124 



The forests are found iu the eastern part of the county. Two-fifths 

 are said to be good timber, one -fifth brush , and two- fifths made waste 

 by burning. The forest trees are of straight and thrifty growth, of 

 medium size, but mostly too small for lumbering purposes. The White 

 Pine and White Spruce predominate. 



Fire is the special danger threatening the forests. When the forest 

 is destroyed by fire the ground is usually burned so deeply that all 

 fertility is destroyed. The second growth is usually the same as the first? 

 when the land has been burned. After fire, Aspen grows first, then 

 White Pine, and later Spruce. 



ELBEKT COUNTY. 

 (Area, 5,800 square miles; estimated forest area, 100 square miles.) 



The county is situated in the eastern part of the State, in the Plains 

 region. The western portion is broken, and is fairly well watered by 

 tributaries of the South Platte Eiver. 



The limited amount of forest land in this county is found mostly in 

 the northwestern part. Lumbermen have cut all the good timber, and 

 the present forest growth is small and scattering. Pine is the predom- 

 inant species. 



It is stated that floods have become more frequent since the destruc- 

 tion of the timber. 



EL PASO COUNTY. 

 (Area, 2,650 square miles; estimated forest area, 500 square miles.) 



This county occupies a central position in the State. The eastern 

 half (south of the Arkansas-Platte Divide) consists of undulating 

 plains, with no timber and very little water. The elevation at the east 

 line is 4,500 feet, reaching to 6,000 feet iu the center, at the base of the 

 Pike's Peak range. The western portion, and also that lying north of 

 a line between townships 12 and 13, south, is very mountainous, reach- 

 ing an elevation of 14,1G7 feet at the summit of Pike's Peak, 9,250 feet 

 at the crest of the nay(?en Divide, and 8,500 feet at the highest point 

 of the Arkansas-Platte Divide. The western and northern parts of the 

 county, above an elevation of 5,500 feet, are in most parts well timbered 

 with Pine, Spruce, Fir, etc. The heaviest timber is found at an alti- 

 tude of 6,000 to 10,000 feet; that below^ 6,000 feet is mostly Yellow Pine, 

 Pinon. Scrub Oak, and Cottonwood. 



FREMONT COUNTY. 

 (Area, 1,450 square miles; estimated forest area, 450 square miles.) 



About three-fourths of the area, of this county is mountainous. The 

 county is drained by numerous streams, all of which flow into the 

 Arkansas Eiver. The forest land is situated mainly in the northern 

 and western portions. There is very little available timber large enough 



