The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1893-07-22
MONT1N4 TIMBER.

Flathead county, in the northwest
corner of Montana is the most densely
timbered part of the Rocky Mountain
region, Hitherto inaccessible and
without facilities for transportation it
is almost unknown. The Great Nor
thern railroads entrance to this section
has brought it to tho attention of Mich
igan, Wisconsin and Minnesota lum
bermen Some OF the parties during
the past year that have gone west to in
spect the Puget sound forests, have
stopped enroute at Kalispell in tho val
ley and sought out its best timber dis
tricts.
The most distinctive and predominant
/ ing tree is the tamarack. 1t Is in no
way like the eastern tamarack. In size
! it averages three feet through and
reaches up to $50 feet and over. 1t is
| fine grained, OF a lively reddish yellow
color, heavy, being semi-hardwood Of
grade about half way between maple
and oak. It's peculiar quaiitie' are the
bright, smooth. satin finish it takes and
/ its easiness to work. 1t makes q floor
ing of remarkable durability, and for
counters and cabinet work and interior
finish it is the equal of expensive east
ern hardwoods. a specimen OF cabi-
net work OF this wood is large arm
chair made for the Worlds Fair. 1t is
elaboratelv carved with buffalo heads
and feet and nodded i'll exquisite form.
The wood is simply oiled, no attempt
being made at fine polishing, but it is
as bright and smooth as cherry or oak,
and more attractive sn account OF its
novelty.
NIalcomb Mccormick of Kalispell,
formerly of Saginaw, Mich, an eXper'
fenced lumberman who has made
careful study of the timber of this re-
gion, describes the tamarack:
Il have not seen anybody from the east
that knows about our tamarack. 1t is
never seen or known in eastern mar,
kets. 1t cannot be fairly compared
with eastern tamarack. 1t Is not sc
tough, but softer, more easily worked
of !. darker shade, II deeper yellow
It takes oil and paint we'll, does mol
warp or twist 1t is somewhat brittle
and will not stand a heavy strain.
What gives its greatest value is its fin
ish and polish and its brilliant appear
ance. The older growth is darker
more reddish. For finishing purposes
L think it would outsell the white pine
of Michigan and take the place OF man,
expensive hardwoods if placed in th'
Chicago market. Tamarack is thi
most abundant timber of this regiol
and is going to have its dayS)
Forests of mingled tamarack, pine
cedar, fir, spruce extend almost to TIN
summit Of the main range OF the Rock.
, mountains from the headwaters OF TIL
south fork OF the Flathead river to tn
source of the north fork of the Flat
head river. clothe the terraces east Q
the Flathead valley and cover til
; mountain sides making timber bel
of 80 miles wide by 100 miles long, al
tributary to the forks and ailluents G
, the Elathead river. Two great river
, in the Flathead valley, the Whitefis
$ and Saltwater, each have broad stri
: of splendid timber from 30 to 90 mile
S in extent. These are the most acce'
t STALE timber land in the country, most
@ ly surveyed and but little taken W
0 These forests will run about 90 pe
+ cent tamarack; intersperscd and inte
/ mingled are large bodies of yellow pine
T. fir, spruce, white and red cedar.
= Yellow pine is found in large quaint
ties. It will average three and on
@ half feet through, cutting five to cigl
| logs, and is the favorite among mi
t men for general purposes. 1t resor
| bles the Michigan and Wisconsin pm
. White pine is more scarce, but 90
: of il has lately been discovered on IL
i noi til fork of the Flathead, while a
q other tract, five by ten miles in exten
: has been located on Whitefsh river
Il The fir of this section averages two an
II q half feet through and grows ta
n having no large branches under
,s feet. The fir and spruce are used pri
" cipally for bridge timbers and mimi
q purposes. Cedar is found in larl
r quantities on Whitefish and Stillwat
i rivers and on the north and sou
forks of the Flathead.
"a A timber district which is quite d
i tinct and but little explored is that
n the Swan lake basin. IL exten
N from Flathead valley far up into I