The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-12-06
LITTLE PECos PARK.

Far up among the high mountains about
the headwaterS of the Pecos river in New
Mexico. is a tract of land extending eigh-
teen miles east ana west by about thirty
north and south. The tract is known as
the Pecos River forest reserve. These
mountains form the southern terminus Of
the Rocky Mountain chain, and are the
highest and most inaccessible in the
Southwest.
The Pecos River forest reserve was es-
/ tablished by President Harrison, by ex-.
ecutive proclamation, dated January II,
1892 following the recommendation of
Secretary of the Interior John w. Noble,
based upon Investigations made in the
field by officers OF the department. By
executive proclamation. dated May p.
1885, President Mckinley changed the
boundaries of the reserve.
The object of the reserve is to preserve
the timber surrounding the headwaters OF
the Pecos river. thus regulating the flow
OF water in the river and preserving the
water supply of the Pecos valley by shad-
ing the ground and heavy snowfalls about
the sources of the river and affordng
protection against the drying action of
! the sun and wind.
The timber also. by protecting the earth
from washing away. maintains a storage
layer into which rain and snow water
soak and are stored for the dry seasons,
when snow and rain are wanting.
The wisdom of this course. says writer
in the Galveston CTex) News. is shown by
the success of the Pecos valley of New
Mexico and Texas as an agricultural CEN
ter.
The Pecos is the Nile of America, as al
most its entire length of COO or 400 miles
flows through an arid country, and upon
IT the farmers of the entire Southeastern
/ New Mexico and Northwestern Texas are
dependent for their water supply. All
drought this section the rainfall is very
sparse. and shuold the Pecos follow the
! example of the other streams and sink
into the Shylock sands the country would
be a desert. That it has mt done 50 is
due entirely to the preservation of the
! young timber about its headwaters. As it
I is. the waters of the Pecos have made
1.-The desert to blossom
! In establishing the Pecos River forest
reserve its founders "builded better than
/ they knew. In addition TO the everlast-
( ing benefit TO the arid desert lands they
/ have preserved here park of natural
beauty and grandeur which the hand OF
( man cannot despoil. The reserve is po-
Iced by force OF range riders. whose
duty it is to protect the reserve and
game to be found there from the depre-
dations Of fire and man.
1t is isolated being far from the line Of
travel and its beauties are accessible
only by long journeys on horseback over
salr, an mi
I comparatively few people have enjoyed
its wealth OF varied scenery. its delight
ful climate, health-giying waters, nagni-
fcent oanons. lofty peaks and myriads
Of jewel-like lakes X offers the most
decided contrast 70 the arid deserts Of the
Southwest. yet enjoys the same pe-en-
NAL sunshine and dry climate. It IS the
daisy blooming on the dung hill"
Its peaks rear their heads far into the
clouds being the highest il the Southwest
Countless streams have their sources
among them. and each one rises in lake
far above the clouds To the sportsman
II is a paradise. the brooks ;eem With
Rocky Mountain trout. ana The woods
abound in deer. Mid turkey bear aud
mountain grouse Before the present pro-
hib.tive game laws this was a strong
hold Of the market hunter
Until the last few years there was no
road II any description leading into these
mountain Businesses. or recent years
Henry Windsor. a rancheT. who had taken
up land here before the seitin easide ~
the reserve and who had done al his
travelling hy tran. has constructed an
apology for q road as far IS his place II
Is 3 rough ana rocky apology bur Il is tire
I only way in except by tran across the
divide.
In point 81 wildly picturesque sce-erv.
varied natural BEAUTIES. and health-givinS
climate this comparatively unknown -
sson. which has lain unheralde.s. uuhoa-
cred and ussung. ecil9ses any OF the cor,-
tinent. L has remained thus 50 ionC L.
eaGse 1t has lacked TIE proximity 20 ihs
railroad Ia make IL accessible 10 ths peo-
pie and the highways 70 make * accesss-
bic 70 the railroad IL has lacked TIE sar-
did greed o, man Sho advertisez for hss
oHn gaia--Philsdeis aia Ledger