The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-08-14
Southwestern Pine Timber.

In general way it can be stated
that the genus Pinus tapers toward
the south, whereas the Picea comes
up from Mexico and runs ont in Ari-
IONA. Of the former, P. Murrayaga
and pondeorsa are most esteemed as
building lumber, P. edulis 1.-THE Pin
ON IS hardly good for any thug but
tirewood and small beams. For
posts, the red cedar and the jumpers
ID. Credentials and Californical are
probably used. While smaller con-
ifeIs extend into the plain, the Pinon
grows on extensive mesas or table
mountains also, as well as on lower
slopes; the stately yellow pine covers
crests and the higher declivities and
lines mountain torrents in deep ra-
vines. Dense forests are not common.
Northern New Mexico enjoys rather
widespread timber area to what is
called "Tierra armarilla yellow land
or soil, and the plateau of the Zuni
range, between Fort Wingate and
Nutria, bears fine growthOi stately
trees. Many canons are well stock
ed, but, on the whole, denuded and
| treeless expanses vastly predomi-
nate.
Arizona exhibits similar proper.
tons. The pine regions around the
Siprra Blanca are everywhere bound
ed by naked ranges, basins and pla-
teaux, and so are the San Francisco
mountains, Towards the south all
chains become more arid. and there
fore, IN appearance at least, abrupt
and forbiddiag. There is, in place of
lofty trees, thorny shruObery, com
posed of species which, under favora-
bic circumstances, also assume abo-
real proportions. like the mezquite
(Prosopis juIiflra) the palo-verde or
green wood Park insonia Torreyana)
the red madrono (Arbutus Xalopen-
sis); but conifersare very scarce, ex-
cept in isolated and not very steep
chains, like the Sierra Huachua anG
the Sierra Santa-Rita, south of Tus-
con. Both are very high, the latter
eliminating at 1880 feet. 1t is a
well known fact that the timber line
of Arizona in latitude 33 to 81 degrees
north is several hundred feet low er
than that of Colorado in latitude 3S
to 80 degrees, but these are local con-
ditions. Under the parallels of 81 to
SO degrees in Colorado also, the TIM
Der line is, on an average, 1000 feet
below that of only one degree further
north, 600 feet below the upperm0st
tree limit of the Arizonian White
mountains, and 100 feet lower than
on the San Francisco range,
No part of our NuthWeStern terri
tories has anything that equals il
magnitude the vast area, covered
with coniferOus forests, of the Sierra
Madre of Chihuahua and of Sonora
! The Sierra Madre begins in latitude
30 degrees 45 minutes (about), and a.
as its slope ascend, the growth o
timber thickens and becomes more
stately. The InterioE of the chain IA
far as latitude 90 degrees, vast ele
waited basin, thickly studded witt
pines, among which varieties of Pi
cea are prominent. 1t is well water
ed, delightfully."- cool in summer, no
too cool in winter. Game abOundS
for along the water-cOurses grows
luxuriant grass. But the region il
inaccessible as yet, for as long as APP
ache outbreaks occur, sO,long will the
savage make this his stronghold, his
place of refuge. The greatest wealth
of the basin, aside from mines (manS
of which are yet problematical) con
sists in its timber. Approach to j
must come from the east, as the ives
tern entrances are few, t0rtnous anC
often barred by nearly rnscalabl'
heights.-N. Y. Post
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