The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-20
The Annual Report of Director
Charles d. Walcott.
THE FOREST RESERVES
Great Destruction Wrought by FIRE
Topographic Surveys in the Bitter
Root Reserve-Approprtation for
Geologic Work.
Washington Bureau Of the standard
No. has g. street -. W. }

survey, Charles II. alCctI -"
completed. From advance proof sheets
che standard correspondent is aole 10
presen, a review of the report. which
Is an extensive and comprehensive doc
ument
speaking Of the forest reserves d.
rector walcott says: For a long time
a, MAS apparent to those who had gwen
consideration TO the subject that the oe-
struction of the forests Of this country
particularly in the Rocky re-
zion and on the Pacific coast was pro-
ceedins al a rate far more rapid than
their restocking by growth. This oe-
rruct1on was wrought chiefly by nre'
from which no benefit whatever accrues
"a the mmunit rather than by cut
ting. which. hoWever wastetul II may
ne Is a necessity and results IN goou
80 the community. Movements IN IA
xsor ~ the protection Of the forests from
Ore and for the regulation OF the cut
ding of timber therein were not sue
cessfuI owing 10 the lack or a sutncleht-
IN strong local sentiment. Several years
spo those Interested In the protection OF
the forests determined TO endeaVor 10
have parts of the public domain seq
regated, reserved from settlement ana
placed under the protection ana resula-
zion of the general government.
Under the act of 1891 II forest rcser-
ystions were established, ageregatlhs
il, 500. 600 acres. among them itnv
stone park. Director Walcott says the
establishment of these reserves attract
ed little attention and created httle OF
no opposition since no real protection
was afforded 10 the areas reserved ana
the cutting of timber and destruction
by fires went on within their limits a
elsewhere"
In 1897 february came the Cleve-
land order reserv1ng 22.S4I $50 acres.
The establishment of these reserves,
said the director, produced a strong
protest from the residents OF the states
interested" resulting In the provision
incorporated In the sundry civil law OF
June, 1897. s~uspending the executive OF
der until March. 1902, and providing
for examinations and survey of the re-
serves at an expense Of 100000.
All the suspended reserves are now
subject 10 the laws governing reserves
ARRANGEMENTS were made in the sum
mer OF 1897 by the geological survey lot
the Topographic and subdivisional sur
views of those portions OF the suspended
reserves in which there were large IN
teres.s that may be injuriously affected
fnclu ing particularly the Bitter Root
reserve in Montana. The purposes OF
the topographic surveys are described
TO be:
First-The preparation of Topographic
maps, on a scale OF two miles 10 lne
inch. With contour intervals or 100
feet. as base maps for the representa-
ton Of forestry details. agricultural ana
mineral lands. and future geologic sur
veys.
S~econd-The establishment Of bench
marks Indicating elevation above sea
s-.-y - ,.rfgaal control in fnn0ETanntc
mapping. and for all mining, engineer
ing and geologic work.
ThIrd-The subdivision of reserves,
where necessary. by running
lines TO designate tracts of land.
Fourth-The demarkation OF tracts
that are more valuable as agricultura
and mineral lands than for timber.
Fifth-The mapping Of all wooded and
forest areas.
since July, 1897, special forestry ex.
merits have been at work studying tht
distribution Of forests. size and density
OF timber, effects OF forests fires, dead
timber. pastures, etc. etc, on the re
serves. They also consider the relation
of the timber supply 10 transportation
the local demands of miners and set
tiers and the supply needed for distan
markets. The experts also examin'
public lands adjacent 10 reserves.
TIL director general believes that tn
reserves can De CoIlHiCACiA culNfNfu 4
six years, unless congressional appro
priatlons give out. lie says there
already nearly enough data for the IN
fellieent rectification of the boundarle
of most of the reserves containing area
where apparent injury or injustice /
being inflicted by the establishment 0
the reserves
OF the appropriation for geologi
work during the year covered by tn
report the following allotments wer
made for work in the Rocky mountal
states:
W. II. Weed. Montana SAT-
waldemar Lindgren. Idaho ....... 54'
r. c. Hills, Colorado ............. LOO
G. w. Cross. Colorado ........... 54'
s. Y. Emmons. Utah ............. 10
Arnold Hague, Yellowstone Park. Tt9'
For forestry reserve surveys r. J
Douglas was allotted s59. 600. II.
Goode $50, 600 and Henry Gannelt H4
900.
Arnold Hague's party did much va
liable work IN Yellowstone park al
vicinity. He was accompanied by II
T. A Jaeger and Or. r. +. King Th'
made areal surveys Of the Absarol
range in the Yellowstone park reserN
This range for years offered /;
effeetual barrier 10 all exploration
the park from the East. IL is regard,
as afording important chapters IN q
geologic history OF the region. The {
rector thinks the whole NeloWsto
park reserve should be added TO [
park. Mr.. Hague has prepared an z
tensive monograph on the park and q
Absaroka range. He has also prepar
for the survey a geologic model Of u
region. IL shows the great contrast
tween the approximately level plate
Of the park and the deeply trench
plateau which forms the Absaro
range.
In his work in Montana Walter
Weed OF Helena was assisted by l.
Griswold and r.. II. Sales. Field NC
began near Butte and vas for the pI
pose Of mapping the areal geology
he Boulder quadrangle in Western j
ferson county. 1t includes imports
mining districts. Additional field We
~ also dome nv Nj. Weed in the L