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

extreme northwestern corner of the
state. lies within the great southwark
bend OF the Kootenai river, which re.
turns nOrthward into the Dominion
OF Canada. The reserve, which con.
talns about 8S7 1850 acres, is a natural
forest region. Ninety-nine and one.
half per cent of the area is either COW
cred with forest, or, having been de-
nuded, Is capable of REPRESENTATION.
Under forest growth the land improv.
es, while under cultivation the soil is
impoverished unless generously fertil
lied, is easily eroded and on high
ground becomes arid. Consequently
it has but little value for agriculture.
Its highest altitude, which is along
the international boundary line, on the
Purcell range and kootenai noun.
tains, ranges from $500 to 1000 feet.
Nearly all of the timber within the re
serve is at present inaccessible, ex-
cept that on the bottom lands and
bench lands that border directly upon
the Kootenai river. 1t is admirably
adapted for the conservation of mois.
ture, and is an important factor in
maintaining the perpetual flow of GER
tain navigable streams.
All of the rivers draining through
this region flow directly into the Koot-
enai, one of the most important trib-
utaries of the Columbia river, a great
artery OF western commerce. The
kootenai also has been utilized many
years for the navigation of steam,
craft both in the United States and
in Canada.
The protection of the forest growth
over this drainage area is, therefore.
matter OF great importance to a wide
stretch of country. The efforts for the
forest service in caring for this re-
serve will be directed particularly to-
ward preventing forest fires, which at
present constitute the chief source of
danger to the timber. 1t also should
be understood that none of the re-
sources of any of the forest reserve
areas have been withdrawn from use,
and that the timber. water, mineral
and all other resources will continue
TO be open for use for the people.
The LoIo Reserve.
The LOlo forest reserve lies in MIS-
sOula county and has for it's bounda.
les the St. Regis and MssOula rivers
on the north and northeast, the Bit
ter Root valley on the east, the Bitter
Root forest reserve and the Montana
Idaho line on the south, southwest and
west. The country is mountainous,
the state line following the summit
OF the divide between the Snake and
Columbia rivers, and the elevations
range from 1000 to 5000 feet.
Since the new reserve takes the
form of strip to 25 miles wide and
about 80 miles long, lying wholly along
the rough eastern slope of the Bitter
Root mountains, its contours are all
extremely abrupt. The climate is rig
Orous and there is snow in the high.
est mountains through all but four
months OF the year. Except for a mar
row strip adjoining the Bitter Root
valley the region is within foothills.
The forest cover is of three types :
lower slope, lodgepole pine and AL.
pine pine. The lower slope contains
nearly all the mercantile timber; the
lOdgepOle type is pure stand between
5000 and 1000 feet elevation, and the
Alpine type occurs above 1000 feet,
where slope and soil will permit. The
lower slope has valuable stands of yell
low pine, red tir, tamarack, white pine,
cedar and lodge pole pine. The lodge
pole pine type has been burned 50
repeatedly that it is practically dc !
strOyed in all save few favored sit
nations, and burned over forest land,
almost half the total area of the re.
serve. is within this type. The Al.