Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-12-07


Snake river. which but for the Salmon
and Clearwater rivers would be near
ly dry In the summer. The irrigation
possibilities OF this stream in connec-
ton with the low plains of eastern
Washington are great The need for
timber In the development OF the enor-
nous mineral wealth of this region
makes the protection of the remaining
stands from fire and waste OF every
kind q matter OF the utmost Importance
to the mining industry
The Kootenai forest reserve addition
comprises the distinctly mountainous
district with its interior drainage ba-
sins which is situated within the great
southwark bend Of the Kootenai river
In northern Montana and Idaho. The
Idaho area is 1922 acres; the original
Montana area Is SsI. $50 acres.
NATURAL FOREST.
The tract, which contains IN both
states about LOSE 500 acres, Is natural
forest region. Ninety-nlne and one
half per cent OF the land is either COW
cred with forest, or. having been de-
nuded, is capable OF restocking. Under
forest growth the lands improve; culti-
waiting the soil. without generous fer
tilIzation. brings impoverishment and
erosion, which on high ground results
In aridity. The region has consequently
but little value for agriculture, and Is
I'm every way of more value for forestry
than for any other purpose. The high
est general altitude, which Is along
the international boundary line, ranges
from $500 to 1000 feet, Nearly all OF
the timber within the reserve Is at
present inaccessible, except that on
the bottom and bench lands shedding
directly into the Kootenai river. The
enormous quantity of timber produceu
on this tract has, at present, no COM
mercial value. but II nature were aid
ed In reforesting with valuable species
the land would produce an equal or
even larger amount which would be
valuable both az forest cover and lum-
Der. with It's loose soils, densely for-
ested mountains, numerous basins, nv
ers creeks. ETC.. II Is admirably adapt
ed for the conservation OF moisture
and is an important factor In maintain
ing the perpetual flow of certain nav
Igable streams. The rivers draining
through this region flow directly INTO
the Kootenai, leading tributary OF
tho Columbia river, which constlutes
one of the great arteries OF western
commerce. The protection OF the for
est growth over this drainage area 49,
TO a wide extent of country.
MOUNTAINOUS COUNTRY.
The Idaho addition to the Priest
river reservoir includes a tract OF
270.sSO acres OF exceedingly rough
mountain country, rising In places as
high as $500 feet; which extends
along the eastern boundary OF tho re-
serve from the international boundary
as far south as on n line with the
southern end Of Priest lake, and mas
a width of from eight TO 16 miles.
These lands have practically no vaiue
for pasture, agriculture. or mining
Their chief utility must always He IN
the production OF timber. which Is or
great Importance TO the surrounding
regions In which numbering Is the
principal industry Repeated tres
have. however, largely denuded the
tract. 1t is essential to take immedi-
ate steps 60 preserve the little valu-
able timber remaining, and, by suit
able protection and wise control. re-
establish n forest on the denuded
areas. The total area OF the Priest
river forest reserve Is now about 925,-
1870 acres, which includes the original
54f,l60 acres IN Idaho and lO3,960
acres In Washington.
The Sawtooth forest reserve has
been enlarged on the east to embrace
the greater portion OF the watershed
formed by the upheavnl OF the Saw
tooth mountains in Custer and Blaine
counties and, on the south. to include
several small areas containing the
headwaters Of various irrigating
streams. These additions. aggregating
f.392,6i0 acres, added TO the existing
area of 1,a47.520 acres. make n total
acreage within the reserve of $500
100. The territory In the addition Is
exceedingly rough, traversed IN great
part by the Sawtooth mountains
whose name is derived from their
Jagged proflles. Tho forests upon
these steep slopes are far from being
adequate to sufficiently modify the too
rapid run-on OF the many mountain
streams and 10 insure the regularity
OF their flow. Consequently the area
must be given chance to reforest IL
self as far as possible. and this can