^iMn^ DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOE-U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CHARLES U. WALCOTT, DIKECTOK THE v.NjV FORESTSsftf THE UNITED STATES HENRY GANNETT EXTRACT FROM THE TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT OP THE StTRVEY, 1S9S-99 PART V, FOREST RESERVES— HENRY GANNETT, CHIEF OF DIVISION OP (iEOQRAPHY AND FORESTRY WASHINGTON GOVERNME n't PRINTING OFFICE 1900 1^ X THE FORESTS OF THE UNITED STATER HENRY GANXETT FOREST RESERVES. Henky Gannett, Chief of Division. THE FORESTS OF THE UNITED STATES. CHANGES I]Sr RESERVES DURING THE YEAH. During the tiscal year numerous changes have been made in forest reserves, including several modifications of boundary lines, resulting in a considerable net increase to existing reserves and in the addi- tion of new resei-ves. The boundaries of the Black Hills Reserve, in South Dakota, have been changed Ijy the exclusion of a large area in the south and the inclusion of a much larger area in the north and west, the additions in the west being within the State of Wyoming. These changes have resulted in increasing the area of the reserve from 967,680 to 1,211,680 acres. The Pecos River Reserve, in New Mexico, has been extended by a narrow strip upon the east and a con- siderable addition upon the north. The additional reserves created during the year are Fish Lake, in Utah; Gallatin, in Montana; Gila, in New Mexico; Lake Tahoe, Pine Mountain and Zaca Lake, in California, and Black Mesa, Pre.scott, and San Francisco Mountains, in Arizona. PRESENT CONDITIONS. By these changes an area exceeding 11,000 square miles has been added to the reserves during the year. The following is a list of the reserves as they stood on July 1, 1899, with their areas: Names, location, and areas offorent re-ierveK, July 1, 1899. Name. state. Area. Acres. Square miles. Alaska Oregon -- 18,560 858, 240 29 1,:U1 1, 7G2 Battlement Mesa. . Wyoming 1,127,680 20 GEOL, FT 5 1 FOREST KESEKVES. Namex, location, and arem of fores! reserves, July 1 1899 — Continued. Name. state. Area. Acres. Square Miles. Bitterroot Idaho and Montana South Dakota Arizona Oregon do 4, 147, 200 1,211,680 1, 658, 880 142, 080 4, 492, 800 67, 840 1, 382, 400 40, 320 2, 327, 040 1,851,520 136, 335 2, 926, 080 2, 234, 880 2, 188, 800 431,040 184, 320 1,644,594 179,200 10, 240 645, 120 737, 280 975, 360 555, 520 737, 280 4, 096, 000 683, 520 691, 200 829, 440 49, 920 875, 520 3, 594, 240 1,198,080 1,239,040 6,480 1,893 2,592 222 7, 020 106 2, 160 63 3, 636 2, 893 213 4, 572 3, 492 3,420 673. 5 288 2, 569. 6 280 16 1,008 1, 152 1,524 868 1,152 6,400 1, 068 1,080 1,296 78 1,368 5,616 1,872 1,936 Blaok Hills Black Mesa Bull Run Cascade Fish Lake Utah Flathead Montana Gallatin . ... .. . do Gila New Mexico Cxranil Canyon Arizona California ^lontana Lake Tahoe Lewis and Clarke Mount Rainier. . Washington Oivnipic ... do Pecos River New Mexico Pikes Teak Colorado Pine Mountain ami Zaca Lake. Plum Creek California Prescott . ... Arizona Idaho and Washington . Prie.st River San Bernardino . . San Francisco Mountains . . San Gabriel San Jacinto Arizona California do Sierra do South Platte . . Colorado Stanislaus California Teton Trabuco Canvon Uinta Utah AVashingtt in . . . . Washington Colorado Wliite River Plateau Yellowstone Total 46, 169, 249 72, 139 There i.s, therefore, reserved from settlement at present an area of 73,139 square miles. It is composed mainly of mountainous, rugged country, of no value for agriculture, but especially favorable for tree growth. The locations of the reserves are .shown on PI. I. in pocket at the end of this volume. AREAS OF FOREST RESERVES. 3 Of these I'eserve.sexivniination.s have been made by thi.s office of the following: Battlement Mesa, Bighorn, Bitterroot, Black Hills, Flat- head, Pikes Peak, Plum Creek, Priest River, San Bernardino, Sau Gabriel, San Jacinto, South Platte, Teton, Washington, and White River Plateau. Besides these the Mount Rainier, Olvnipic, and Yellow- stone reserves have been examined in part. The reserves thus far examined comprise an area of 28,236 square miles, or about 39 per cent of the entire area of the reserves. The following are the areas I'eserved in each State and Territorj', with the proportion which the reserved area bears to the total area and to the wooded area of each State or Territory: Arms of forcM reserrcs hi/ States, in square itiiles and iti peri'eMages of area and of ■wooded areas. Area reserved. Per cent of total area. Per cent of wooded area Sg. miles. 6, 82.5 6 27 IS, .509 9 30 4,848 5 15 6, 264 7 IS 7,885 5 19 4,273 3 18 7,271 8 13 1,893 2 76 1,474 2 15 12,672 19 27 4,994 5 40 Arizona Califoi-nia ... Colorado Idaho Montana New Mexico. Oregon South Daliota Utah Washington . Wyoming Of the total area it appears that a much larger proportion of Wash- ington has been reserved than of any other State or Territory. Of the wooded area the proportion ranges from 13 per cent in Oregon to 76 per cent in South Dakota, where nearly all the woodland has been reserved from settlement. ABSTRACTS OF REPORTS OlS" FOREST RESERVES. PIKES PEAK, PLUM CREEK, AND SOUTH PLATTE RESERVES. There are in Colorado live reserves, known as Pikes Peak, Plum Creek, South Platte, White River, and Battlement Mesa reserves. Of these the first three were examined by Mr. John G. Jack and the last two b}^ Mr. George B. Sudworth. The three reserves. Pikes Peak, Plum Creek, and South Platte, are in the central part of the State and lie contiguous to one another. The first comprises an area of 184:,320 acres, or 288 square miles, 4 FOREST RESERVES. including the summit of Pikes Peak and its slopes and spurs to the north, south, and west. The second comprises an ax'ea of 179,200 acres, or 280 square miles, including the rugged, granite country immediately to the west of Pikes Peak, traversed by the South Platte. The third comprises an ai'eaof 683,520 acres, or 1,068 square miles, and includes the high mountains upon the east, north, and west of South Park. The surface of these reserves lies at rather high altitudes, ranging from 7,000 feet in the lowest valleys to 14,000 feet upon the summits of the mountains. It is, in the main, a rugged mountain region, heavih' eroded, with thin, coarse soil, mainly of granite detritus, and vevy little of it is suited for anj^ other purpose than the production of forests. Owing to the great altitude the climate is rather severe, and even in the most favored localities only very limited agriculture is possible. The crops which can be produced consist only of the hardiest grains and vegetables, while nearlj- all the land within the area is incapable of supporting any agriculture whatever. The rainfall, however, is ample for the support of forests over nearly the entii'e region. Of all the reserves established by the Federal Government these three probably have been most damaged by fire and have been sub- jected to the greatest depredation by timber cutters. Onlj' a small proportion of the total area of these reserves is without traces of fires, and large areas have been burned over in comparatively recent j^ears. Moreover, timber cutting has been very widespread, the forests hav- ing been culled almost everywhere of their largest and most valuable trees. As a result of the fires and of the cutting, the timber is every- where small, occurring in scattered groves, alternating with open areas. It is nowhere dense, and the older trees are very defective. There is much undergrowth, showing the disposition of the foi'est to reassert itself, but in the entire area of these reserves there is alto- gether very little merchantable timber. The pi'incipal timber trees found in these reserves are the follow- ing: ^ Pinus ponderom, (yellow pine). — This is the most abundant, the most widely distributed, and the most valuable species found within this area. It attains a larger growth than other trees, the extreme limit observed being 125 feet in height and exceeding 3 feet in diameter. It is found ranging from the lowest altitude within the reserve up to about 10,000 feet. Pinus mwi^ayana (lodgepole pine) is abundant, sometimes being found mixed with other pines and spruces, at other times forming pure growths. As everywhere else in the Rockj- Mountain region, this species is here increasing its range, being the first to restock burned areas. It is of little commercial \'alue. Pseudotsuga taxifoUa (red fir, Dougla.s spruce). — This tree is found GANNETT] ABSTRACT OF REPORTS. 