Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1900-10-05
WOOD and FISH.
Commissioner Barrett Writes of the
Work Necessary for the Preser-
vation of Forests.
Gradual Destruction of Timber by For
est Fires in Some Portions of
the State.
What is being Done to Promote the
Growth Of Fish in the Waters
of the State.

OF the State.
Editor Tribune: On account of a
lack of interest in forestry on the part
of our national legislators, up to a late
period, the U. S. Forestry Division has
been almost purely bureau of infor-
nation. But with an enlarged and
much needed appropriation of money
this branch of public service within
the last eighteen months, has become
an active participant in practical for
est conservation and development
throughout the United States. At the
present time all the work of the divi-
sion is assigned to four sections with
man at the head of each possessed of
special knowledge and qualifications.
The sections are as follows: Working
plans, economic tree planting, special
Investigations, Office work. The prin-
cipal scenes Of its activities of late is
in the woods, covering in it's operation
domestic and native trees and forests.
J. W. Tourney is the superintendent OF
tree planting, who has two assistants
George l.. Clothier and w. l.. Hall.
The latiter's field of operation is con-
fined to states in the southwest and
the former is in charge OF the work iii
Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, North Da-
kota, South Dakota Wisconsin and
Michigan.
The working plan has for it's aim
an enlargement of an interest in prac-
tlcal forestry among farmers, horticul~
turalists, lumbermen, etc. And to ac.
ccmplish this desirable end, at the
present time, Mr.. Tourney has his two
assistants operating in the west, fur
nishing proper drafted plans, giving
advice and rendering needful aid as
circumstances may allow. Being
scientific and practical foresters, they
are enabled to render much assistance
which proves most advantageous to
those engaged or desiring to engage
in tree culture.
Mr. Clothier has been in our state
for some time in the performance OF
his duties. He has been connected
with the agricultural college of the
state of Kansas for near twenty-one
years, holding the chair of botany for
a series Of years. He is fully fitted,
scientifically and practically, for the
work, and his magnetic enthusiasm and
sensible ideas awaken the trusting con-
tidence of all who would make forestry
in any of its phases study in actual
application. The writer has been as
sisting and cooperating with Mr..
Clothier in his work in North Dakota.
This official, Mr.. Clothier, finds the
fullest qualification and encourage
ment in the abiding interest mani
tested by the people of our state in the
general subject of forestry, particular
ly in the matter of successful tree cul-
ture. Upon due investigation he has
reached the conclusion that the trees
of North Dakota, cultivated and native,
in point of hardness, enduring habits
and growths, will compare favorab!y
with similar trees grown in any other
western state.
This week Mr.. Clothier and myself
examined the woods of the Turtle
Mountains At Fish Lake and con-
tiguous sections, we found most at
tractive and extensive forests-where
the trees, sound and healthy, grow in
compact bodies from 10 to 60 or more
feet high. I there observed the fol-
lowing trees: white aspen, having
small leaves; black aspen, having
large leaves; balm of gilead, paper,
canoe or white birch, white elm, bur
oak, black diamond and sandbar will
lows, white ash, black haw, boxelde.',
chokecherry, pinche1ry, plum, also the
junebewy, high bush cranberry dog
wood, thorn bush and the hazel bush.
The aspen and the balm of gilead were
the principal trees, with diameters
varying from ten to fifteen and in some
instances twenty-four inches in diam
eter, attaining height of from so to
G5 or more feet.
1t was appalling to notice to Whist
extent the fires have destroyed the tim
ber' OF the Turtle Mountains-thous-
ands of acres of compact valuable
woods utterly burned and consumed
causing ten times more destruction in
one year than has been wrought by the
axe and the saw mill since the early
territorial days of our state. This is