Graham guardian., 1909-06-11

whole is now the Crook National
Forest, the change taking place in
July, 1908.
This name was given to this re-
serve in honor of General Crook,
who brought the Indians to subjec-
ton after they had murdered and
plundered throughout central and
southern Arizona.
The altitude of Mt. Graham is
between 5000 and II, 500 feet.
At various attitudes we find diff
ferent species of trees. At a lower
altitude we find white fir, commonly
called balsam, little higher up
white pine is intermingled with red
fir, and still a little higher up we
have red fir, white pine and yellow
pine, while on the top of Mt. Gra-
ham we have red fir, white pine,
yellow pine. blue spruce, cork bark
balsam and Engerman spruce, all
growing together, while red fir and
Engerman spruce are largely in ma
jority.
On the Tonto North reserve graz
ing, small wood sales and small
per cent. of agriculture are the in
dustries. On this reserve we have
established one of the grandest and
largest irrigation systems that has
ever been attempted by the govern
ment, known as the Roosevelt. or
Tonic Basin Dam.
The Chiricahua forest reserve is
in the southern part of Arizona, and
is a well-timbered forest, with min
ing and numbering as the industries.
The Coronado forest includes part
of the Huachuca range of noun
tains, which are we'll timbered, with
numbering as an industry.
The Garces forest is also in the
southern part of our Territory.
Prescott reserve is in the north.
western part of Arizona, while agri-
culture, small wood sales, mining
and numbering are the industries of
that section. 70. 49, -
The Sitgreaves forest is in the
northeastern part of Arizona, and
includes the Mogollon range of
mountains. ....
The forest located on the San
Carlos Indian Reservation is also
under the control of the forest
service.
The grandeur and beauty of the
forests of Arizona cannot be sur
passed bv any forest in the west.
We have all the principal species
that are known to be the best for
merchantable timber, and they must
all grow to certain size and height
for that purpose.
In most localities we find spark
ling streams and babbling brooks,
sending forth their music as they
wind their way over messy stones
and through the forests to the
thirsty lands below.
Many of these streams abound in
fish of various. kinds, which are
caught during the open season by
sportsmen and campers, who make
their visits during the. summer
months to these forests. j..
+ Although Arizona does not possess
many of the soft and attractive
features of regions fashioned after
a tanner mood, her rugged noun
tains hold wealth that purchases
luxury and ease; her grassy lands
can support the flocks and herds of
the farmers, while her sunny val
leys, blessed by climate unequaled
by any on earth, can produce every
kind Of cereal, fruit and'vegetsble.
A-izons's rugged mountain out
lines have . Wild ard fascinating
beauty Of their olrn; and The ie.!.
cate ttnts Of. light: and shade H!th
which ali Arizona sun enwraps their
jagged peaks and gloomy .gorges
form a,4picture seen nowhere else
outside the land of "cloudless skies
and perpetual summer. #
Ehe above essay was delivered at
the closing exercises of the gradu-
ating class of 1909, Stafford Public
School, by Miss Jessie Birdne, a
member of the class. .
, a.