5 clo.sely assofiiited with the yellow pine, occupying practically the same belt of altitude. It grows here to a considerable size, although not to be compared in this respect with its development on the Pacific coast. The extreme height observed was 120 feet, with a trunk 4 feet iu diameter. Picea engelmanni (Engelmann spruce). — This tree is abundant at considerable altitudes, reaching its best development between 10,000 and 11,000 feet, where it is sometimes found 120 feet in height, with a diameter exceeding .3 feet. Picea jiarryanOt (blue spruce). — This tree is nowhere abundant and never occurs by itself, being mixed with other species. Its range is from the lowest altitudes up to about 9,000 feet. Ahies Imiocarpa (alpine fir). — This tree is here of rare occurrence, being found sparsely at the greatest altitudes. Ahies concolor (balsam fir). — This also is of rather rare occurrence, and is of little importance from an economic point of view. Other species found within the reserves which are of little or no economic importance are the piiion pine, two species of juniper, quaking aspen, and cottonwood. PIKES PEAK RE.SERVE. The Pikes Peak Reserve is traversed by the Colorado Midland Rail- way, on which are several stations, a number of them being in the nature of summer resorts, containing few inhabitants except in the summer season. The northeastern corner of the reserve is touched by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad, and a considerable town has been built up at Palmer Lake within the limits of the reserve. Scattered over the reserve are a number of small ranches, as along Bear and North Cheyenne creeks, and upon the Cheyenne Mountain wagon road, between Chej^enne Springs and Cripple Creek. There is little agriculture possible in this reserve, and little has been attempted, the ranches being chieflj^ devoted to the raising of cattle. There are no active mines within this reserve, although nuich pros- pecting is being done. There are no sawmills at present at work within the reserve, but much cutting has been done in past years. PLUM CREEK RESERVE. A considerable proportion, perhaps a third, of the area of the Plum Creek Reserve is under private ownership, the lands thus held being as a rule those at the lowest altitudes and having the most level surface. The western side of this reserve has, in recent years, been the scene of intense mining excitement, which resulted in the establishment of a number of small mining towns. The boom, however, having sub- 6 FOREST KESERVES. sided, these towns are largely deserted at present. There are now no paying mines within the reserve, although many prospects arc held and work is being done upon them. Mueh luml)ering is still carried on in this reserve, there being at the time of the examination no fewer than six portable sawmills at work, altogether capable of turning out 60,000 or 70,000 feet of lumber per day. The owners of these mills claim to Ije cutting timber upon land held in private ownership. SOUTH PLATTE RESERVE. In the South Platte Reserve are sexeral towns of considerable mag- nitude, such as Alma, Park City, and East Leadville. The western portion of the reserve is traversed by a branch of the Colorado and Southern Railway and by the Colorado Midland Railway, which ha\'e stations located within it. Altogether, although a comparatively small proportion of th(> reserve has been alienated, there is a considerable population living within its limits. Only small portions of this reserve lie at altitudes suiEciently low to permit agriculture, even upon the most limited scale, to be carried on, and but little farming is attempted. Cattle and sheep are grazed to a considerable extent in the margin of South Park, which lies within the reserve. The northern and western borders of South Park lying within the reserve have in years past been the scene of active placer mining ; consideral)le quartz mining also has lieen done. At present the min- ing industry in this region is not in a prolitable condition ; still there are numerous mining camps, some new and some old, within the region. Among these are Puma, Gold City, Jasper, Alma, Park City, East Leadville, and Saci-amento. Timber cutting, especially in the mountains on the north and west of South Park, has in years past been extremely active for the supply of the mines, especially those at Leadville, but at the time of the examination of this reserve there were only four or live mills at work, probably upon timber owned by private parties. These reserves can not be regarded as sources of supply of timber at present, or for many years to come, but rather as areas for its culti- vation. Through tires and timber cutting nearly all the timber of value has been destroyed, and it will require generations of care and protection before this area can again become a source of supply. BATTLEMENT MESA FOREST RESERVE. This reserve was examined by Mr. George B. Sudworth during the months of September and October, 1898. It is situated in western Colorado, between Grand and Gunnison rivers. The area of the reserve is 1,321 square miles, or 858,240 acres. GANNETT.] ABSTRACT OF REPORTS. 7 The surface of this reserve is composed largely of high plateaus, whose summits i-ange from 10,000 to 12,000 feet in altitude. Being mainl_v a greatly elevated region, it enjoys a rainfall ample for the growth of forests. Still, despite this ample rainfall, it is not by any means a heavily forested region. The trees occur in groves, alternat- ing with areas of open park, and as a rule are small and of a species of no great value for industrial purposes. Altogether the stand of timber upon the reserve is estimated to be not more than 150 million feet B. :M. The most salient features of this reserve are the two high mesas, known as Grand and Battlement mesas. The latter is comparatively small, its summit covering but a few square miles, separating Grand River from the upper waters of Plateau Creek. Its altitude is fully 12,000 feet above the sea. It is composed in the main of sandstones, with a lava cap, which has protected it from erosion. Grand Mesa is much larger and rises with long slopes from the val- ley of Gunnison Eiver on the south and west to an altitude of 10,000 to 11,000 feet. Like Battlement Mesa, it is composed mainly of sand- stones, with a lava capping, which in parts has Ijecn broken away by undermining, leaving here and there lava summits, while at the west- ern part the lava cap still remains intact, covering a considerable area. The principal trees occurring in this reserve are, in the order of their importance, as follows: Engelmann spruce and alpine fir. which are always associated together in the forests, are the most conspicuous and abundant and cover the largest areas. Of these mixed forests the spruce forms about three-fourths of the timber. They occur mainly between 8,000 and 10,500 feet above the sea. Neither tree grows to large size, rarely exceeding 70 feet in height and 14 or 15 inches in diameter. Red fir, or Douglas spruce, is found in small groves and single trees, between the altitudes of 6,500 and 9,800 feet. The extreme size of this tree is 30 inches in diameter and 65 feet in height. Blue spruce occurs sparingly between altitudes of 6,800 and 8,500 feet. This is one of the largest ti'ees found in the reserve, ranging in height up to 90 feet and in diameter to 30 inches. Yellow pine is found in this I'eserve, but it is of very limited occur- rence. There are other species of little commercial value, such as the one- seed juniper. Rocky Mountain juniper and piiion pine. The aspen is abundant everywhere between altitudes of 6,400 and 10,000 feet, forming dense groves upon old burns. The timber upon this reserve is of exceedingly poor quality. The stand is everywhere light, the trees are small, biunched low down and linotty, and a considerable proportion, 25 per cent to 40 per cent, including all the largest timber, is dead or defective. 8 FOREST KESERVES. The extent of arable land within the reserve is trifling. It is con- fined to a few hundred acres, widely scattered about on the lower slopes of the plateaus. But two occupied ranches were found, although there were many others which had been abandoned either temporarily or permanently. Owing to the poor quality of the timber in this region, most of that used in the towns on the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad is brought in from outside, and the demand for lumber which this resei-ve may be called upon to supply is at present, owing to the character of the timber, but very slight. The cause of the condition of the forest in this reserve is the same as in other parts of the Rocky Mountain region — it is the old story of forest fires, which have raged over it for centuries, injuring or destroy- ing the standing timber and liilling the undei-growth. It is only through a cessation of these fii-es that the region will be afforded an opportunity to be reclothed with timber, and this process will necessarily be a very slow one. WHITE RIVER FOREST RESERVE. The White River Forest Reserve of Colorado was examined by Mr. George B. vSudworth during the months of July and August, 1S9S. The reserve is situated in western Colorado, in the region of high plateaus which ilanlv the Rocky Mountains on the west. It includes the heads of White River, an eastern branch of the Green. The surface of this reserve is composed of high, level, or rolling plateaus, elevated 10,000 to 12,000 feet above sea level, with the broad deep valleys which separate them. Bcnng in the main a greatly ele- vated region, it enjoys a rainfall ample for forest growth. The lower valleys of the reserve have a climate vi'hich permits of agricidture. but the principal valleys and the sunmiits of the jjlateaus have an altnost arctic climate. The region as a whole is sparsely timl)ered. The timber grows in patches and groves of various sizes, from a few acres up to square miles in extent. Altogether, the stand of timber upon it is estimated at 1.300 million feet B. M. The principal species of value for lumber consist, in the order of their importanc-e, of the following: Engelmann spruce, which ranges from 19 to 24 inches in diameter and up to 120 feet in height. Alpine fir. found at the greatest elevations, where it ranges from 18 to 24 inches in diameter. Lodgepole pine, which is the most at)undant, although not the most important tree. Its timber ranges from 8 to 20 inches, and it reaches a height of 75 feet. Blue spruce, ranging in diameter from 10 to 24 inches and up to 80 or 100 feet in heiaht. GANNETT.] ABSTRACT OF REPORTS. 