Re: Forest Fires in the past

The C&TS and D&S have had to do fire mitigation along their lines and I guess we can blame the D&RGW for planting trees.

June 1, 1923
To Plant Trees Along Railroad To Stop Drifting Snow

Snow, every winter, caused very serious trouble along the D&RGW RR between Alamosa and Durango. This is especially true at Cumbres Pass, in the Rio Grande national forest, lying at an altitude of slightly more than 10,000 feet. Here snow piles up to a considerable depth, driven by severe winds lasting for days at a time and causing cessation of all railroad operations. Snow even drifts into the ends of snow sheds, completely blocking traffic.

Railway officials have observed that wherever trees occur along the right of way, snow drifts are not as deep and the force of the wind is much lessened. In the Dakotas, the Northern Pacific, Canadian Pacific, and Soo lines have planted tree wind breaks along their lines, which have proven most effective in preventing snow from piling up on the tracks.

General Manager J. Russell and Supervisor of Agriculture W. H. Olin of the Learning of this, the D&RGW officials soliciting the assistance of the US Forest Service and a cooperative plan has been worked out by which 2500 trees were reserved at the Monument nursery and will this season be planted along the railroad right-of-way on Cumbres Pass.

The experiment will be tried out with Englemann Spruce, Douglas Fir and yellow pine from the Monument nursery and aspen and evergreens dug up from the Rio Grande National Forest in that locality. The most effective system of planting to prevent snow drifting, according to Fred R. Johnson in charge of planting in the Rocky Mountain district of the US Forest Service, is to plan three of four rows, then leave a space of 40 feet as snow trap, then plant three or four more rows. The greater bulk of snow will accumulate in the trap and the ROW remain fairly free from deep snow. General Manager J. Russell and Supervisor of Agriculture W. H. Olin of the D&RGW railroad were instrumental in arranging this cooperation and Division Supt. Duell of Alamosa and Mr. Johnson of the forest service will handle the planting.