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The average rain-fall is thought to be increasing. The danger of for- 
ests being destroyed by fire is not considered imminent, as they are 
situated ata high altitude, and where there is considerable humidity. 
DOLORES COUNTY. 
(Area, 800 square miles; estimated forest area, 150 square miles. ) 
The surface of this county is much broken. It includes mountain 
ranges, high mesas or table-lands, and narrow valleys bounded by box 
canyons, or gently sloping hill-sides. It is well watered by the Dolores 
River and its tributaries. 
The forest lands are situated chiefly in the eastern halfof thecounty. 
About two-thirds of the timberis Yellow Pine and Spruce; the remain- 
der is Pinon and Aspen. Only a small percentage of the timber is suit- 
able for lumber, the trees being small and stunted. [Fires and the con- 
sumption for mining purposes are the special dangers threatening the 
forests. It is said that after the forests have been destroyed Nature 
speedily reproduces them, the high altitude and moist atmosphere con- 
tributing to that end. 
DOUGLAS COUNTY. 
(Area, 850 square miles; estimated forest area, 300 square miles. ) 
About two-fifths of the area of this county has a scattering growth 
of timber, situated mainly on the. north side of the Arkansas-Platte 
Divide and in the mountains to the west. The timber on the divide has 
been cut, but considerable young timber is now growing. Inthe mount- 
ains fully one-half of the timber has been burned. The forest growth 
remaining, principally small, rarely exceeds 15 inches in diameter. Pine 
and spruce are the predominant species. Lumbering has been the great- 
est destroyerof timber. A new growth is appearing on some of the old 
burned tracts. This growth is usually Pine on the south side of the 
mountains and Spruce on the north side. 
The volume and flow of water in the streams have been affected by 
various means; such as forest fires, or cutting off the timber at the 
head-waters of the streams, or of dense growths:of timber and under- 
brush elsewhere. Wherever the forests have been cleared off, the snow 
melts rapidly, giving a heavy flow of water in early spring, and an 
insufficient flow in the summer. 
EAGLE COUNTY. 
(Area, 1,750 square miles; estimated forest area, 300 square miles.) 
This county is situated in the northwestern part of the State. The 
surface iS mountainous, and includes fertile valleys suited for many 
kinds of grain and vegetables, especially those that mature in a short 
season. Mining and stock-raising are the chief industries. 

