The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1905-06-10
FOREST RESERVE AREA
LARGE INCREASE IN COLORADO
Three Reserves Consolidated into
Pixies Peak Forest Reserve
Other LARGE Reserves.

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A considerable expansion Of the for
est reserve area in the central part Of
the state Of Colorado has been effected
by three prociamations issued by the
President on May IL. 1905.
BY this action the three reserves
heretofore known as the Pixies Peak.
South Platte and Plum Greek 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, and
TWO additional adjoining reserves have
been established. under the respective
designations of the Leadviiie forest
reserve and the Gunnison forest re-
serve.
The Pixies Peak reserve, as II now
stands. embraces an area Of i.6Si .6s7
acres. the chief expansion Of the boan-
dairy having been made on the north.
10 include a region around Mount
Evans OF about z79,730 acres. with a
siew TO remedying. in the interest of
the city OF Denver and the South
Pate valley, the shortage OF water in
the South Platte river, which has long
been an increasing trouble as the re
gion develops. A considerable ex-
pansion was also made on the south
in tho interest OF the stock raising in
dustry in that region
The I.eadville forest reserve en-
braces 1.zfs.9i7 acres and includes all
of the Arkansas river water
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 Chanee. II
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.
Eiih an average width Of about TWEEN
ty-tre miles.
The valley Of the Arkansas river. in
shleh Buena Vista is located. and that
o. 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
Widespread regions watered by the Inn
portant streams heading in this sec
lion. VIII be greatly benefited by the
Establishment of this reserve.
In these reserves II will be the pol.
icy to allow a full utilization Of the
forage products and to grant permits
10 Craze the stock which are now oc-
cupy ing the ranges. Should the
ranges be found TO be oysrstocked the
number of permits will be gradually
reduced each year until a proper Limit
Is reached BY pursuing this course a
more judicious and permanent use OF
the ranges will be preserved 10 the
gtockmen.
The establishment of the I.eadyiiie
reserve IS also OF great importance TO
the mining industry. since the need
for carefully controlled Use Of the re-
naming timber ia that region is Of
vital importance to such mining dis
iricts as the Leadvilie. Breckenridge
and Nontezuma. which are located
within It's limits.
The Gunnisou forest reserve includes
sDi .21i acres of the Gunnison river wa
tershed in Cunnisen. Delta and Mont
rose counties. The chief object of the
reserve Is 10 Insure the success OF the
uncompahgre valley reclamation pro-
ject. which has in view the irrigation
In the Uncompahgre valley OF, approx
imateiy. 10000 acres.
In addition 10 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 supplies In
this region