9 Red fir. 10 to 20 inches in diameter and from 30 to 60 feet high. Yellow pine, from 1 to 2 feet in diameter and from 60 to 80 feet in height. In the lower valleys within the reserve are numerous ranches, and scattered about are a number of summer resorts, especially for hunt- ng purposes. There are no villages within the reserve, but there are four post-offices for the accommodation of the ranchmen. The timber which has been cut upon the reserve is not great in total amount, and has been cut entirely for local consvmiption and not in any sense for export. As in all parts of the Rocky Mountain region, the fires have been, in times past and present, very destructive. To this cause is to be attributed the fragmentary character of the forest. If protected from fires, there is no possible doubt that all of this region, with the excep- tion of the lower valleys, would in time be covered with a fairly dense tree growth. The open lands upon the reserve are used to a large extent for the pasturing of cattle and horses by the ranchmen upon and near the I'eserve. There is at present no mining going on upon the reserve. FLATHEAD FOREST RESERVE, MONTANA. This reserve was examined by Mr. H. B. Ayres, who devoted about four months to the work. The area examined is approximately 2,160 square miles, including the reserve and a tract of country extending to the westward as far as Tobacco Plains. The area, which lies entirely north of the Great Northern Railway, consists, in general terms, of two mountain ranges, one in the eastern, the other in the western part of the reserve, separated by a broad valley. The easternmost of the two ranges is the eastei'n range of the Rocky Mountain sj^stem in this latitude, facing the plains. Its peaks have an altitude in the neighbor- hood of the railroad of from 7,000 to 9,000 feet, rising northward, so that at the northern boundary of the country they reach an altitude of 11,000 feet. All the gorges leading out of this range are of glacial origin, and in the upper parts of these gorges glaciers still remain, covering a large part of the region with snow and ice. It is an extremely rugged range, abounding in points of great scenic interest. West of this range is the valley of Flathead River above the lake, which in the south has a width of about 15 miles, narrowing north- ward toward the boiuidary. Succeeding this valley on the west is a broken, irregular mountain range, not as high nor as rugged as the eastern range. Most of this region is drained southward bj^ the Flathead River into Flathead Lake. Smaller portions are drained by the Kootenai, Saskatchewan, and Missouri rivers. 10 FOREST KESERVES. Taken as a whole, the region is one of fairly almndant rainfall, although, as it has a wide range in altitude, the rainfall difl'ers greatly in different parts. In the valleys irrigation is probably advisable, if not necessary ; while upon the mountains the rainfall is ample for tree o-rowth. Owing to the latitude and the elevation the temperature is low, rendering it doubtful whether agriculture can ever be made protitable within it. The region is generally lightl_y timbei-ed. This is due not, however, to the climate, which is not unfavorable to tree growth, but to fre- quent and persistent tires. The merchantable timber in the reserve consists mainly of western larch, red tir, spruce, and yellow pine. The entire stand of timber within the reserve, estimating it upon the basis of the present practice in cutting, is only 300 million feet. Measuring it, however, by Eastern standards, Mr. Ajres finds N51 million feet, and in addition to that 3,628,000 cords of wood suitable for firewood. This amount stands upon an area of 1.9-12 square miles, leaving only 218 square miles reported as not timbered. It is plain from the above that this reserve can not be regarded as an important source of timber at present, but rather as a region for the cultivation of timber for future use. Nimierous claims have been taken up in various parts of this reserve, the greater portion of which are apparently abandoned or are occu- pied only a small part of the time. Indeed, it appears that only 40 or 50 claims are continuously occupied. The probabilities of agricul- ture in this region are somewhat doubtful, owing to the severity of the climate. There are no producing mines within the reser\'(>, although many locations have been made upon which assessment work is being done. BITTERROOT RESERVE (IDAHO PORTION). This portion of the Bitteroot Reserve was examined by Mr. J. B. Lei])erg, who devoted to it the entire season, conmiencing early in June and concluding work in the beginning of October. The area examined exceeds 5,600 square miles or 3,612.160 acres. The surface is made up of great massive spurs from the main divide of the Bitter- root Range, M-hich forms its eastern limit. These spurs ti-end west- ward and separate launches of the Clearwater, excepting the southern part, which is drained by Salmon River and .short triliutaries from the north. The country is exceedingly rugged and mountainous, the val- leys being, in the main, narrow, with precipitous walls rising at steep angles. It is an extremely inaccessible region, being traversed by very few trails and no wagon roads. The elevation of the region ranges from 3,000 feet in thelowest valleys up to It. 500 feet upon the mountain summits. But little mining is or has been done within the limits of thereserve; GANNETT.] ABSTRACT OF REPORTS. 11 a few placers nave been discovered and worked, and some quartz leads have been discovered, but at present the latter are merely prospects. Agricultural land is very limited in amount, and is distributed in small areas in the narrow valleys upon the west side of the reserve. There is considerable land suitable for grazing, both in the stream valleys and high up in the mountams. These areas altogether amount to many thousand acres, but collectively are not large in comparison with the entire area of the reserve. There are at present no stock or sheep pastured within the reserve, except a few owned bj^ ranchmen. Settlement is confined to a few vallej^s in the western part of the reserve, and is very limited in amount. The few settlers have no market at present for their products; indeed, the products are limited in range, owing to the severity of the climate. The rainfall through this entire region is heavy, being probabh' sufficient in the average year for cultivation without irrigation. The aspect of the forests is extremely diversified, a feature «hich is apparently due, in part, to the great range of altitude, and in part to the great prevalence of fires. The region contains a great lumiber of tree species and exhibits a great range in age of trees. Of the 3,612,160 acres embraced in the region examined, Mr. Leiberg finds that 193.0()0 acres are naturally treeless. This area is situated mainly upon the higher parts of the mountains, where the ruggedness of the surface precludes tree growth. He finds that within the past seventy- five j'ears 1,442,111: acres have been badly burned, and the remainder of the area, 1,977,016 acres, has been untouched by fire, and is con- sequently covered with tree growth of considerable size, and there- fore of value. Upon this area he finds 1,899,800,000 feet B. M. of merchantable timber, consisting of the following species in the proportion given : Per cent. Red fir 27 Yellow pine 24 Pacific arbor vit« 15 Eiigehnann spruce 10 Silver fir 8 Western white pine 6 Western larch .5 Alpine hemlock . .3 Loilgepole pine 2 It must not be understood from the above table that the total amount of lodgepole pine nor the area covered bj' it is in proportion to the amount here reported as merchantable. On the contrary, this is the most abundant tree in the reserve and occupies by far the largest area, especialh' among the young gi'owth. The average stand of timber upon the areas occupied bj' merchant- 12 FOREST RESERVES. able timber is about 2,500 feet per acre. The stand, however, shows wide ^\ariations with different areas and different species, ranging as high, in some localities, as 100,000 feet per acre over small areas. FOREST CONDITIONS AND STANDING TIMBER OF WASHINGTON. In my last report I published a tabular statement, by counties, of the standing timber of Washington, as estimated by cruisers, under the lumber practice prevailing in the State, and detailed statements reoardiug land classitication, the stand of timber, and the amounts of various species in the western counties. During the past winter the work of collecting cruisings and of pre- paring detailed estimates has been finished for the entire State, and the results are herewith presented, together with maps showing the classification of lands and the distribution of timber. (Pis. II-VII.) With the exception of the redwood forests of California, the forests of western Washington are among the densest, heaviest, and most continuous in the United