New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-23
FOREST RESERVES DOUBLED.
MORE THAN c1O00.O0o ACRES WITH
DRAWN FROM SETTLEMENT

WORK OF THE COMMISSION OF EXPERTS A.
PROVED AND PUT INTO EFFECT BY
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND
inv TELEGRAPH TO THE TniEuNEI
w,sb,ngton Feb 2-Presdent Cleveland to-day
s.oro,,zod the recurrence OF Washingtons Birth
dav nv signing a series of proclamations ""c" WIN
vastly enlarge the Governments fores'
tions In the Western States. under inc ma '
Administration about 100000 acres OF FOREST ia'u
were withdrawn from sale and set apart as a "'-
cIeus of a system of forest reserves io"'
nroclamations will more than double 'he area VI
,,,,,,, norrs for no less than .379sO acres are
included in the thirteen iorss' N"' ~
drawn from settlement.
The forest lands selected for preserVa''o" wei.
chosen by a commission OF six experts appo'',e"
over year ago at the request OF Secre'"s ~
OF the Interior Department. by the Natona' T'"'
envy OF Sciences. Professor Sargent Oh 'N"'"
university was chosen president OF the commits
sion and the other members were 49,
Rrewer Of Yale; Alexander Agassiz General Ao-
hort of the retired list Of the Army; Evan Pincho',
NJ Neu.york and Arnold Hague, OF the oh''eo
States Geological Survey.
The members of the board. with the eNcep''o" VI
Mr. Agassz. made an extended TRIP 'as' SUNNI
through the forest lands OF the west Nis''ii's 'e
States Of North Dakota South Dakota MONTANA
Utah Wyoming Idaho. Nevada, Cahiorh'a Wv
on, and washington. Their report. made early III
February TO Professor Wolcott Gipos' 'he p'o''
dent of the National Academy OF sciences was
transmitted by him TO the Secretary OF the lhte-
r,or ard through him reached the President In que
course.
Tho recommendations Of the commission were
cordially accepted by Secretary Francis ana MA
Cleveland and the series Of procamations Issue"
to-day embody almost without change the resui'S
~ md
work. IT.
IT. .;,os =, Tho now reservations and some OF the
reasons for their segregation and exemption To"'
sale under the general land laws are given Il the
summary which follows:
r,rs,-The BLACK Hills Reserve-This proposed re-
serve embraces the central portion OF 'he b'@cN
r1ms ~ south Dakota ana has estimated area
or os7 $50 acres. The mountains are co'ere' WIN
forests OF yellow pine. and in the valleys oe'"'e"
,bon, snruces and cottonwoods principally occupy
the Hround These forests are entirety isoi"'eu an"
ford the only timber which Is produced III 'he .ei
ritory between Minnesota on the east ana 'nf DIE
Horn Mountains OF Wyoming and the ROCKY NOUN
,ains on the west. The region immedia'el! "o''"
y, tho nroposed reserve contains number OF mines
which depend on these forests FOR thinner ana iue'''
and tho settlers in the valleys OF streams moving
from them have no other local timber ana fue sup
nlv II appears important therefore, 'nat "hcSc
.oros,s should he protected and made permanently
productive and that they should continue 10 guar"
tho sourcoa Of the numerous streams which head
in the Black Hills. and are essential TOT the Hr-
cation OF the desert region adjacent 10 their courses
1,ba forests on this proposed reserve have sur
fered seriously from fire and the illegal cutting OF
timber the mines in this whole region having oeeh
practically supplied with timber ana fuel taken
from the public domain. 1t Is evident that Witt
out Government protection. these forests so far a.
their productive capacity Is concerned. will disap-
Of fou
s,ruction will entail serious injury and loss 10 the
agricultural and mining population OF western
North and South Dokota.
Second-The Big Horn Reserve-Ihls proposeu 'e-
serve has an estimated area o, l.l9SosO acres ana
embraces both slopes OF the Big Horn Mountains.
high isolated and exceedingly broken range IN
Northern Central Wyoming. containing number
~ neaks VARYING from 1900 II 900 feet in altitude
ord tho source OF many streams watering broad
valleys east and west OF these mountains Inc
forests which cover the Big Horn Mountains are
composed OF pines and spruces OF small SIZE thes
contain sufficient material. nevertheless 10 supply
the local demands OF agricultural settlers and OF
nosslble mining operations. but are not COM
merciaIly valuable These forests however. pro-
tect the sources OF many streams capable OF irri-
eating large territory which without irrigation
can produce only scant and uncertain pasturase.
Thrd-The Teton Forest Reserve-This proposed
reserve embraces s2a44o acres and Is south OF and
serve The forests which cover 1t are similar In
character 10 those in the Yellowstone National
Park: they capable OF supplying all local de-
mands that will probably ever be made on them
but have little commercial value. This proposed
reserve contains the Teton range OF mountains
and Jackson Lake and soma OF the grandest and
most picturesque scenery OF the Rocky Mountains
Within it's borders are many streams. flowing west.
south and north. and as a reservoir OF moisture 1t
is important. incidentally II may be mentioned
that the proposed reserve is favorite home OF
the elk and other large game and that as game
reserve It would we'll supplement the Yellowstone
National Park and the Yellowstone Park timber
land reserve.
Fourth-The Flathead Forest Reserve-The pro-
posed reserve embraces both slopes OF the main
Rocky Mountain range or continental divide in
Northern Montana. and extends from near the line
OF the Great Northern Railroad northward to the
International boundary. 1t has an estimated area OF
go 400 acres, and contains within Its boundaries
several high glaciers. snow-covered peaks. numer
Gus lakes and the sources OF important streams
Nowhere in the United States is there sublime
mountain scenery. The eastern portion consists
of lands recently purchased from the Blackfoot
Indians under treaty ratified by Congress on
June 10 1896. The eastern slopes Of the Rocky
Mountains are here steep and rugged and are
mostly covered with dense forests OF lodge pole
pines and spruces which protect the sources OF
tributaries of the Missouri and the Saskatchewan
dependent entirely for their water the
which falls these mountains and is protected
by these forests.
These forests are not commercially valuable in
the that they contain timber which can be
proftaby shipped out OF the region. but they can
furnish sufficient forest products TO carry local
mines and supply any agricultural population which
may live the streams in this part OF Montana
In this proposed reserve west OF the continental
divide are the great North Fork Of Flathead River
and many of the smaller tributaries OF that stream
The forests here. under the influence of more
humid climate. are much heavier than those on
the eastern slopes OF the Rock Mountains and are
composed of a larger number OF varieties OF trees
and here are stores OF spruce. fir. tamarack cedar
and cottonwood. which in time can be made TO play
an important part in the development Of Montana
These forests. too. in protecting the hoadwaters
OF turbulent mountain streams. reduce the danger
of floods and render their fertile lower valleys
habtable.