The Ordway new era., 1905-06-09
FOREST RESERVE AREA
LARGE INCREASE IN COLORADO
Three Reserves Consolidated into
Pixies Peak Forest Reserve
Other Large Reserves.

A considerable expansion OF the for
est reserve area in the central part OF
the state of Colorado has been ehected
by three proclamations issued by the
President on May II. 1905.
BY this action the three reserves
heretofore known as the Pixies Peak
South Platte and Plum Creek forest re-
serves have been consolidated into one
reserve. under the name OF the Pixies
Peak forest reserve with the inclusion
therein OF various additional areas and
the elimination of small tract, ana
Two additional adjoining reserves nave
been established, under the respective
designations of the Leadville forest
reserve and the Gunnison forest re-
serve.
The Pixies Peak reserve, as 1t now
stands. embraces an area OF l,bSl,op'
acres: the chief expansion of the bonn'
dary having been made on the north
TO include region around Mount
Evans OF about 279,730 acres, with
view TO remedying. in the interest ot
the city OF Denver and the South
Pate valley, the shortage of water In
the llNtls WHICH Hti9 AN''H
been an increasing trouble as the re-
gion develops. \ considerable cN'
pansion was also made on the south
in the interest OF the stock raising in
dustry in that region.
The LeadvilIe forest reserve cm'
braces l,2Ig.g47 acres and includes all
of the Arkansas river water,
shed lying north of the south
line of township 81 north OF
the New Mexico principal meridian,
and the watersheds OF Blue and VIII
liams Fork rivers. In the counties OF
Grand. Summit, Lake and Chaffcc. Il
contains the highest and most impor- /
tant mountain area In the state. In .
length this general tract extends about .
100 miles from the town Of Buena (
Vista, one the south, and extending al. .
most to sulphur Springs on the north, /
with an average width of about TWEEN
ty-iiye miles.
The valley OF the Arkansas river. In
which Buena Vista Is located, and that
OF the blue river, both Of which valleys
penetrate the region deeply, have,
however. been excluded from the re-
serve. In order TO avoid embracing
open agricultural land.
The industry of farming. and also
that OF stock raising. throughout the
regions watcrcd by the i'm,
portant streams heading in this sec
ion. will be greatly benefited by the
OF this reserve.
In these reserves II will be the pol
Cy to allow a full utilization Of the
orage products and to grant permits
o Craze the stock which are now oc- {
upying the ranges. Should the 1
anEes be found to be ovcrstoCked the 4
lumber OF permits will be gradually | +
educcd each year until proper limit ,
$ reached. By pursuing this course :,
more judicious and permanent use OF
he ranges will be preserved to the
tOckmen. l
The establishment Of the Leadyillc c
eserye is also OF great importance TO y
he mining industry. since the need
or carefully controlled Use OF the re-
timber In that region Is OF
vital importance TO such mining dis.
iricts as the Leadville. Breckenridge h
and MontcZuma. which are located s
within its limits.
The GunnisOn forest reserve Includes ,
9Ol. .2Il acres of the Gunnisou river wa.
tershed In Gunnison. Delta and Mont.
rose counties. The chief object OF the |
reserve Is TO insure the success Of the
Uncompahgre valley reclamation pro.
ject, which has in view the irrigation
in the Cncompahgre valley OF, approx.
imately. 100000 acres.
In addition to this undertaking and
the usual necessity for preserving wa.
ter. range and timber for the general
adjacent population. the development |
Of immense coal fields also calls for |
the protection of timber suuuIieg IN 4
this region.