The Elbert County tribune., 1907-03-21
DETAILS or EXTENSIONS TO FOR.
EST AREAS IN COLORADO.
PRESIDENT EXPLAINS FULLY
Reasons Given for Additions-Plans
Made Some Time Before New
Law Was Passed,

Acres
Park Range Nat. forest addi-
tions. 4ss,OOO
Holy Cross Nat, forest addi-
tions. -. ..:.........s.. 1850
Uncompahgre Nat forest addi-
tions. .r................ 164.4sO
San Juan Nat. forest additions 100000
Moptezuma Nat forest addi-
tions. =. .........-.......1, 1 ,O4O, 900
Medicine Bow Nat forest ad-
ditions and Wyoming) ..... $4,000
Las Animas Nat. forest addi-
tons. -..-.--..-..---.-- 192,96O
Total. .3,022, ,72O
Park Range.
The boundaries of the Park Range
reserve. as they were originally pro-
claimed, excluded large bodies of tim
ber land and wood land. Lands amount
ing to approximately 43S,000 acres
have been recently added. The local
interests dependent upon the noun
tain lands for timber and range are
strongly in favor of this addition,
since 1t will protect their water supply,
insure to them a permanent supply of
timber and the protection of their
range. All the lands have been opened
to entry for many years and practically
no land suitable for agriculture is in
cluded What little there may be can
be obtained under the act of June 11th,
ard the forest service is prepared to
examine such lands as rapidly as they
are applied for under the homestead
act.
Holy Cross Additions.
The addition adjacent to Glenwood
was recommended three years ago af-
ter a careful examination on the
ground The area covered large por-
ton of the watershed of the stream
which supplies the town of Glenwood
with its water supply. 1t contains
considerable area of valuable timber
land which was rapidly being cut of.
In the timber lands and in the open
and brush lands there is considerable
forage which was overgrazed by the
stock owned in the adjacent valleys
For the preservation of the water sup
ply it is important that the timber be
cut conservatively and the lands pro-
tected from overgraZing. To sum up,
the tract added is the source of the
water supply of growing town, and it
is Of great Importance that forests and
forest cover be protected.
The other small area which has been
added is a timbered region which has
suffered severely from fire and is
greatly in need of protection.
Uncompahgre.
The addition on the south of the I'm
compahgre reserve includes $4,000
acres. The area embraces body of
excellent yellow pine, which was rap
idly passing into the hands of timber
companies through the operation OF
the timber and stone act. This pine is
important on account of its being the
only accessible timber for large and
important district in western Colorado,
and If the development of the nearby
settlements is to continue, this timber
must be logged conservatively and
protected by fire.
San Juan.
The total area added to the San Juan
reserve is 100000 acres. The
addition on the south contains large
amount of yellow pine timber upon
which the settlements along the San
Juan river and the country near Du-
range are entirely dependent. 1t is
essential that this forest area be given
protection, and the future needs of the
rapidly settling region be provided for.
All agricultural land has been excluded
with the exception of small isolated
patches which aggregate about two
per cent.
Montezuma.
The addition Of the Montezuma re-
serve is 100000 acres. 1t includes
heavy belt Of pine timber extending
from the west edge of the national for
est down the Dolores river for about
thirty miles. 1t also takes in a splen-
did forest of yellow pine on the San
Miguel plateau, and belt of excellent
spruce timber in the vicinity of Ophir
and Silverton. A large burn which
fe, ta p1c
included along the Las Animas river.
Medicine Bow.
Approximately 355,000 acres were
added 20 the Medicine Bow reserve.
This area is nearly all in Colorado and
covers both slopes of the Continental
divide. The lands lie above an alti-
tude of 5000 feet and are without
value for agriculture. The water sup
ply Of Boulder and the adjacent agri-
cultural region rises in these lands
and local experience shows that these
mountain lands must be protected
from over grazing and destruction OF
the timber If the water supply is to
be kept at its maximum.
Conditions in regard to the lands
added In Wyoming are similar. They
are the sources of the water supply
for the irrigated lands in the valleys,
and the irrigation interests demand
their protection from indiscriminate
and careless logging, and overgrazing
by sheep and cattle.
Las Animas.
The Las Animas reserve lies prin-
cipally in Las Animas county, and was
established in response to petition
from the City Council and the Cham
Der of Commerce of the city
OF Trinidad. The new reserve
includes the headwaters of the
Las Animas or Plrgatory river,