The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-19
A Big FOREST RESERVE.
The American Forestry Association
Wants . Large Slice Of Mon
. tana Reserved
~ ~-----
III Takes Ia tho Blacklist Reser-
walton and Some " the Flat
y head Country.
-----
state Lands, south Fork Mines and sot-
tiers Houses Included-Agent LsacA
interviewed.

A. II. Leach, special agent Of the land
office, is in Helena on 1 mission which 10 OF
great interest to the whole state, and
especially TO northwestern Montana.
some time ago tho American Forestry asso-
citation made application TO the secretary Of
ths interior TO have &, 100 square miles Of
land, comprising 100 townships in Montana
get aside AZ d forest reserve. Tho associa-
ton il D imposed almost exclusively Of east
ern people, and its object is TO preserve, 70
as great m extent ~ possible, tbs forest
lands Of the United States. Already a num-
bar Of reserves have been made on the APP
plination OF the society. Before the Mon
tanA reservation question was acted upon,
however, the department concluded to have
a report upon itsN desirability from n Of
its agents, and to look into the matter and
report upon it Ia the mission Of Mr. Leach.
54 The boundaries Of the land TO be- reserved
are about az follows: Commencing about
midway between this ll2th and 113th de-
grees OF longitude, on the border limo be-
tween Montana and the British posaeaaions
in Choteau county, running thenco south
down into Lewis and Clarke county to the
fifty mile limit, OF the head Of Elk creek.
thence northwest TO the head q Flathead
lake in Missoula county, thence directly
north to tho British line and east to the
point OF beginning. This includes all OF
the Blackfoot reservation, save 9 little
point which iuts out on the northeast oor--
nor, takes in thousandss OF acres Of excel
lent agricultural and grazing = south OF
tho reservation II Chotshu county. the
housss OF a number of settlers in Lewis
and Clarke county, the South Fork Mining
country In Missonla county, and twelve
townships in tho Flathead country which
/ tho state board Of land commissioners has
selected as q portion OF the land donated
BY the general government OF the state.
Within the limitsso the proposed forest
reserve, application has been made to the
surveyor general for surveys Of . number
Of townships, while several have bsen sur
yeyed. Columbia Falls is only four milea
from the line of the proposed reserve and
Kalispell and Demersville are distant only
ten and eleven miles respectively.
after his arrival in Helena, and yesterday
he was present at I meeting q the state
board OF land commissioners. Ihe
commissioners dsoided to send in
q protest against the granting OF
tho request Of the Forestry association. IL
said 10 far as his investigation had gone.
he believed the setting aside OF the q
proposed would DO "a injustice to the state.
instead of a benefit. He had examined the
maps and plats in the surveyor generals
office and in the land office, and had
talked with q number of gentlemen
acquainted with the country. and &C
far could come 70 no other conclusion
"Those acquainted with the laws
said Mr.. Leach, 'tsay the general govern
ment cannot take away from the Blackfest
Indians their reservation without proyid-
ing aome other place for them. Certainly
if the governments does reserve the timber
ON the reservation the Indians will have *
30 two ii three hundred miles for theil
fuel and other timber. Then the settlers
in Lewis and Clarke county must have
timber and the South Fork miners need the
same. Tha members Of the state board q
land commissioners say they will reserve
for the good Of the state and
that they understand tie condition.
here much better than the American For.
estry association. The land south OF the
Blackfeet reserve, il Choteau county, ! am
informed is excellent agricultural and graz
tajns, are irrigating bitches. ! have not
come to Montana as the agent Of the Amer
loan Forestry association, but for the int.
rior department., and / want to do what will
be for the best interests Of the state anc
the settlers. As I have said, SO far as my
lnYo6tlRAGlOH law Rouey I'LL nos Aasol
Of granting the request Of tina Forestry aa'
ISOLATION. I have written to the depart.
ment and it ia possible + may receive in
structiona to 20 over the ground. In the
meantime ! would be pleased " meet any
ono who can give me any information or
the subject, md i invite correspondence. ]
shall probably remain in Helena for tor
days Or longer" 4 n.
Mr. Leach is stopping az the Merchants
hotel and 10 . very approachable gentle
man. The matter ia q most important one,
and any one interested should call on Mr.
Leach while he is in Helena.
Great bargains in trimmed hats on
Wednesday at Mrs. 9. a. Fishers 30 MAJ
street. ##%& gI - #8
Meals 80 cents at the Misses Naglo's
Merchants Hotel lining room.
Automatic and mechanical toys st The Be.
Hive. &@ r@ @%