Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-02-19
TIMBER OF THE MISSOURI
Interesting Report on Forestry Conditions Along the River
by Government Specialists bright Possibilities
for Restoring Heavy Gr0Whs There

forestry conditions along the Mis-
souri, river flats more particularly in
the neighborhood of Williston with
reference to proposed reclamation
projects in that vicinity. The ex-
animation was made by the United
States forest service under the. direc-
| ton of Mr. Clifford Pinchot at the re-
quest of State Engineer A. L. Fellows,
who asked that number of questions
be answered, these questions being
those stated in the following report
The examination and report were
made by Mr.. G. A. Scott of the
forest service and will be found to be
of great value to those interested in
the welfare OF the state generally and
more particularly in the forestry
conditions along the Missouri river
valley. The conditions along the en-
tire Missouri river valley in North
Dakota are SO similar to those pre-
vailing near Williston that the con-
illusions arrived at will be generally
applicable to other localities in the
state excepting that other species
than those recommended for planting
may be found to be better adapted to
the southern half of the state. The
report shows careful study and will
| illustrate the thorough manner in
which the forest service studies prob
Ilems presented to it and also the care
employed in the investigations con.
nected with the reclamation of the
arid lands by the reclamation service
The report is as follows:
| Certain lands lying along the Mis-
souri, river within the Bufol -Tren
ton, Williston, and Nesson irrigation
projects in North Dakota were ex
i amined to determine the following
J points:
, I. Is the land more valuable fol
: timberIand than for agricultural pur
} poses, taking into consideration
(a) Cost of clearing. CD Cost o.
, leveling. tc) Value of timber as, {
, protection during high water.
), 2. Would it be desirable to extent
the forested areas over certain slough
and rough places in the same locality
and if So, what would be the cost, ant
what species of trees should BIZ
planted?
: 3. What trees and bushes can b.
} used to the best advantage as a pro
lection to the river banks so as tt
+ prevent the water from cutting?
" 4. viii the conclusions arrived a
: from the examination of these tract.
: be applicable to other similar tract.
i along the Missouri river, and if so t.
what areas. approximately
The conclusions are: - '-N
i. The low land, commonly Spoken
/ of as the first, bench" lying alon,
}: the Missouri river within these pro
: Ijects, IS in nearly all instances NOR,
) valuable as timberland than 70
! agriculture. This land is subject t,
:, occasional overflow or submersion b.
+ baekWater resulting from an ic
|. gorge. The submersion by bacl
water usually occurs when the lie
+ breaks up in the river, and wouI
+ probably do cultivated fields very Iii
i tile harm; while, on the other hand
: 1.-THE resulting deposit of sedimen
q would be wholly beneficial The r.
isult of ain overflow of the river tina
| would cause a current across thi
character of land can have but on
8 result, and that would be a yer
E detrimental washing and securing Q
:, the surface soil. This soil is Al ligh
y sandy loan that will wash easil
4 even under sluggish current.
: At present the land is mostly grow
up to sandbar and diamond willow
and a scattered stand of cotton woot
q The market value of this growth
! just what the diamond willow post
/ will bring at 10 cents each. The CO.
s ftonwood logs are worth about what
Z fcosts to get them out. Cordwpod a
the present time has no market valu
( on account of the abundance an
! tcheapness of coal tIignite) Coz
a tsells at the mines at 81 per ton, an
a retaiIs at Williston at 81 and s2.5
i per ton. The total value OF the tin
r her growth on the projects iii quei
ton will not exceed 50 or 81 pc
acre. 1t would cost between $40 an
9 SIS per acre to clear this ground Q
e brush and trees The cost Of 1eVe
q ing will vary with each piece 8
K ground under consideration, but in al
i instances 1t will amount to conside1
able.
It is evident that this IoW-Iying Ian
9 Ifs at present worth more for the PR
g dtIction OF timber than for agricu
4 tural purposes when all conditions ar
4 tconsfdered The advantages derive
4 from having II In timber, as PR
=.