States. Except for a few prairie openings, and except where removed by fire or the ax, they formerly covered the country as a thick mantle from a line high up on the Cascade Range westward to the shores of the Pacific. In all this region only the Olympics rear a few summits above the forests. Not only are the forests dense overhead, but the undergrowth is dense and tangled beneath. The trees are large, reaching 12 to 15 feet in diameter and 250 feet in height, with clear trunks for 100 or more feet. The timber is mainlj' red or yellow fir {Pseudotsuga iMxifoUa), mingled with spruce, hemlock, and cedar. The amount of standing timber in this region has long been a mat- (L-r of interest, and many wild guesses have been hazarded. As usual in such cases, most of them have been far above the truth. AVith no data on which to base an estimate the tendency is to exaggerate. To obtain an approximation to the true amount, statistics derived from cruisings recently made have been obtained from all parts of the State, and especially from the heavily timbered portion lying west of the Cascade Range. The sources of this information are as follows: The Northern Pacific Railway Companj', which has made most elab- orate cruisings of that part of its land grant situated west of the Cas- cade Range, has, with great li])erality, through its western land agent, Mr. Thomas Cooper, furnished an abstract of all the information in its possession regarding timber lands, including not only the statistics of standing timber, but maps showing the areas at present forested, those naturallj' unforested, those which have been cut over, and those which have been burned. These statistics have been compiled and the maps have been prepared by Messrs. John M. Rankineand George H. Plummer, of the Northern Pacific Riiihvay oflice. The commissioner of the State land oiiice has furnishod abstracts of all cruisings made U S GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MAP OF WASHINGTON SHO^YI; EXPRESSED IN FERCENTA( Bv (Veo. H. PlLiinn\er, V 50 40 30 SO 10 Under I % 10 to 25% TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT PART V PL. Ill JULIUS BlEN 8 CO UTH I ; THE DISTHIHUTION OF RED FIR OF THE TOTAI. FOREST AREA 'luinmer ajid .J.H. Rankine 98 50 to 75 "o 75 to]00% tm Jc GANNETT.] FORESTS OF WASHINGTON. 13 for the selection of lands for the State. Besides the above, several lumber companies .ud owners of timber land have placed their infor- mation at the disposal of this office. The collection of data and preparation of estimates for the counties east of the crest of the Cascade Range has been done by Mr. Fred G. Plummer, who has devoted the winter months of 1898-99 to this work. Altogether, crui ings of more than two million acres have been col- lected. These are scattered widely over the State and represent thor- oughly well the stand of timber under all the different conditions of rainfall, temperature, soil, slope exposure, i-elief, and altitude. The other factor necessary for obtaining the total stand of timber, the area of merchantable timber, has been obtained from the same sources in the greatest detail, and with this the ai'eas which have been logged and which ; e been burned in recent years. In connection ^nth data regarding the stand of timber, its distri- bution as to species has been obtained, the classification being that recognized by lumb-rmen. From these data ■ le total amount of timber in the State, under the Washington lumbering practice, is estimated at 114,778 million feet B. M. Of this amount more than nine-tenths, or 103,504 million feet, are west of the crest of the Cascade Range, the remainder, 11,274 million feet, being upon its eastern slope and in the northern and east- ern portions of the I ate. This total is less than half that estimated as standing- in Oregon, a fact which I explain liy the following considerations : First, the area of merchantable timber is by no means so great in Washington as in Oregon. While the wooded areas do not differ materially, that of C egon being 54,300 square miles and that of Washington 47,700 square miles, a much larger proportion of the wooded area of Oregon is occupied by timber of merchantable size and species. For instance, the Cascade Range in Washington is much broader than in Oregon and at much greater altitude, thus cutting out on this account a larger part of the wooded area. The Olympic Mountains also subtract another large part of the wooded area. Second, the lumber industry of Washington has been, especially in recent years, much more important than in Oregon, and consequently a larger area has been cut over. In 1890 the cut of Washington was double that of Oregon. Third, although the Coast Ranges of Oregon have suffered greatly from tires, the State as a whole, and especially the western portion of it, has not suffered by any means as severely from this source of destruction as has Washirgton, probably owing to the fact that lum- bering has not been as activ'e. The State of Washington is naturally divided into two parts, which 14 FOREST RESERVES. difler from one another widely in respect to timber growtii. The line of division is the crest of the Cascade Rang-e, running from the nortli to the south line of the State. West of it the country is heavily forested, or was before lumbering operations commenced. In this part of the State the areas naturally dc\oid of timber are few and small and altogether trifling in proportion to the total area. East of it the land is mainly without timber, and where timber exists it is sparse and its quality is inferior. Moreover, there is a great difference in the species. West of the Cascade Range the prevailing species, which forms nearly two-thirds of the entire forest, is red or yellow hr. This, with cedar, hemlock, and spruce, compose the entire forest. Fir is found in almost all parts of this region, and throughout the Sound Valley little of any other species is found, the forests ])('ing almost pure fir. East of the Cascade Range the forest consists mainly of pine, priucipall}' yellow pine, though in the northeast corner of the State a little white pine is intermingled. Red fir is found scattered through the pine forests i\i considerable proportion, and in the nurtlieastern part of the State larch is abundant. Small proportions of hemlock and cedar are also found, and a trifling amount of spruce and oak. The following table gives the stand of tim))er of the species recog- nized by the lumbermen, in thousands of feet, board measure, with the percentage which each bears to the total amount: Standing timber in Washington. Spccios. M feut B. M. Per cent of total. Red fir 68, 338, 421 16, 309, 453 14, 848, 259 6, 586, 520 6,419,215 2, 078, 601 24, .550 3,700 60 14 13 6 5 2 Cedar Hemlock .. Pine White fir . .... ( );lk Dividing the State into the two parts above given, the following tables show the distribution of these species in these two sections, with the percentage which each bears to the total forest of that section: U. S GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MAP OF WASHINGTON SHOW EXPRESSED IN PERCEN Bv Geo. H. Plumme 50 40 30 20 Under l.°o 1 to 10 ° o 10 tx) 2J TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT PART V PL. IV JULIUS BIEN aCO.LlTH r E DISTRIBUTION OF HEMLOCK THE TOTAL FOREST AREA mer and J. H. Rankine w. 23 to 50°' 50 to 75% 0\'er75% FORESTS OB' WASHINGTON. Standivg timber in western Washington. 15 Species. Fir Cedar . . . Hemlock Spruce . . M feet B. M. 66, 208, 861 16, 192, 276 14, 699, 759 6, 402, 605 Per cent of total. 64 16 14 6 Standing timber in eastern Washington. Species. M feet B. \t. Per cent of total. Pine 6, 586, 520 2, 129, 560 2, 078, 601 148, 500 117,177 24, 550 16,610 8, 700 60 19 19 1 1 Red fir . . Larch .... . . . Heudock Cedar White fir Sj )ruce Oak The above figures do not add up to the total given for this part of the State, owing to the fact that a few million feet were not classified by the cruisers. The table on the next page gives the estimated amount of merchant- able timber in each county, in thousands of feet B. M., as at present estimated by lumbermen. If it were cut under the practice which prevails at present, the.se figures represent a close approximation to the amount which would be realized. There is no question, however, that as in the case of the eastern white pine, a much larger amount will ultimately be realized, for several reasons : First, the standard will certainly be lowered, so that instead of utilizing only one-third of the tree, two-third.s may be used, and many small trees now destroyed by fire in the culled areas will be cut; second, species not now used may come into the market ; third, areas now considered inaccessible will serve as sources of supply ; fourth, the new growth on cut and burned areas will reach merchantable size long before the old growth is exhausted. In illustration of the difference between the supply as viewed by the 'Washington lumbermen and the actual amount, take the figures given by ]\Ir. Aj'res in his report on the western part of the Washington Reserve. Under Washington practice he found but 400 million feet in that area consisting of red fir. But under the Minnesota practice, by which the contents of all species is estimated, without regard to acces- 16 FOREST RESEKVES. t^ibility, he found not less than 14,400 million feet. This is, of course, an extreme case, but it is probably paralleled throughout the Cascade Range and in the Olympics. Merchantable timber in the State of Washington, by counties. Ck)unty. M feet B. M. County. M feet B. M. A'^iotin 81 18, 579 9, 072 2,342 243 5, 216 31 1.667 170 430 4.230 7,644 1,141 1.260 743 8, 586 Lincoln 14 2, 091 2, 665 7,813 6,520 10, 362 4,661 7,709 766 2,702 2,787 2,974 5 1,346 35 893 Mason 01 all am Okanogan Clarke Pacific Skagit T)oiieflaR Skamania Ferry Snohomish Spokane Island Stevens Thurston \\.