Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-02-19
TIMBER OF THE MISSOURI
Continued from Page 81
only be estimated, although the
stumps show the diameter.

The cottonwood logs have been
used extensively for the construction
of farm and ranch improvements. The
buildings of all the early settlers, in
GLIDING houses, barns, and sheds, are
built of cottonwood logs. The farm
buildings of the present are, without
exception, of the same type and
material.
One or two small sawmills have
been located along the river. One
was located a short distance below
Fort Buford. The only saw mill in
this region at present is on the river
a short distance below Grinnell. This
is a small mill that runs at irregular
intervals. The sawn material is
mostly dimension stuff used for in
tetrior purposes. The dimension
stuff and sheathing in the buildings
of old Fort Buford is largely native
timber.
Ash easily ranks as the species of
standpoint. Stumps still remain that
are two feet in diameter. No evil
dence was seen of ash timber having
been used in construction work. Mr..
VIM. Laughland and Mr.. H. A. Mel
son says that ash cordwood was in
great demand at the time when
steamboats, piled the river. The
boats paid 81 per cord for ash and but
81 per cord for cottonwood. Thous-
ands of cords of ash were cut and
sold at these prices. The steamboat
days passed with the coming of the
railroad.
The white elm ranks third from the
standpoint of supply. The logs were
cut and used in common with cotton
| wood.
The diamond willow, since the dis
trEction of the red cedar, is the most
important species for fence posts.
Miles and miles of wire fence are
built on diamond willow posts. The
diamond willow attains a height of
20 feet or more and diameter of 6
| or 8 inches. The best trees yield
two good posts, that are worth cents
each in the Williston market.
| The cumberland in the coulees and
hillsides bordering on the south side
Of the river amounts to a sum total
| of several thousand acres in the
region between the mouth of the Vel,
lowstone river and Grinnell. The
timber in the coulees is confined to a
| narrow belt along the stream or flood
plain, spreading out to considerable
extent as the coulee emerges into the
river valley. .;,ls.
| The belt of timber extends up the
coulees from half a mile to mile
from the river valley. The important
species found growing in the coulees
are ash and diamond willow. The
largest diamond willows seen in the
Williston region were growing in the
coulees.
| The timber on the hillsides along
the coulees is confined to lines of
seepage. Ash is the only important
species found, and it is usually of
scrubby nature and inferior quality.
Coppfce ash is used extensively on
farms and ranches in building corrals,
sheds, and various structures where
poles can be substituted for boards.
The timberland along the face of
the bluffs on the south side of the
river, in the sum total, amounts to
considerable area. The only species
found in this locality was the red
cedar. Few living specimens now
exist, but there is abundant evidence
to show that there was once a good
stand. The maximum diameter OF
any stump found was 10 inches; 10
inches appears to have been about the
average. The trees have been of a
short trunked, thick headed type,
seldom more than 18 or 20 feet in
height, yielding about two lengths Of
posts, the butt cut could be split into
two or three, or sometimes four posts.
l. Reproduction. sa2
Reproduction is occurring very salts
factorialy in the river valley and the
| coulees, where the fires have been
kept out. In the timberland along
the Missouri river the cottonwood Is
/ rec1aiming its former area and is OK.
tending its range to recently former
sand bars. All stages Of reproduc.
/ ton are present from yearlings I'd
trees 80 feet In height.
i The ash and elm are extending
\ their range Of distribution, but the
grass sod Is a strong competitor, and
progress is slow. Ash repro duction ii
mostly by eoppiee, elm BY seedlings
The diamond willow occupies BY fas
the largest area, and the coppice re-
II Y,rndI IN nj i'm fcs evf,,,d ~