The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-21
THAT FOREST RESERVE.
A Board OF Trade Committee TO In
vestigate the Subject Very
Thoroughly.
Special Agent Leach to Person
ally Look Over the Flathead
Country.
The American Forestry Association Also
Want to Take In the KootenAi Min
Ing Country.

The executive committee of tho Helen,
Board of Trade has raised the following
committee to investigate the report upol
the proposition to reserve \ large portion
of Montana as a forest under the auspices
of the American Forestry association, H.
ii. Parchen, William Muth, Ii. II. Howey,
John w. Eddy and Paul s. A. Bickel,
These gentlemen are especially qualified to
examine into the subject, as they have been
over the land embraced in the proposed re-
serve. and are fully competent to make an
exhaustive report. MIR. Leach, the agent of
the interior department., will go under in
structions from Commissioners Carter to
make a personal inspection of the reserva-
tion land, and will be back by the time the
board takes action. r. H. Howey was over
the ground years ago. and made the selec.
ton of the university lands: and Mr..
Bickel has been over the ground with COM
pass and chain. The Board of Trade COM
mittee will be ready with it's report by Fri
day, Nov. q, by which time Mr.. Leach ia
expected to have completed his investiga-
tions in the Flathead country.
Fuller investigation shows that the Amer
lean Forestry association has an idea of
reserving even more land in northwestern
Montana as \ forest reserve than was indi-
Gated in the boundaries defined in the arti-
Gle published in The INDEPENDENT Wednes-
day last. According to their petition to
Land Commissioner Garter they want all
that section referred to the other day, and
in addition to take In the Kootenai coun-
try. At the last session of congress = bill
was introduced in the senate setting aside
the forest reserve now asked for by the
American Forestry association. The bill
was killed, however. It is from this bill
that the association took the boundaries of
the reserve now asked for.
A. f. Leach. o. his visit to Columbia
Falls. will get the views of the citizens and
settlers. The state board of land commits
sioners will send in a strong protest against
granting the petition, and so will some of
the United States officials in Helena. But
it is also considered advisable to get up a
petition against the proposed reser-
walton, either independent of the protests
to, or in conjunction with them.
Talking of the matter yesterday, Mr.. Leach
said he wanted to get the views of every
one who had any information to give; so
far he had heard only opposing views. If
there is any one who can advance any rea-
sons why the petition hould be granted he
would be glad to hear them. His i%nstruc-
tions are to get the views of citizens and t
in writing where possible,
and forward them with his re-
port, as part of it. 'Even if :.
it is not considered best for the state to re-
se-ve the lands now asked for by the Amer
lean Forestry association he said. II do s
there are in Montana sections OF {
timber land which should be kept as a for. {
est reservation. 1t would be an excellent {
thing for those who know of such location {
or locations to make the fact known. In
other words, let the state ask now tina a
certain section be set apart az a forest res
In my report l can, if / think it :.
Is desirable, recommend the reservation !
asked for in lieu of the one suggested by ]
the American Forestry association. Such
recommendation I believe the president
give favorable consideration and the
state could thus obtain a forest reservation
cost and much sooner than if it be
asked for after l have completed my work
the state. Then the longer it is put off I
The more inconvenience will it cause when -,
granted. Those acquainted with the topog- Z
Apply of the state should be able to suggest 4
\ forest reservation which would DO of great