\\\^f Wahkiakum Ivitsap Wallavvalla Kittita.s Whatcom Klickitat Whitman Lewis Yakima The counties omitted contain no merchantable timber. Average stand of timber per acre on timbered areas. County. Feet B. M. County. Feet B. M. 1,200 21, 300 15, 700 19, 000 1,700 20, 400 1,000 1,200 2,000 15,300 20, 500 * 9, 000 Lincoln 300 Mason 5,600 Okanogan 1,100 Pacific ! 16,300 Pierce 18,000 Skagit 28,000 Skamania 17.000 Chehalis Clallam Clarke Columbia Cowlitz Douglas 19, 000 Garfield 2,300 1, 100 Jefferson Stevens King Thurston Wahkiakum 11,0.50 Kitsap 27, 000 1,000 1,400 16, 500 24, 000 Klickitat Yakima 1,900 Lewis ...-. U-S GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Under 1 ' TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT PART V PL. V JULIUS BIEN a CO LITH N 1 THE DISTRIBUTION OF SPRUCE )F THE TOTAL FORK ST AREA uimiier ai\d J. H. Raixkine 8 le 23 lo oC^o 50 to 75% GANNETT.] FORESTS OF WASHINGTON. 17 The stand is heaviest in Skagit County, near the northern bound- ary. The next heaviest is Wahkiakum, in the southwest, near Colum- bia River. In western Washington the average stand is 18,000 feet ; in eastern Washington it is but 1.200 feet B. M. The entire area of Washington is 6G,880 square miles. Of this 23,165 square miles are covered with merchantable timber, or 36 per cent of its area. Only one-half of the wooded area of the State is I'egarded as containing merchantable timber under present lumbering practice. The entire area of the nineteen counties of western Washington is 2-4,906 square miles. Of this area but little more than one-third, or 9,039 square miles, is regarded as containing merchantable timber. Besides this, an area of 3,025 square miles has already been logged ; a much greater area, 3,614 square miles, of merchantal)le timljer has been burned, besides an area of 700 square miles in the mountains not containing merchantable timber. In other words, out of an area of 15,858 square miles foi-merly covered with merchantable timber, 20 per cent, or one-fifth, has been cut ; 22^ per cent has been destroyed by fire, and the remainder, 57^ per cent, is still covered with standing timber. In this entire area there are only 833 square miles which are naturally timberless. If we assume that the logged area contained on an average the same amount of timber per acre as is still standing in other areas, it appears that since lumbering liegan in this region there have been cut from it 36,000 million feet B. M. If we uiake the same assumption regarding the burned area, it appears that there has been destroyed by fire, without the least ben- efit to the world, the enormous amount of 40,000 million feet B. M. of lumber. Anyone who has passed the late summer and,earl}' fall in this State realizes the enormous destruction which takes place annualh* at this season. There are fires everywhere, and for weeks at a time the smoke from them lies as dense as the fog on the New England coast. These are impressive facts. In less than a generation more than two-fifths of the timber in one of the richest timber regions on this con- tinent has been destroyed, and of that destruction more than half has been caused by fire. Nearly two years' supply of lumber for the United States has been thus destroyed. Assuming that the timber thus destroyed would, if standing now, have a value of 75 cents per thousand feet, it appears that not less than $30,000,000 worth has thus gone up in smoke — a dead loss to the people of the State. In eastern Washington, out of an entire area of 41,928 square miles, 14,126 square miles only are now covered with merchantable timber, or only one-third of the area. Of the area at one time timbered, 1,385 square miles have been cut over and 244 square miles have been burnt. These figures present a strong contrast with similar figures 20 GEOL, PT 5 2 18 FOREST RESERVES. for western Washington, both in r(\spect to cut and burnt areas. The reason for it lies in the fact that in this part of the State the cutting is done only for local consumption and never for export, and in these open sparse forests of yellow pine fires do not run fi-eely or cause much damage. The distribution of the diti'erent species recognized as lumber in Washington is represented on Pis. Ill to VII and is seen to follow a few definite and simple laws. The tints represent the proportion which each species bears to the entire forest. The map showing the distribution of red fir shows that upon the west shores of Puget Sound the forest is practically pure fir, and that southward as far as Columl)ia River, throughout the valley of the eastern slope of the Cascade Range, more than three-fourths of the forest is composed of this species. The proportion diminishes as the Pacific coast is approached, and upon the coast and in an area or belt extending from 10 to 25 miles inland, there is practically no red fir to be found. On the east coast of Puget Sound and southward, between one-half and three-fourths of the forest is composed of fir. The proportion increases somewhat as we recede from the sound, but at an altitude of about 3.000 feet in the Cascade Range the fir disappears. The distribution of spruce is expressed on the map in a similar man- ner and is equally characteristic. There is practically no spruce on the C'ascade Range or on the eastern slopes of the Coast Ranges. It is most abundant immediately upon the Pacific coast and diminishes thence inland. Of cedar there is scarcely any to be found upon the islands and upon the west coast of Puget Sound, and but very little in the valley to the southward. It increases westward toward the coast and reaches a maximum immediately on the coast. The east coast of Puget Sound contains a large proportion of cedar, ranging from one-fourth to one- half of the forests, and that proportion diminishes as we ascend the Cascade Range. Hemlock is almost entirely wanting upon both shores of Puget Sound and in the valley to the south. It increases westward and forms a quite noticeable projjortion of the forests in the Coast Ranges and in the northwestern part of the Olympic Peninsula. It increases also as we ascend the Cascade Range, its habitat extending nearly to tim- ber line. ADAMS COUNTY. This county lies in the southeastern part of the State. Its surface consists of a broadly undulating plateau of basalt, containing few stream courses but many coulees. The county contains no timber whatever, excepting strips of willows, alders, and aspen along the few streams. S GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MAP OB^ WASHINGTON SHO> EXPRESSED IN PERCEN' Bv Geo. H. Plumme] 30 10 30 I'p 1 Under L^o 1 to 10 "'o 10 to 25 TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT PART V PL. Vt ULIUS BIEIN 6 CO LITH N 1 iE DISTRIBUTION OF CEDAR HE TOTAL FOREST AREA ner cu\d J. H. Rankine o lo 50*^0 50 to 75% Ovel- 7o"o GANNETT.] FORESTS OF WASHINGTON. 19 ASOTIN COUNTY. This is the southeasterumost county of the State. It consists mainly of the undulating, timberless, basalt plain of Snake River, but into its western edge extends the end of a spur from the Blue Mountains which bears some timber. Area of limber and other lands in Asotin County, Sq. miles. Total area - ti-iO Area timbered - 105 Area logged 6 Estimate of timber in Asotin County. M feet B. il. Pine - 47,640 Red fir - - - - 15, 880 Larch - 7, 940 White fir - - 7, 940 Total 79, 400 Average stand per acre in feet B. M 1, 200 Besides the above there is upon the cut area a small amount, esti- mated at 2 million feet, still standing, which, added to the above estimate, gives a total of 81,400,000 feet for the county. CHEHALIS COUNTY. This county borders upon the Pacific Ocean, and on the north extends far up into the Oljnupic Mountains. The northern portion of the county is high and rugged and contains little or no merchantable tim- ber, and in other portions there are numerous small prairie tracts. Aside from these areas the county was originally heavily forested, mainl}' with tir in the interior and with spruce and cedar upon the coast. There have been few fires in this county, and the ])urned area is trifling. Lumbering has, however, been carried on extensively upon the streams flowing into Grays Harbor, and especially upon Chehalis River, nearly one-tenth of the timbered area of the county having been denuded of its forests. Area of timbered and other lands in Chehalis County, Washington. Pq. miles. Total area 2, 104 Merchantable-timber area 1, 360 Logged area 130 Naturally baVe area 47 Burned area - . . 