112 



good timber. Upou northern sloi)es, after the original stock has been 

 cut or destroyed, a second growth soon follows, consisting of Lodge- 

 pole Pine, or species similar to the first growth. Forest trees are 

 I)lanted and cultivated to a very limited extent, with the aid of irriga- 

 tion. 



CARBON COUNTY. 



(Total area, 13,526 sc^uare miles; estimated forest area, 1,360 square miles.) 



This county is in the south central portion of the Territory. Its area 

 is quite equally divided between mountains and plains. The Laramie 

 Plains extend across its eastern border, and westward to the Xortli 

 Platte Elver. The x)rincipal mountain ranges are the Medicine Bow at 

 the southeast. Sierra Madre at the southwest, and the Seminole and 

 Eattlesnake in the west central portion. Spurs of the Big Horn and 

 Laramie ranges penetrate the county at the northeast and north. The 

 North Platte Eiver, for a distance of about 200 miles, flows through the 

 interior of the count}'. Many other streams tributary to the Platte, 

 and the Powder Eiver at the north, have their sources here. Upon all 

 the mountains are coniferous forests, of greater or less extent, the most 

 important being ui)on the snowy ranges of the Medicine Bow and Sierra 

 Madre. The forest growth appears at altitudes ranging from 8,000 to 

 12,000 feet above sea-level, and consists, for the most part, of Yellow 

 and White Pine, Tamarack or Lodge-pole Pine, White Spruce, and 

 Aspeu. Lodge-pole Pine is the predominant species. It grows from 2 

 to 14 inches in diameter. At high elevations in the Medicine Bow 

 Mountains the White Spruce attains great size, the trunks of that 

 species sometimes reaching a diameter of 6 feet. In sheltered places 

 along French Creek, on the western slope of the same range, the xVspen 

 grows very large, the bodies of the trees often being 2 feet in diameter, 

 xlbout one-half of the forest area is good timber, though not large, the 

 trees having a tall and slender habit. Immense coal fields exist in this 

 region and have been partially- developed — a condition which ought to 

 lessen the drain upon the forests for fuel. 



CROOK COUNTY. 



(Total area, 10,709 square miles; estimated forest area, 400 square miles.) 



This county, which occupies the northeastern corner of the Territory, 

 is in form an exact square, its sides being a little more than 100 miles 

 in length. Its general surface features are rolling plains, the Black 

 Hills and other minor ranges and hills occupying but a small portion 

 of the county. It is fairly well watered for a plains region. The lands 

 are adapted to grazing and limited farming operations, if irrigated. 



The forest growth is scanty, consisting principally of Yellow Pine, 

 Red Cedar, Oak, and Cottonwood. The Pine is found on the Black 

 Hills, in the eastern part of the county, and on detached spurs in the 



