OCR Text |
Show 44 52 D.- Almost the entire section is mountainous, the elevation] being above 8,000 feet it is too high for agricultural land. The principal valleys are South P<* rk, altitude from 9,500 to 10,000; Upper Arkansas Valley, 9,000 to 10,600; Blue River basin, 8,700 to 10,600; Ten- mile Creek and Blue River Valley, 7,800 to 11,000 feet. The timber found up to timber- lines on all the mountains is spruce and pine; it is good for lumber. That along the streams is mainly oottonwood. ' The grazing in the valleys is very good. It is usually necessary, however, to seek the lower lands for wintering cattle. The land is mainly valuable for its mines. In the vicinity of Georgetown, Bakers-ville, and Gray's Peak, in northeastern part of sheet, silver- mines are worked. Silver-mines of Mount Lincoln and gold placer- mines near Granite Post- Office, and the Fair-play and Alma placers, are iu the central part of sheet. In the western part of sheet are gold- mines on tribntaries of Tennessee Creek. The water- supply, mainly of mountain- streams, is very good. 61 B.- Constituting a portion of Central Colorado. The greater portion of the sheet-is mountainous, very little being under 7,000, in places runuing up to over 14,000 feet. The principal valleys, those in which the agricultural land is situated, are South Park, on the Platte, 8,500 to 8,800 feet; Upper Arkansas, 7,300 to 8,800 feet; Pleasant Valley, 7,000 feet; San Luis Valley, 7,700 to 8,500 feet; and Tumichi Valley, 7,500 to 8,000 feet. Crops are more or less uncertain, owing to the altitude. In the northeastern portion of the sheet, and on the lower slopes of the mountains, throughout its whole extent, the grazing is good. The timber in Saguache, Elk, and Sangre de Cristo ranges is pine and spruce, suitable for lumber. The scattered timber on foot- hills is mainlv pinon, suitable only for fuel. The mines at bead of Chalk Creek, head of San Luis Valley, are silver and lead. Gold is found in place and placer- mines about Upper Arkansas, also iu Union Park at head of Gunnison River; salt- wells at head of Salt Creek. The water- supply is very good, from the South Platte, Arkansas, Gunnison, and Sao Luis Creek, with their many branches. The barren land is above timber- line and along sides of cafions, where the bare rocks are developed. 61 D.- Half- mountainous. Timber on western rim of San Luis Valley. Pinons near valley on western foot- hills. Elsewhere spruce and pines. Large cottonwoods along Rio Grande, Alamosa, and La Jara Creeks. Sangre de Cristo range within limits of sheet, well wooded to timber- lines. Agricultural lands on Rio Grande below month of South Fork, and in San Luis Valley along all running streams, also on Upper San Juan. Elsewhere land too high for cultivation. Grazing lands.- San Luis Valley; hills of western boundary of San Luis Valley; on headwaters of the Cochetopa; on Upper San J nan. Large part of San Luis Valley covered with sage, but susceptible of irrigation. Mines.- Summit and Decatur districts, on headwaters of Alamosa Creek, near divide between Rio Grande and San Juan waters. Gold and silver, principally the former. Gold found in 8angre de Cristo range; ( not worked extensively.) Barren land lies above timber- lines. 62 C.- The sheet lies in Central Colorado. In the western part the Sangre de Cristo,. Greenhorn, and Culebra ranges limit the great plain extending eastward from their base. The oultivatable land is found in the valleys of the southern tributaries of the Arkansas, the Saint Charles, Greenhorn, Apache, Huerfano, Cucharas, 8anta Clara, and Purgatoire; also along the Ute, Sangre de Cristo, and Trinohera Creeks. There is heavy pine and spruce timber on the mountains. The grazing land in the mountain- valleys is very good, on the plains but indifferent, but not so poor as to be called barren. The little barren land of the sheet is above timber- line. The Bosita silver- mining district is rapidly developing. Silver has also been found in Spanish Peak. Gold is found in the Sangre de Cristo range, iron on Grape Creek, and good coal in northwestern part of sheet. The water- supply in the mountains is good, and on the plains sufficient for grazing lands, with enough for irrigation along the streams. 61 C, sub.- Central Colorado. Mountainous, except small tracts, perhaps 3 per cent, of level ground. Timber.- Area well timbered with spruce upon the raountaiu- sides, and below 8,500 feet with large yellow pines and Cottonwood. Scrub- oak, reaching 20 feet in height and 10 inches in diameter, found on Animas and Uneompahgre. Agricultural lands are situated in the Uneompahgre Valley in north section of area, and on Lake Fork of the Gunnison. Good crops of wheat, corn, and vegetables may be produced in these small valleys. Mines.- Extensive deposits and veins of gold, silver, lead, copper, manganese, and iron exist. Gold, silver, lead, and copper found in Upper Animas. |