36 Estimate of timber in Chehalis County, Washington. M feet B. M. Fir 9, 799, 418 Spruce 3,068,307 Cedar 3,474,350 Hemlock 2,2.36,983 Total 18, ,579, 058 Average per acre of timbered land, in feet B. M 21, 300 20 rOBEST RESERVES. CLALLAM COUNTT. This county occupies the northern part of the Olympic Peninsula. The southern portion of the country comprises a part of the Olympic Mountains, and is not regarded as containing any timber of present merchantable value. The remainder of the county was heavilj^ forested, but the ax has made inroads in these forests along the shores of Puget Sound as far west as Crescent Bay, and fires have extended inland from these cuttings to the mountains, destroying considerable areas of timber. The western part of the county is still an unbroken forest. The forests of this county are remarkable in the fact that thej' con- tain a large proportion of hemlock, the amount of this tree being greater than that of the red fir. Area of timbered and oilier lands in Clallam County, Washington. Sq. miles. Total area 1 , 824 Merchantable-timber area 900 Logged area 117 Burned area 151 Estimate of timber in Clallam County, Washington. M feet B. M. Fir 3, 045, 297 Spruce - 1, 758, 845 Cedar .547, 617 Hemlock 3, 719, 840 Total 9, 071, 599 Average per acre of timbered land, in feet B. M 15, 700 CLARKE COUTSITT. This county lies in the southwestern part of the State, bordering on the south and west upon Columbia River. Originally it was entirely covered with heavy forests with the exception of a few small prairie tracts. But little timber has been cut in the county, lumbering being prin- cipally confined to the line of the Portland, Vancouver and Yakima Railroad, and, on the other hand, the timber upon two-thirds of the county has been destroyed bj' fire, the burned areas lying principally in the southern and western parts of the county, leaving large bodies of forest in the eastern part. The forest consists almost exclusively of fir, there being verj- little cedar and hemlock, and no spruce whatever. Area of timbered and other lands in Clarke Count;/, Washington. Sq. miles. Total area 648 iMerchantable-timber area 192 Logged area 25 Naturally bare area 10 Burned area 421 S GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MAP OK ^\^\SH1NGT0N SHOW EXPRESSED IN PERCENTAGI Bv GecKPliimmer. F * 30 ao io Ciider I "o ^777777777/.// m 25 to aO-Jo / TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT PART V PL. VII JULIUS 81EN 8 CO LITH I THE DISTRIBUTION OF PINE THK TOTAI. FOREST AREA mer ai\d J. H. Rankine •^^ oU lo 75° Over 75% GANNETT.r FORESTS OF WASHINGTON. 21 Estimate of timber in Clarke Cuunly, Washington. M feet B. M. Fir 2, 124, 126 Cedar 132, 700 Hemlock 84, 860 Total • 2, 341, 686 Average per acre of timbered land, in feet B. M 19, 000 COLUMBIA COUNTY. This county lies in the southeastern portion of the State. Its southern part is occupied by the Blue Mountains, the crest of which runs across the county. Southward they descend rapidlj^ to the canyon of Grande Ronde River and northward to the Columbia Plains. The greater part of the county consists of these plains, which are timberless, with a broadly undulating- surface traversed by few streams. The northwest slope of the Blue Mountains was formerly well timbered with pine and fir, but this has mainly been logged ofl'. The summits of these mountains are sparsely timbered, while the southern slopes are timbered quite heavily for this region. There have been no burns in the county. Area of timbered and other lands in Columbia. County, Washington. Sq. miles. Total area 864 Timbered area 162 Logged area 180 Untimbered area 522 Estimate of timber in Columbia County, Washington. M feet B. M. Pine 109, 500 Red fir 36, 500 Larch 18, 250 White fir 9, 125 Spruce 9, 125 Total 182, 500 Average stand per acre, in feet B. M 1, 700 Scattered over the cut area is standing timber to the amount of about (50 million feet, which, added to the above estimate, gives a grand total of 242,500,000 for the county. COWUITZ COUNTV. This count}' lies in the southern part of the State, being limited on the south by Lewis and Columbia rivers. The eastern portion of the county comprises the western slopes of Mount St. Helens, and includes a considerable area on which the timber is not merchantable. Aside from this and a few areas of prairie, the county was originally covered 22 FOREST RESERVES. with fine merchantable forests. Fires have, however, been extremely disastrous in this county, destroying the timber on large areas, particularly in the eastern and southern parts of the countj\ Lum- bermg has been carried on along Columbia and Cowlitz rivers, and considerable areas have thus been denuded; but this be|irs little com- parison to the areas denuded bj' fire, which comprise fully one-half of the portion originally covered by merchantable forests. Area of timbered and other lands in Cowlitz County, Washington. Sq. miles. Total area 1, 124 Merchantable-timber area 400 Logged area 80 Naturally bare area 68 Burned area 500 Estimate of timber in Coiditz Courdy, Washington. SI tL'ft B. M. Fir 3, 932, 591 Spruce 1, 089 Cedar 627, 571 Hemlock 655, 184 Total 5,216,435 Average per acre of timbered land, in feet B. M 20, 400 DOUGLAS COUNTY. This county lies a little east of the center of the state, its area being comprised entirely within the Great Plains of the Columbia. It is bordered upon the north and west by Columbia River, flowing in a deep and narrow valley. The surface of the county is broadly undu- lating, consisting of a basalt plateau, intersected by coulees and stream canyons. It is almost entirely treeless, only about 1 per cent of its area being timbered, the timbered areas lying in nari"ow strips on the edge of the plateau near Columbia River. Along Columbia River, between Wenache and Virginia, are a few scattered pines and fir. Area of timber and other lands in Douglas County, Washington. Sq. miles. Total area 4, 552 Timbered area 49 Logged area 6 Nontimbered area 4, 497 Estimate of timber in Douglas County, Washington. M feet B. M. Yellow pine 23, 250 Red fir 7, 750 Total 31,000 Average stand per acre, in feet B. M 1, 000 GANNETT.] FORESTS OF WASHINGTON. 23 FERRY COUNTY. This is a new county, formed in 1899 from the western part of Stevens County, in the northeastern part of the State. Its surface is almost entirely mountainous and broken, and is throughout covered with timber, although the timber is nowhere dense. But one burn of any magnitude has occurred in the county in recent times, and no appreciable amount of timber has been cut. Area of timber and other lands in Ferry County, Washin^on. Sq. miles. Total area 2,260 Timbered area 2, 217 Burned area 5 Nontimbered area 38 Estimate of timber in Ferry County, Washington. M feet B. M. Pine - 999, 900 Red fir 333, 300 Larch '. 333, 300 Total •. 1, 666, 500 Average stand per acre, in feet B. M 1,200 FRANKLIN COUNTY. This county, which lies in the southeastern part of the State, in the angle between Snake River and the Columbia, is entirely timberless. GARFIELD COUNTY. This county lies in the southeastern part of the State, extending from Snake River southward to the Oregon line. The southern part includes a narrow section of the Blue Mountains. These are forested except on the northern slope, which has been largely cut over. The northern portion of the county is comprised in the undulating plain of Snake River and is timberless. Area of timber and other lands in Garfield County, Washington. Sq. miles. Total area 672 Timbered area 115 Cut area i 70 Nontimbered area 487 Estimate of timber in Garfield County, Washington. M feet B. M. Pine 89,820 Red fir 29,940 Larch 14, 970 White fir 7, 485 Spruce 7, 485 Total 149, 700 Average stand per acre in feet, B. M 2, 000 24 FOBEST RESERVES. Scattered over the cut area is standing timber to the amount of about 20 million feet, which, added to the above figures, gives a total for the county of 169,700,000. ISLAND COUNTY. This comprises a group of islands in the northern part of Puget Sound, including Whidbey and Camano islands. These islands origi- nally were entirely covered with fir forests, but have been almost com- pletely denuded by the ax. Area of timbered and other lands in Island County, Washington. Sq. miles. Total area, all logged 220 Estimate of timber in Island County, Washington. M feet B. M. Fir 250, 000 Cedar .* 180, 000 Total 430,000 The above timber is reported as still standing upon culled land. JEFFERSON COUNTY. This county lies upon the Olympic Peninsula, stretching from Hood Canal, upon the east to the Pacific Ocean. The central portion of the county, comprising three-fourths of it, lies within the Olympic Moun- tains, and contains no timber of present value for milling purposes. Elsewhere the county was formerly heavil^v forested, on the east with fir, on the west mainly with cedar and spruce. The timber of the eastern portion has been largely destroyed either by the ax or by fire, mainly by the latter. The timber in the western portion of the county has as yet sufiered little from either cause. The forests of this countv are remarkalile because of the large proportion of cedar, more than half the forest being of this spe- cies, while of fir, elsewhere the most abundant species, there is comparatively little. Ai-ea of timbered and other lands in Jefferson County, Washington. Sq miles. Total area 1, 688 Merchantable-timber area 430 Logged area 96 Naturally bare area 100 Burned area 11.5 Estimate of timber in Jefferson County, Wa,sliington. M feet B. M. Fir 794,232 Spruce 267, 427 Cedar 2, 124, 72.5 Hemlock 1, 043, 776 Total 4, 230, 160 Average per acre of timbered land in feet B. M 15. 