The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-05-11
A xsAsuxs OF NATIONAL 1nPosrlxcz

northern transcontinental survey explored the
main Rocky Mountain range near the northern
boundary Of the United States. for the purpose
Of determining the capacity Of the streams Of
that region for irrigating the fertile valleys Of
northern Montana. Their reports and recon-.
mendation from President Arthur led 70 the
bill recently Introduced In the Senate By Mr..
Edmunds-a bill for the establishment Of -
forest reservation on the head waters Of the
Missouri River and the hsadwaters and Clarks's
Ford OF the Columbia River" To learn some.
thing further coneernins the character Of the
reeion which II 10 proposed 10 sst apart. rcp-
resentativs Of the Herald called recently upon
Prof Charles 8. Sarssnt Of Brookline. who was
Q member Of the survey and traversed the
whole region described. and the following facts
and opinions were obtained;
According TO tho terms Of the Edmunds bill.
the tract included In the proposed reservation.
beginnins at point on the northorn boundary
of Montana. whore the range line extended
north. between ranges 8 and Q. west Of the prin.
cipal msridi an Of the Territory. will intsrsect
with the 40th parallel Of north latitude. II
bounded BY line drawn south with said range
line to the eastern slope Of the con tinsntai d.
vide, thon southeast with the eastern slope to
the nfty.mile limit Of the Northern Pacific Rail-
sna Tn head %ssrs q Of
s aSa'' hol Ssr mi aSs r,'iI &c
: Is ana s
the northeast corner q township y
Svs s. ne r Il
III ssd psss sas VIE & s I ,S..;
mountain lands unfit for cultivation but Of
e. a. Se
and 70 the Missouri. Columbia. and Saskatche:
mental survey Who explored thls .,esi99n tray
and. eneoan.srinS ' many saiss:. crossed
as III. |: 81 Fl shS Pa
cult sateways in the whole continental divide
and only party Of h.d
u f iisst and FiatSssd Indians Sometimes
crossed the mountains. many years, ago. on
region e Wild and broken beyond, any
naSs 70 csysss sSs
q eon!isrons trees ,,i spd fs.,,, xss
shss stood ns cnH hs + hs he
passing grandeur and picturssaus beauty
which hayo NO equal on tho continent, To the
within ThsS @ . & the ss 3d.
which had been swept clean Of refuse by the
covered peaks rose high In the north and west.
The structure Of the mountains Is Of calca.
away at sharp angles. form, perpendicular
precipices Of astonishing height. and produce
Sandsd nna G fS s
number Of California fauna which i contains.
ness. The geological formation ia such that no
mines Of gold or silver are ever likely to be
Tor the farmer Or erazier. and as yet no Lumber.
men have penetrated its wilds. So 1t is clear
the the Ri 81 Of I'D n. .sa
no personal private interests. The tract can
vested right. and now is the time 10 do It. for II
the get n there VIII 90 praSt
before serious and. perhaps. irreparable Injury
the Eo% the
tea q valuable lesson and furnish an I'm:
this region IN the frst place. the territory
a'i sAs tho
aoE ths water; which issa he Missouri shs
small lakes. which form, ono, Of the most
Important sources Of the Missouri are
the east. and to the west is formed little cas-
cade which finally reaches the Pacific Ocean
fnrSSS s i ne RI s SS
Ths forests which cover the valleys and noun.
long the.s orsss
sess'O RI cut the sTsS y
will melt under the suns Of spring and early
and little Thsh flow iG
at the base Of the mountains great quantities
the ssoys s TRs
thp soil Of The mSHnains M b swsps
alternate. As the timber supply becomes *.
hausted ted, In other parts Of the country: Lumber.
easier Of access as time passes. and, the
for diving ioss down to the line Of tho NORTH:
sys %sss @ Ss,s ~: srsSi
twigs and branches which tho choppers leave.
fore the forests which had been burned away
gould reproduce themselyes. The explorers
woodland hundreds Of years ago; and. II flames
should again sweep through the woods. the
HHickiy burning eversreens would disappear
Il Is believed by Prof. Sargent, and by others
naPs that the
to become: Il wisely mamneeed Immense and
such. however. without Irrigation on q large
scale. and irrigation will DO possible only so
long as the volume OF tho rivers mentioned
above remains unimpaired. and the, smaller
streams are preserved. 1t IL possible now,
and will be while the forests are protected
=, There is good grazing now in the valleys at
tho base OF the mountains. but the great herds
Of cattle will sooner or later eat oh tho grass
which the country has no chance will be neces-
sary. and at present there arc uneqnalled f1cil-
wheat growing, and the whole question Of
making them permanent fields Is Of vast i'm
portance to the entire country.
A. time passes and the uneaualled grandeur
and beauty OF the region explored by the
nnorthern transcontinental survey becomes
sorts that are only less beautiful and attractive.
VIII bend their steps toward this new re-
gion. Railroad extension has made 1t easy to
reach. and i is too Inviting spot to remain
essnry TO take measures Of projection
against fires like those which, In the Adiron-
dack region. starting from the camp fires that
out Of carelessness or ignorance have been loft
To-, -.