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Aspen. These portions also include fertile valleys and fine grazing 
lands. In the central parts of the county are low hills, covered with 
Pifion and Cedar; also table-lands and valleys suitable for agriculture. 
In the eastern and northeastern portions are plains, on which are found 
scattering Pifion and Cedar. It is estimated that one-fourth of the 
forest land is fully stocked—good for timber; one-eighth brush of 
promising growth, and one-eighth made waste by burning. 
Pine, Pifon, and Cedar are the leading species.. Brush and dwarf 
trees (mainly Cedar) are scattered in clumps over the whole county, 
but the heavy timber is mostly in the north and west, on the Green- 
horn and Sangre de Christo Mountains. Itis stated that less than one- 
hundredth part of the forest area is stocked with trees fit for timber. 
Forest fires are frequent in the mountains of this county, destroying - 
ereat quantities of timber. 
JEFFERSON COUNTY. 
(Area, 760 square miles; estimated forest area, 175 square miles. ) 
This county lies in the north-central part of the State, to the eastward 
of and at an average distance of 25 miles from the main Rocky Mountain ~ ) 
range. In the eastern half of the county are plains and low foot-hills ; 
the remainder is mountainous, and ineludes the narrow valleys of Coal, » 
Clear, Bear, Elk, Cub, and Turkey Creeks, and the South Platte River. 
“About 400 square miles in the mountains are two-thirds clad with 
forest. Not over 150 square miles abound in good timber. About 40 
square milesis burned, dead, or wasted timber land; the rest is cleared 
or covered with young Poplar, Pine, orSpruce. The proportion of forest 
to other lands is about one-fifth.” 
The principal species of forest trees are Yellow, Fox-tail, and Scrub 
Pine, White Fir, Douglas Fir, Pition, Cottonwood, Aspen, Hackberry, 
and Box-elder. 
‘‘ Kires have destroyed in twenty years more timber than has been 
used in that time for lumber and fuel. The only protection possible is 
by a skillful body of forest police, to be established by the State, either 
alone, or in co-operation with the General Government. Such a police 
force should not only prevent destructive fires, but should have rigid 
supervision of mills sawing lumber on public lands. There should be 
penalties for the careless use of fire by hunters, mill-men, and others. 
There is a feeling of general indifference, unless aroused by self-inter- 
est, concerning such fires. No one should be allowed to waste the 
forests any more than other public property. 
The chances for the renewal of forests are good, if fires are prevented 
from burning the waste and remnants of lumbering and clearing. The 
second growth is Aspen, the two kinds of Pine common everywhere, 
and Douglas aud White Fir. After fires follow Aspen, with low Vine 
Maples and Willows; then common Pine. ; 