300 GANNETT.] FOKESTS OF WASHINGTON. 25 KING COUNTY. This county is in the middle of the State north and south, and extends from the crest of the Cascade Range westward to the shores of Puget Sound. Much of the eastern part of the county lies high up in the Cascade Range, and contains little timber of present merchant- able value. Aside from this and a few trifling areas of prairie, the county was originally heavily forested, but the forests have been largely removed by fire or the ax. The latter has taken the timber from Vashon and Maury islands, from the shores of Puget Sound, and of Lakes Washington and Sammamish, and from a broad belt along the line of the Northern Pacific Railway, together with other smaller areas in the interior of the county. Fires have done a vast amount of damage in various parts of the county, mainly in its central portion, although the mountainous regions have not escaped injury. Indeed, fully one-half of the area formerly covered with merchantable timber has been devastated by fire. Area of timbered and other lands in King County, WaMngton. Sq. miles. Total area '. - 1, 944 Merchantable-timber area 580 Logged area 350 Naturally bare area — 10 Burned area 520 Estimate of timber in Kinq County, Washington. M feet B. M. Fir 5, 251, 784 Spruce 49, 248 Cedar - 1,252,318 Hemlock 1,090,496 Total 7, 643, 846 Average per acre of timbered land, in feet B. M 20, 500 KITSAP COUNTY. This occupies the northern part of the peninsula separating Hood Canal from Puget Sound. It was originally entirely covered with heav^- fir forests. These have been removed almost entirely bj^ the ax from the shores and the islands bordering them. Only a trifling area in the southern portion of the county has been burned, while nearly half the area has been logged. The standing timber consists entirely of fir. Area of timbered and other lands in Kitsap County, Washington. Sq. mile.s. Total area 392 Merchantable-timber area 200 Logged area 170 Burned area 22 Estimate of timber in Kitsap County, Washington. M feet B. M. Fir 1,140,900 Average per acre of timbered land, in feet B. M 9, 000 26 FOREST KESEEVES. KITTITAS COUNTY. This countj' lies in the middle of the State north and south, and streches from Columbia River to the crest of the Cascade Range. The southeastern portion of the county is within the plains region, while the western portion comprises high and rugged mountain spurs. The plains portion is without timber excepting in a narrow strip along the Yakima River. The mountain portion is timbered, but hj no means heavily, with yellow pine, fir, and larch. Some timber has been cut from this area, especially west of Ellensburg, and in i^atches in the mountains in the neighborhood of the Northern Pacific Railway. The burnt areas are trifling in extent. Area of timber and other lands in Kittitas County, Washington. Sq. miles. Total area 3, 344 Merchantable-timber area 2, 000 Logged area 67 Burnt area _ 10 Untimbered area 1, 267 Estimate of timber in Kittitas County, Washingtcm. M feet B. M. Yellow pine. - 504, 000 Fir ,504, 000 Larch 252, 000 Total 1, 260, 000 Average stand per acre in feet B. M. .: 1, 000 KLICKITAT COUNTY. This county occupies a long, narrow strip bordering upon Columbia River. Its western end is in the foothills of the Cascade Range, whence it stretches far eastward into the plains. The western portion of the county is timbered, and in certain small areas quite heavilj^ tim- bered. The eastern portion, comprising by far the largest part of the county, is without forests. A few small areas have been cut, and at the western end of the county the great burns of the adjoining county, Skamania, have extended into it. These burns have occurred in recent years, and restocking is only just commencing upon them. .•lr«a of timber and other lands in Klickitat County, Washington. Sq. miles. Total area 2, 176 Timbered area : 840 Logged area 23 Burnt area 33 Untimbered area 1 280 GANNETT.] FORESTS OF WASHINGTON. 27 Estimate of timber in Klickitat County, Washington. M feet B. M. Red fir 336, 300 Pine 321,100 Hemlock 71 , 400 Larch 10,500 Oak 3,700 Total -- 743,000 Average stand per acre in feet B. M 1, 400 LEWIS COUNTY. This is situated in the southwestern part of the State, and extends from the crest of the Cascade Range on the east to the Coast Ranges on the west, inchiding the valley of Cowlitz River. A considerable por- tion of its area, therefore, is included within the Cascade Range, where the timber is not regarded as of present merchantable value. There are many prairies scattered over its surface, which further reduce the original area of merchantable timber. The timber upon more than one-third of the area of this county has been burned, the burned areas lying mainly in the eastern half of the county, though they are not by any means confined to this part. The cutting of timber has been carried on mainly in the neighborhood of the Northern Pacific Railway, which traverses the county from north to south. Area of timbered and other lands in Lewis County, Washington. Sq. miles. Total area 2, 308 Merchantable-timber area 815 Logged area 71 Naturally bare area 60 Burned area _ 820 Estimate of timber in Lewis County, Washington. M feet B. M. Fir 7,236,170 Spruce 1,311 Cedar 883,627 Hemlock 465,154 Total 8,586,262 Average per acre of timbered land, in feet B. M 16, 500 LINCOLN COUNTT. This county lies in the eastern portion of the State, upon the Great Plain of the Columbia, and is bordered on the north by Columbia and Spokane rivers. Its surface is a broad, undulating, basalt plain, traversed by a few stream courses and numerous coulees. The timber consists mainly of yellow pine, and is found in the northern 28 FOREST RESERVES. part of the county, near Columbia and Spokane rivers. Formerly it extended in a eontinuous belt aeross the county in the neighborhood of these streams, but most of it has been cut away for cord wood and saw logs. The stand is very light. Area of timbered and other lands in Lincoln County, Washington. Sq. miles. Total area '. 2, 296 Timbered area 63 Logged area 200 Nontimbered area 2, 033 Estimate of timber in Lincoln County, Washington. M feet B. M. Pine 10, 200 Fir ... ; 1, 800 Total - 12, 000 Average stand per acre, in feet B. M 300 Scattered over the cut area is a little standing timber, amounting to about a million feet, which, added to the above estimate, gives a total of l-t million feet for the county. MASON COUNTT. This county includes the .southeastern part of the Olympic Mountains and much of the country bordering Hood Canal. The portion within the Olympic Mountains is not regarded as containing timber of mer- chantable value. Eisewhei'e, however, with the exception of a few small prairie tracts, it was originally heavily timbered. Fires have done little damage, but timber cutting has been extensive. The forests have been removed from the shores of Hood Canal and other inlets from Puget Sound, as well as from much of the interior of the county; indeed, it appears that nearly two-fifths of the area has been logged. The forest consists almost entirely of fir, the amounts of other soecies being trifling. Area of timbered and other lands in Mason County, Washington. Sq. miles. Total area 996 Merchantable-timber area 575 Logged area 220 Natnrally bare area 6 Burned area 12 Estimate of timber in Mason County, Washirigton. M feet B. M. Fir 2, 055, 648 Spruce 492 Cedar 25, 970 Hemlock 8, 955 Total 2, 091, 065 Average per acre of timbered land, in feet B. M 5, 600 FORESTS OF WASHINGTON. 29 OKANOGAN COUNTY. This large county lies in the northern part of the State, against the Canadian boundary, and about midway between the east and west boundaries. A large part of this county is comprised within the limits of the Washington Forest Reserve, and is not considered as contain- ing anj- merchantable timber under present standards. Most of the remaining part of the county is timbered but little. It is, in the main, a mountainous region, containing, however, the broad valley of Okanogan River, which traverses it from north to south, while along the southern edge flows Columbia River in a narrow valley. No lum- bering has been carried on in the county, and the forests have not suffered in recent times by fire. Area of limber and other lands in Okanogan County, Washington. Sq. miles. Total area 7, 258 Area outside of Washington Forest Eeserve 4, 500 Merchantable-timber area 3,650 Nontimbered area 850 Estimate of timber in Okanogan County, Washington. M feet B. M. Yellow pine - 1, 599, 300 Fir 533,100 Larch 533, 100 Total 2,665,500 Average stand per acre in feet, B. M 1, 100 PACIFIC COUNTY. This is the southwesternmost county of the State, bordering upon the Pacific Ocean and Columbia River. In the interior its surface is somewhat broken by the Coast Ranges, although the relief is nowhere great. It is drained by Willapa and Nasel rivers. Originally the entire surface, with the exception of a few sandy tracts near the coast, was covered with fine forests, composed almost entirely of fir in the interior, and of cedar and spruce near the coast. Logging has been carried on along the two rivers above mentioned, and to some extent immediately on the coast. Altogether only an area of 42 square miles has been logged. Fires have not been especially prevalent or destructive in this