The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-11-03
THE WESTERN WOODS
The Necessity for the Preserva-
ton of Existing Forests.
TIMBER IN THE TERRITORIES
Public Lands In Utah and Elsewhere That
Should at Once be Withdrawn
From Entry.

The following highly interesting paper
on Government Forest Reserves in the
Rocky Mountain Region" was read by
Edgar f. Ensign before the American
Forestry Congress, which held a session at
Philadelphia few days ago. 1t received
aattering comments from the members OF
the congress:
II is well known that the principal Euro
pean governments have established sys-
TENS of forest administration which en-
brace not only the preservation of their
existing forests, but the creation of others,
the reforesting of denuded tracts, the re-
claiming and planting of waste lands, and.
in some instances, the maintenance OF
schools Of forestry. Taught by long and
bitter experience, our transatlantic
neighbors have instituted radical and i'm
portant forest reforms, the significance of
which should not be lost upon ourselves.
Passing to my subject proper, 1t may be
Said that with the exception Of the Yellow
stone National park, there are no govern
ment forest reserves il this country. That
there should be many such admits OF no
argument.
If the necessity for such reserves be con-
ceded, the questions then arise as to where
such reserves should be located, of what
extent they should be, and the best means
for securing them.
To these questions only tentative answers
can be given. Suggestions, rather than
definite recommendations will be offered.
FOREST AREAS.
1t should be said before proceeding far
Their that this inquiry has been limited to
the Rocky mountain region, and includes
Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho,
Utah, Arizona and New Mexico; in all, one
state and six territories. In the course of
a recent investigation of the forest cOndi-
lions of this wide region of mountains,
plateaus and arid or semi arid plains, l
learned that its entire forest area was up
wards of 100000 square miles, or nearly as
great in extent as the state of Colorado,
this including all kinds of forest growth,
light and heavy, valuable and inferior. l
found that the forests existed chiefly upon
the mountain slopes, and that they pro
tected and nourished the sources of many
important streams. 1t also appeared that
the successful operation of the great and
rapidly growing irrigation systems of the
region depended upon the equable and con-
dnued flow of the mountain streams. 1t
was further apparent that owing to ad-
verse local conditions large portions of
the coniferous forest, when once destroyed,
would not be reproduced Finding, there
fore, that the relative forest area was
small, say II per cent. or less of the entire
land area, and that every square rod of
woodland served a useful purpose, came
to the conclusion that all the public timber
lands of the region should, if possible, be
reserved from sale or entry, at least for the
time being, and held in trust by the govern
nGant for the common good. | have seen no
reason Tor changing that opinion. 1t is
avid M hn Nn11h lie re Of nc
region, if neglected or segregated by in
dividual ownership, will III the course of a
few years, be destroyed, or in the main be-
come extinct.
If the apathy of congress upon this sub
jecJ cannot be so far overcome that an eff
fective and comprehensive forest admins
tration may be established, to include all
the timber lands in the public domain,
think the next best thing would be the set
ting aside of certain forest lands at the
heads of the principal streams in each of
themountain states and territories. Having
designated on the accompanying map a
number of such desirable reservations,
will briefly describe them.
Some years ago several members of con-
gress visited the Flathead lake country in
Montana to hunt and fish. They inaugu-
rated movement to set aside as public
reservation that portion of the region ex-
tending from the British line south to the
latitude Of the head of Flathead lake, and
eXUenulng upon both sides of the Rocky
mountain range. The boundaries and ex-
tent of the tract are shown approximately
upon the map, the irregularity of the west
ern border is owing to the proximity of
settlements. Theregion is densely wooded,
Abounds in small and large lakes, one of the
latter covering an area of ten by twenty
miles, and includes high mountains and
several glaciers. The principal secondary
range is known as the "Kootenay" The
snow falls deeply in winter, and is retained
hate IN the spring. Here are found the
sources of the Sun, Teton, Marias, Flat
head lake and other important streams.
The country is as picturesque as the Adir-
ondacks, and but little known. There are
three low passes in the main range here,
some of which may, hereafter, be utilized
by railroads. a bill for the reservation of
this tract was introduced to congress, but
failed to receive affirmative action.
coUR D'ALBNB REGION.
Westward of the Flathead lake country,
in the extreme northern portion of Idaho,
is region of forest, lakes and streams
known as the Cpur d'Alene, and which,
some years ago, was the scene of consider
able mining activity. Whatever the state
of its mining interests, special care and pro
lection should be extended to its forests,
which are of wide extent and valuable for
many purposes Here are found some of
she principal sources of the Columbia river.
The region also embraces lakes Pen
6'Oreille, Kootenay and others of lesser note
The elevation is considerable, and it is a
country of deep SHOWS and long winters.
Upon the western slopes and foot hills of
the Bitter Root mountains, also in Idaho,
in the east central part, and covering the
head waters of the Salmon and other rivers
IL,
in the opinion of many, should be set apart
a. forest reservation. 1t is mountainous,
has an average altitude of some 5000 feet
above the sea, and abounds in fish and
game. 1t has no mines so far as known,
and is not presumed to be mineral region.
A tract fifty miles square would embrace a
portion of the Saw Tooth range, numerous
lakes and many tributaries of the Salmon,
Boise and Payette rivers. 1t could easily
be made accessible by railway in the Boise
valley: this part of Idaho includes some of
the finest natural scenery in the Rocky
mountain region. Its forests and streams
give shelter to many kinds of fish and
game. including the salmon, red fish, trout,
white fish, deer, elk, white mountain goat,
bear, fox, lynx, beaver. otter, ETC.; the tim
Der is mostly pine and fir.
In addition TO the Yellowstone National
park, Wyoming contains at least two other
Torested sections which should be reserved
10 public uses.
One of these, in the north central part of
the territory is in the Big Horn mountains,
and includes the country surrounding
Clouds peak as u centre. From this sec
ton flow the principal streams wat ring
the fertile valleys on either side of the Big
Horn range. The region contains dense
forests, none of which have yet been in
vaded by lumbermen, but some of which
has been greatly injured by fire. Within