The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-09
Special Agent Leach Does not Favor
tho American Foresty Associa-
tons Petition.
He He's interviewed Hundreds of
People and Does Not Find
One Who Endorses It.
letters From surveyor-General Eaton in
Which the Objections are Shown In
. Convincing Manner.

III connection with the application of the
American Forestry association for the set
ting aside of a forest reserve in northwest
ern Montana. MI. Leach arrived in Hell
ana about Nov. 16 and has devoted all OF
hin tims since to the subject. He has in
tervicwed state and government officials,
talked with miners, settlers and citizens
generally on the proposed reserve, and in
addition ho visited and inspected the land
proposed to be reserved. He has just re-
turned from the Flathead country, and has
brought with him protests from the boards
OF trade of Demersville, Columbia Falls
and Kalispell, as we'll as from ranchmen.
Al a result of his labors his report
will be against granting the petition
of the forestry association, either in
whole or in part During his investigation
he did not find one settler. merchant, miner
or official in favor of the reserve. His re-
port to COMMISSIONS Carter, which has
not yet been completed, will embody his
views on the subject, and in addition will
contain the written expressions of opinion
Of about 400 people directly interested.
There will be the protests of the Helena
board OF trade, those of the boards Of trade
" al uhC AuuAVaN eSWA5s " {S'sS
Surveyor General Eaton, a protest from the
state board of land commissioners, ono
from United States District Attorney
Weed and other papers bearing on the case.
Mr.. Lsaoh has handled tho matter in a most
expeditions manner, and the work has been
greatly,assisted by the people of Helena and
the residents of the Flathead country. Whom
he first arrived in the city. he said. through
The INDEPENDENT, that his mission was
simply to look into the merits OF tho petit
tion Of the American Forestry association.
and to get the views Of the residents of the
state on the subject; that he did not come
as the agent of the association, but of the
general land Office. He has done the work
thoroughly, unaided save by the people of
lie state, and in his method of conducting |
~ investigation has made many friends.
A INT Haley, whom it was intended by
4 Jmmissioner Garter should work With Mr..
Ieach, was busy at the commencement with
Jther matter5 and could not do SO, thus
leaving 1t all to the former gentleman.
However, Mr.. Lsach's report will be accom-
panied by one from Mr.. Haley, endorsing
it. The Flathead and Marias reserve is the
most extensive asked for by the American
Forestry association, covering about 5000
square miles. and the duty deyolving upon
Mr.. Leach was a most responsible one.
While all the protests which will be for
warded to Washington follow somewhat the
same line, yet each presents objections
which appeal particularly to the locality
Surveyor General Eaton. INT which is en-
dorsed by the state board of land commits
sioners, presents the case of ths state as a
whole perhaps mora fully than any other.
II is addressed to Special Agent Leach, and
is as follows:
"As desired by you in our recent personal
interview. ! have the honor to submit the
following, az my views concerning the re-
quest of the American Forestry association,
that certain lands in the northwestern part
OF this state be set apart as a forest ressr-
walton.
For purposes of reference 7 have caused
TO be prepared a map showing the proposed
forest reservation, and its location with re-
gard to the natural features of that country;
by its assistance also I hin l can explain
how the industrial features Of the country
will be affected, should such forest reserva-
tlon become an accomplished fact.
T proposed reservation will have a
greater area than the TWO states of Connec-
ticut and Rhode Island combined, and will
be but little smaller than the whole
state Of Massachusetts. It will
contain 6.l2O square miles. or ITO full town.
ships, and viii include parts of the follow
ing counties, viz: Missouls, Choteau, Lewis
and Clarke, and Deer Lodge; bat nearly
one-half OF it will lie within the limits of !
the first named county.
A understand it, forest reserves are
intended to be located upon lands in which
%denudation of timber in such localities, to !
retard evaporation, and possibly, in addi-
ton, attract moisture with the consequent '
result that the streams heading in such To-
calities are prevented from diminishing in !
or. peradyenture, drying up alto Z
!
Il am heartily in sympathy with these OBJ
jects, but in the location and boundaries of
such reserves, it 10 necessary to take into
consideration not only the details and
objects above mentioned, but it is also !
to nave due regard for the effect 1
NAY lhe establishment OF such reservations j
WILL have upon vested interests and the ma j
'erlal development OF the general locality
a which the proposed reservation is to be I
a
''Ihs object sought to be attained in pro- =,
eotlng the bound of the reservation a
vas, presumptlvely, the protection of tho
leadwatsfs of the Flathead river. The main 7
ork OF Flathead river (sometimss called n
North Fork heads in British Columbia, >
md, for that reason, the dominion authori- >
tiles only can establish the proper reserva- Y
lon to protect it's headwaters. :
1.-The proposed reservation does include i
he headwsters of Middle Fork and South !
'ork OF Elathead river, and also the head ~
waters of North Fork and sun river, which ),
after stream flows %easterly and empties I
nto the Missouri river. The Big Fork
during the period of early explorations. 7
allied Sweating HOUSE river, is a larger A
tream than either the Middle or South Fork
Elathead river. and its headwaters are
aot included In the proposed reservation.
Westo OF the summit of the Rocky mountains.
between it and North Fork Of Flathead a
,lver, there are, comparatively speaking, y
Iew STREAMS. and certainly not enough to =
the withdrawal from settlement of
u the land within those limits.
/. were 1T possible to establish a small
'imber reservation which would include
The heads of tho Middle Fork and South r
Fork of Flathead river, and the North Fork :,
If Sun river, | would think that the nroner g
to pursue; but for reasons hereafter 8
mentioned, l do not regard this as practica-
,le.
"A large part of this proposed timber
is made up of the BIackfoot
nalan reservation and indeed the greater
,art or that reservation will be absorbed if
ne plans OF the American Forestry associa- .
ION are carried through to completion. Aa "
understand the law, timber reservations =
nay l!py proper authority be declared up- O.
n public lands, but [ do not understand
indian reservations to be public lapds''
u the sense that the words are used in the "
hw just referred TO-. a
In my Judgment, therefore, it ia neces- Il
AIRY to exclude the whole of the Blackfoot
indian reservation from the proposed
lnber reservation. and by reference to tho
nap you VIII observe that for similer rea- A
ons ~ Will be impossible to establish tho :
mall reservations, before suggested. which !.
nall include the head waters of the North 3
,ork of sun river, @
SIT xpcy1,. .xo. r-..