The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-18
RESERVES IN THE STATE
eupsrintsndsnt Collins Tells
About Last Seasons Work.
HOW THE H WORKS
eoDs Of the Good Results That Have
Already Becn Made Piain-Ths
Millions OF Acres That Are
IN the Reserves

The proclamation OF Feb. %, 1897. by
President Cleveland creating a number
of public forest reserves in accordance
with an act OF congres of March 3.
ase1. granting the president such au-
ehority. gives to Montana three large
reserves. with an aggregate area OF
1855. $50 acres. divided as follows:
1.sS,. 400 acres in the Flathead reserves:
e.s3<oso acres in the Lewis and Clarke
and ss1 200 acres in that portion of the
Bitter Root reserve lying in Montana.
The object and purpose OF these re
serves Is set forth by a circular issued
oy the interior department. general
Wand office. under date OF June 30. 1897,
as follows: Public forest reserva-
lions are established to protect and
nmprove the forests for the purpose
of securing a permanent supply OF
climber for the people and insuring con-
,ditions favorable TO continuous water
How. II Is the intention TO exclude
from these reservations as far as pos-
eible lands that are more valuable for
1he mineral therein or for agriculture
shan for forest purposes. and where
such lands are embraced within the
boundaries OF a reservation they may
Se restored TO settlement. location
and entry"
! h object. therefore. OF these re-
serves is to protect and preserve cur
forests from destruction. both by fire
and depreciation. IL Is by no means
the intention or desire of the govern
ment TO prevent bona nde settlers
miners or others from cutting ma
sured timber on the reserves. In order
90 preserve the forests II is essential
that the matured timber should be
cut. but cut ~Judiciously. systematically,
and under proper supervision. Permits
10 cut timber are granted to reliable
parties by the secretary Of the interior,
upon application. and upon compliance
with certain rules and regulations.
The proper cutting of the matured tim
her will not only preserve forests. but
should prove a source of revenue TO
the government. the same as 1t does
10 other nations. British India re-
ceives an annual income from its for
ests OF 1900. 900: Russia obtains S14..
600. 900 annually as the gross returns
from its forest products, at an ex-
pense OF IS. 900. 900. showing a net year
ly revenue of 5000. 900: France and
,Algiers' revenues from this source ex-
ceeds Sc. o00. 900 annually. Canada also
obtains large Incomes from it's forests.
the province of Quebec alone receiv-
ing 1851, 900 annually.
Aside from the timber obtained. the
lumber features. the preservation of
our forests Is necessary TO the water
~ - 80 - n EltaA u
of the country. The Influence of our
forests upon this supply is'far reaching
and incalculable. The forest cover -
a permanent reservoir, retaining the
year around a large amount Of moist
ure. This moisture finds it's way reg
ularly and naturally through the soil
20 the many springs and streams that
take their source In the mountains.
that In turn feed the creeks and rivers
tina flow through the valleys and low
lands. %irrigating vast areas and max
ing possible the cultivation OF crops
and the filling OF the soil. The re-
moval OF our forests would lay bare
our mountain sides. the hot rays OF
the summer sun and the cold blasts
OF winter would bake and harden the
slopes. and winters melted SHOWS and
the early summer rains would find no
Judgement. but would flow I'm torrents
90 the l~owlands. causing disastrous
floods, destroying crops and sweeping
whole villages and towns out OF ex-
fstence.
The operations OF the forest reserve
force In Montana are conducted by "A
superintendent. three Supervisors. one
90 each reserve. and a number of
anger When the danger Of fires ex-
listed there were nine rangers assign
ed TO the Flathesd reserve. under SUI
pervisor w. J. Bremen OF Kalispell;
seven to the Lewis and Clarke reserve
h6t ooR~i y Jus fioN'l VI MS
soula. and nine to the Bitter Root ie-
serve under Supervisor j. Il. Weber OF
Hamilt q Ny headquarters are in
Missouia and, my office being so cen
trally located, is in close touch with
zach 81 the reserves n the various
officers. The danger of fires being
over with for the season. the force of
ans has been materially reduced.
and those still on duty are kept busy
patroling their assigned territory.
watchful against d~epredations. cutting
new trails into the reserves. opening
up old ones. clearing the reserve as
far as possible OF debris and destroying
the same.
When the full force OF rangers was
in the field we had a complete system
of patrol. extending nearly around
each of the reserves: communication
was established between the rangers
and daily reports OF work done by
each ranger were rendered each super
visor. who, in turn. reported weekly
20 the department at Washington and
20 my Office. Thus we were all in close
touch. n the department knew each
week exactly what Ia been done and
what was being dom our force has
only been in the field a little more than
four months. and YET within that short
space of time. j claim. we have been
the means OF saving TO the govern
ment a very large amount in dollars
and cents. for since August our force
has succeeded in ~eNtinguishing some
thing over 50 fires that had been start
ed near the reserves-not a single FIRE
occurring within the reserves-and hut
for the watchfulness and vigilance OF
our supervisors and rangers would
have destroyed an incalculable amount
of valuable timber. 1t is just simply
impossible. as you can readily see. TO
determine exactly hat the savings
would amount 10.
Acting under Instructions from the
commissioner Of the general land Of
nee. our force are seeing that the game
and fish laws OF the state are observed
within the reserves. While the state
has game and FISH laws. there appears
10 be no state officer charged with the
authority Of seeing that the same are