
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO., May 14, 1887. 
¢ 
Sir: Under dates of April 1 and September 27, 1886, respectively, 
commissions were issued to me from your Department, authorizing an 
investigation of the forest conditions and resources of the State of Colo- 
rado and the Territories of New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, 
and an examination of therelations existing between the forests, water- 
courses, and irrigating systems of the region, with special consideration 
of the Government timber lands. 
I have the honor to submit the accompanying report. 
Upon receiving authority to conduct the investigation, correspond- 
ence was instituted with civil engineers and other well-informed per- 
sons in the several counties of: the region, and printed circulars were 
sent out embracing the following questions: 
CIRCULAR A, 
(1) What is the extent of forest land in your county, giving approximate number 
of square miles; and in what part of the county isit mainly situated? 
(2) What proportion of it is fully stocked; good for timber? What part of it 
brush, of promising growth? What part of it made waste by burning over? 
(3) What is the proportion of forest to other lands? 
(4) What is the character of the forest growth now remaining, in the size and 
kinds of trees? 
(5) What species of trees predominate ? 
(6) Name, in the order of their importance, the principal uses to which each kind 
of timber is applied. 
(7) What special dangers threaten the forests in your county, as lumbering, con- 
sumption by railroads, fires, ete. 
(8) What are the chances for renewal after the forests have been destroyed ? 
(9) Of what species of trees is the second-growth usually ? 
(10) What kinds, if any, follow after the timber has been destroyed by fire ? 
(11) Is any planting done? And to what extent, and with or without irrigation? 
(12) Have you noticed any changes in the volume of water in the streams, as the 
trees in their vicinity have been cut off or burned? Is there less water in the streams 
than formerly? Have floods and droughts become more frequent? Is the flow of 
water in the streams more intermittent ? 
(13) Are any observations on rain-fall kept in your locality? Ifso, by whom (giv- 
ing name and post-office address) ? 
(14) Have any avalanches occurred in your section? If so, please give the particu- 
lars; when, where, and what, if any, loss of life and property ? 
(15) What measures would you suggest for more adequate protection of forest 
growth? — 
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