county, having destroyed the timber upon an area of only 59 square miles. Area of timbered and other lands in Pacific County, Washington. Sq. miles. Total area 896 Merchantable-timber area 747 Logged area 42 Naturally bare area 12 Burned area 59 30 FOREST RESERVES. Estimate of timber in Pacific County, Washington. M feet B. M. Fir 5,498,224 Spruce 814, 953 Cedar 713,238 Hemlock 786,652 Total 7,813,067 Average per acre of timbered land, in feet B. M 16, 300 PIERCE COUNTY. This, one of the western counties of the State, extends from the crest of the Cascade Range westward to Puget Sound, and includes several islands in the Sound. In the east it includes Mount Rainier, with an altitude exceeding l-i,500 feet, from whose summit radiate great areas of snow and ice. A large area in the eastern part of this county con- tains no timber of merchantable value at present. A considerable area has been logged, including nearly all of the islands, large tracts around the city of Tacoma, and others along White and Puyallup rivers. This county has been singularly free from fires, only a trifling area having as yet been burned. There are, however, large tracts, covering many scores of square miles south of the city of Tacoma, which are naturally timberless. Area of timbered and other lands in Pierce County, Washington. Sq. miles. Total area 1, 376 Merchantable timber area 563 Logged area 200 Naturally bare area , 148 Burned area 62 Estimaie of timber in Pierce Counly, Washington. M feet B. M. Fir 4,778,091 Spruce 56, 075 Cedar 618, 012 Hemlock 1, 067, 953 Total 6, 520, 131 Average per acre of timbered land, in feet B. M 18, 000 SAN .rUAN COUNTY. This, one of the northwestern counties of the. State, is composed entirely of islands in Puget Sound, the principal of which are San Juan, Orcas, Lopez, Blakely, Shaw, and Waldron. All these islands were oiiginally covered with a heavy forest, com- posed of red fir almost exclusively, but, being easily accessible, the entire area has been logged. GANNETT.] FORESTS OF WASHINGTON. 31 , SKAGIT COUNTY. This is in the northwestern portion of the State, and extends from the crest of the Cascade Range to Puget Sound, including a number of islands in the sound. The eastern portion, including much more than half the county, being mountainous, is not regarded as contain- ing merchantable timber. The western portion, comprising pei-haps one-third of the county, was formerly entirely forested, with the exception of a considerable tract of prairie about the mouth of Skagit River. There have been no fires of magnitude within the county, but log- ging has been extensively carried on. The islands have been cleared entirely, and the lands in the neighborhood of the coast and the imme- diate valley of Skagit River have been cleared as far up as the mouth of the Sauk. Area of timbered and other lands in Skagit County, Washington. Sq. miles. Total area 1, 960 Merchantable-timber area 575 Logged area 196 Naturally bare area 90 Burned area 12 Estimate of timber in Skagit County, Washington. M feet B. M. Fir J 5, 841, 229 Spruce 184, 096 Cedar 2, 517, 693 Hemlock 1, 819, 404 Total 10, 362, 422 Average per acre of timbered land, in feet B. M 28, 000 SKAMANIA COUNTY. This county is in the southern portion of the State, bordering on Columbia River, and extending thence northward well into the Cascade Range. In the northwestern portion of the county is the extinct vol- cano of St. Helens, while well into the northeast extend the western spurs of Mount Adams. The northern portion of the county is there- fore extremely rugged, mountainous, and elevated, and the spurs from these mountains extend southward nearly to Columbia River. The northern half of the county is not regarded by lumbermen as con- taining any acce.ssible merchantable timber, although with the exception of the summits of the highest mountains, which are above timber line, it was formerly wooded. The southern half was at one time timbered quite heavily, especially toward the west. In recent years, however, tires have destroyed the timlier in more than half the area of the county. These fires have invaded the eastern and western portions, leaving 32 FOREST RESERVES. between them a narrow belt of forests, together with a broad strip along Columbia River; indeed, the timber upon more than half the area of the county has been thus destroyed. But little of the timber of this county has been cut. Logging oper- ations extend along Columbia River across the county, reaching per- haps a mile back from the river and up a few of the streams flowing into it. The forests of this county consist almost entirely of fir and hem- lock. The amount of cedar is trifling and there is no spruce in the county. Area of timbered and other landsin Skamania County, Washington. Sq. miles. Total area 1, 636 Merchantable-timber area 430 Logged area 57 Timberless area 58 Burned area 926 Estimate of timber in Skamania County, Washington. M feet B. M. Fir 3, 675, 960 Cedar 21,411 Hemlock 963, 759 Total '. 4, 661, 130 Average per acre of timbered land, in feet B. M 17, 000 SNOHOMISH COUNTY. This county extends f I'om the crest of the Cascade Range to Pnget Sound. The eastern part is composed of high and rugged mountains, and contains little, if any, merchantable timber. The western half was originally forested, with the exception of a few tracts of prairie. Logging has, however, been carried on extensively in this county, two- fifths of the area formerh' timbered having been stripped by the ax. Burns have not been extensive or destructive. The forest consists of fir and cedar, the amount of hemlock being trifling, with no spruce whatever. Area of timbered and other lands in Snohomish County, Washington. Sq. mile.s. Total area 1, 720 Merchantable-timber area 634 Logged area 280 Xatiirally bare area 24 Burned area 40 Estimate of timber in Snohomish County, Washington. M feet B. M. Fir 5, 244, 741 Cedar 2, 379, 888 Hemlock 84, 141 Total 7, 708, 770 Average per acre, in feet B. IM 19, 000 GANNETT.] FORESTS OF WASHINGTON. 33 SPOKANE COUNTY. This count}^ borders upon the Idaho boundary and lies about mid- way between the north and south boundaries of the State. The eastern part is somewhat hilly and broken, while the western part consists of a portion of the great basaltic plain of the Columbia, intersected by numerous coulees, but traversed by few flowing streams. Much of the area of this county was formerly tioibered, but the timber has been, in great part, cut away to supply the needs of the city of Spokane and other towns. Very little of the timber has suffered from lire. Area of timber and other lands in Spokane Count;/, Washington. Sq. miles. Total area 1_ 680 Timbered area 49.^ Cut area g05 Burnt area 4 Estimate of timber in Spokane Courtly, Washington. M feet B. M. Pine 532, 400 Larch 121, 360 Rt;J fi'' .32, 680 C«dar 29, 560 Total 716^ 000 Average stand per acre, in feet B. M 2 300 Scattered over the cut area there is still standing scattered timber estimated altogether at 50 million feet, which, added to the above, gives a total of T6t3 million feet for the county. STEVENS COUNTY. This is the northeastern county of the State. It is bordered on the west by Columbia River, while much of its .southern boundary is formed by Spokane Kiver. It is, in the main, a mountainous region, but is intersected by the broad valleys of Clark Fork and other streams. Nearly all of its area is timbered, but nowhere densely. Burned areas are more extensive here than in any other of the eastern counties, and there has been considerable cutting in scattered localities. The species of timber found in the county consist of pine, in which is included both yellow and western white pine, which are not dis- tinguished, red fir. larch, and cedar. In the western portion of the county, along Columbia River, the timber consists almost entirely of pine, only 4 per cent being fir and 1 per cent larch. In the neighbor- hood of Colville River the proportion of pine diminishes to 7.5 per cent, and that of fir and larch increases to 10 per cent each, while the proportion of cedar reaches 5 per cent. In the southeastern part of the county the proportion of pine is still further reduced to 00 per 20 GEOL, PT 5 3 34 FOREST RESERVES. coiit. whilo larch increases to 30 per cent, the remainder being made up ol" e(iual proportions of fir and cedar. Along- the line of the Great Northern Kaihvay, in the southern corner of the county, the proportion of larch is still gi-eater, reaching 50 per cent in certain small areas. Arni of liiiilii/r and ollwr Idiidx in SleniiK Counti/, )y(tshm(/lijn. Sq. miles. Total area 4, 000 Timbered area 3, 713 Cut area 23 Burned area l.W Nontimbered area 105 Esllmate of limber in SU'irns County, ]\'asliiiiijlon. M feet B. M. Pine - 2, 026, 260 Larch 351 , 218 Ked lir 297, 185 Cedar 27, 017 Total 2,701, 680 Average t:tan''"'•"•] FORESTS OF WASHINGTON. 37 Area of timber and oilier land<< in Yakima Coiiiil!/, Washington. 8q. miles. Total area 5 -qO Area outside of Mount Rainier Forest Reserve 4 587 Timljered area ' -90 Logged area g5 Burnt area 00 Nontimbered area g -gg Eslimute of timber in Yakima County, Washington. M feet B. M ^'J - 434, 838 ^™^ 320, 900 Hemlock 77_ ;^00 Cedar ,30 gQO 'r°t'^' 893,438 Average stand per acre in feet B. M ^ 9qq LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 000 921 516 5