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-16- <br />~~ were largely neglected during this period, but the organization of <br />informal trading posts within the region provided the inroads for the <br />encroachments of Euro-american culture. Sy 1845, the fur resources <br />of northwestern Colorado were depleted and the majority o~ trappers <br />transferred their interests elsewhere (F. Athearn 1976: 14-15, 20). <br />Lieutentant John C. Fremont made two expeditions to regions north <br />and south of the study area, The first expedition to Colorado, his <br />second expedition, was made in 1844. On this expedition he was to <br />map areas of the west and find routes to Oregon and California. On <br />this expedition Fremont noted that the Yampa Valley and North Park <br />~ I <br />contained abundant game and that the area west of Craig had little to <br />no value. He did note the numerous coal outcrops and springs in the <br />'} area (F. Athearn 1976: 26-27). -~ ~ ,. <br />Fremont's third expedition, the purpose of which was to define <br />possible routes of invasion to Mexico and the exploration of the <br />headwaters of the Arkansas and Crand (Colorado) Rivers and the territory <br />as far west as Salt Lake (F. Athearn 1976: 27; Site files of the Colorado <br />Department of Historic Preservation: May 1979). Fremont's route followed <br />the White River to its junction with the Green River. Since this <br />expedition was military in nature, little mention was made of the area <br />(F. Athearn 1976: 27-28). <br />Substantial Euro-american exploitation of the region began around <br />1870, .when cattle were introduced to the area. Cattle ranchiag was the <br />primary economic activity during the next two decades. Farming was <br />marginal and normally associated with the production of hay. During <br /> <br />