Bisbee daily review., 1911-07-19
KIOndykG and is Forests
tnv Chas. A. Dinsmore.l

have just returned from a three day trip with the forest ranger for this district, F. H Kirby. We rode horseback over very good trails. and learned more folklore" of arid Arizona, than I ever dreamed Of be- fore. We did not take a pack out fit with us. because we intended staying at a gold mining camp over night. and made good connections. This trip took us out of the beau- tiful Aravaipa canyon (Aravaipa means pretty water, and 1t surely deserves the name. though how in the world the Apache Indians could have conceived anything so fitting is hard to understand but all the while we were within the watershed drained by this stream, which emp ties into the San Pedro river, which in turn empties into the Gila, about 45 miles from this place. Our trip took us in an easteTly direction, up Squaw Gulch about 10 miles. and thence over the divide into Rattle snake gulch which We followed tn another divide. and then we rode into the Gold mountain and Aban- doned mine basin. This section or country has been but slightly pres pected; none at all in fact excepting in the immediate vicinity Of Cola mountain and the Abandoned. l. might be well for prospectors to look it over.
 Many Good Trails
 Since this part of Arizona was made a portion of the National For est reserve there have been many good trails made and blazes cut on trees in such manner as to make it almost impossible for one to get lost if some core is exercised. These trails are plenty wide for animals with large packs, the grade is neve~ more than 20 per cent, and ali down timber. underbrush. etc. t5 carefully kept down and out of the way. There are many cattle graZins in this forest reserve, but it is not permitted to be overstockcd, so that food is excellent. especially now after several soaking rains The forest rangers arc the wardens oi the country, game as well as forest, and they are active and intelligent men. In reading the Use Book Of the National Forest reserve } noted that throughout there is the expression "at the discretion of the ranger" This applies in a great many instances, and the rangers are therefore selected with great care. Such a ruling, however. makes the exercise Of the Forest Reserve laws very fire, because the men in the field are of course the bes' judges of what should be done in given instance, and, while there is T1~ .E s--H ruling has been made by a ranger. instant action may be taken because of the granting of Q sort of judiciary function 10 these rangers. Thus, few weeks ago, when there was q fire in the mountains in tho sec tion through which we passed. in stead of having to telegraph for in- structions. MT. Kirby got on his horse at 8 o'clock of the morninE the fire was discovered and went like the wind for it. leaving word fOs men to follow. He sent a man back that day for more men, and by the second morning he had such a force in the field that the fire was stopped within a few days and before great damage had been done. These men were in the field, with no ODportU- nity to get the necessities, so the ranger detailed a man to secure and prepare supplies. 4 pack train was kept busy bringing water to the scene of action, and the supply man killed the first fat steer he found. and there was food in plenty when the men dropped in one by one. almost exhausted, and after having a bite to eat, a couple of cups Of hot coffee, and taking a snoOze" for half an hour they went back to the work of fighting the fire. It was an exciting and a trying time; but good judgment and aWfully hard work won. This fire, had it not been controlled when it was, would have burned along the range into the most valuable timber in this district. And this brings me 10 the matter of timber growth:
 Timber Growth.
 The elevation in the hills where the timber is is approximately 5000 feet. The gr0wths are hardy in practically every instance, some or the pines standing an hundred fec high and as straight as arrows. and even the scrub oak" is here of excellent growth. In some places there are acres Of solid timber, of the finest grade. Included in this timber are the following: Pine, fir. sycamore, asp, cypress. walnut. To- cust, juniper, cedar, black oak, white oak, mountain mahogany, manzanits, pinon. cottonwood; and the shrubs and grasses there are the curly mes quite grass, bear grass, bunch grass (the curly mesquite is the finest feed, and never dies out, resembling very much the Bermuda grass which we grow On our lawns, and the cat tie fatten on it quickly, burrO grass. commonly called arrow weed: wild currant, wild grape. yesbacinta, ar ragna and some others whose names l could not learn. The Indians, and in fact the white men who learned of them, took advantage of the food. medicinal and other quail ties of all these growtbs2 For in- stance. the Yerbacinta is used for a blood medicine, and it IS ex- cellent. The Arragns has a pungent but pleasant odor, and it is used for the elimination Of flies Deer or