old church, some 



