LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 



Colorado Springs, Colo., May 14, 1887. 



Sir: Under dates of April 1 and September 27, 1886, respectiv^ely, 

 commissions were issued to me from your Department, authorizing an 

 investigation of the forest conditions and resources of the State of Colo- 

 rado and tlie Territories of iTew Mexico, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, 

 and an examination of the relations 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 apx^roximate number 

 of square miles ; and in wh^t part of the county is it mainly situated ? 



(2) What proportion of it is fully stocked; good for timber? What part of it 

 brush, of promising growth ? What ])SiYt 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) iK'ame, 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- 

 sumx3tion by railroads, fires, etc. 



(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 tire ? 



(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 otf or burned ? Is there less water in the streams 

 than formerly ? Have floods and droughts become more frequent ? Is the tiow of 

 water in the streams more intermittent ? 



(13) Are any observations on rain-fall kept in your locality ? If so, by whom (giv- 

 ing name and post-office address) ? 



(14) Have any avalanches occurred inyi)ur section ? If so, pkctTse give the particu- 

 lars ; when, where, and what, if any, loss of life and property ? 



(15) What measu??es would ypu suggest for mora adequate protection of forest 

 growth f 



45 



