Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-12-14

pine type is branchy and scrubby and
has value only for slope protection
and perhaps, remotely in the future
for fuel.
The important industries of the re-
glon are numbering and mining. AT
present the actual logging operations
are limited, but the numbering posi-.
bllities are great. There ale exten.
sive placer operations, but quartz min.
ing is still in the prospect stage.
The Occur d'Alene branch of the
Northern Pacific railroad follows the
st. Regis valley Just north of the re-
serve and affords a means of trans
portation east and west for all tim.
Der that may be cut
Agricultural lands are almost lack.
ing except in the main lower valleys,
but in a few places bNtnla ands are
made 10 produce hay, grain and a few
hardy vegetables. Stock is limited to
comparatively few horses and dairy
cattle.
Long Pine Reserve.
The Long Pine forest reserve is L.
Gated in the extreme southeastern pOr.
ton of Chester county. Its eastern
boundary Is the Montana-SOuth Dako-
ia state line, and it's southern bound.
airy is 80 miles north Of Wyoming
1t therefore lies not far from the new.
~ created Ekalaka forest reserve. Ex
act figures cannot be given because
the greater portion of the reserve ia
not surveys, but it contains ap
proximately 11O,4OO acres.
Farming and stOckraising are the
principal industries of the region, and
the reserve should prove especially
valuable to stockmen as it vii: pro.
vide excellent range. s,ood walt;' ~.
cessible and cheap timber and. above
ALL an equitable adjustment of all
these privileges. There is sonic good
farming area in the new reserve, and
more suited TO agriculture than to any
other purpose. The reserve admins
tratlon should mane these lands more
valuable, and every effort will De
made to perpetuate and increase their
use as farms for settlers in the region
The timber i'll the Long Pile hills
lnclosed in the reserve should be care
ful!y preserved for the use of the reg
lon. - It II the only source of sup
ply between the EKaiaka reserve and
the reserves in western South Dako-
ia. The impo'tan"e I'll continuing this
SuPpis 10 ~ " u Tie ldCt lid sell
tiers come from distances as sreat as
IS miles to secure the timber product :
OF the Long Pine hills. The grazing
problem is ent,.;' absent because
there has been but slight overstock.
ing: the range is of excellent quail
ity the cattle are owned by the set.
tiers OF the region and there are no
conflicting interests.
The prevention of fire, which in
former years has done great harm,
Will be the chief duty of the reserve
officers. The general sentiment OF
the region was decidedly favorable to
the new reserve, and this good feel
Ing has been accentuated by the fact
that the agricultural and grazing
lands within the reserve boundaries
have not only been withdrawn from
use, but have been made more use.
full and valuable through the creation
and equitable regulations of the re-
serve.
The Big Hole forest reserve, whose
principal object is also to protect i'm
portant watersheds, lies along the
main continental divide in Silver Bow
and Beaverhead counties, and inf1uen-
ces portions of the drainage areas of
the Big Hole and Beaverhead rivers.
The peaks of the divide are rugged
and barren, with rough, timbered
ridges extending to the bottom lands
Of the valleys, well suited to agricul.