Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-02-19

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10. 1906.
soils found along the coulees and the
base of the hills. "a.
3. Trees and brushes are of little
value in preventing erosion of the
steep river banks where action is
under way as it is Immediately south
of Williston, or at Jones' Cut near
Trenton. If the banks can be re
duced to an angle of 80 degrees and
the slope then planted to diamond
willow cuttings at the rate of 5000 or
more per acre, they would in few
years be very effective protection.
4. The recommendations of this
report are applicable to similar re-
gions only, in principle. In other
regions probably more valuable
species than the cottonwood can be
used, and Seeding trees substituted
for cuttings.
Recommendations for Management.
If the region examined is to be
protected and devoted to timber pro-
duction, all of the low land, constitut-
ing the first BENCH" along the Mis-
souri, river, and the rough hilly land
lying south of the river within the
irrigation projects mentioned, which
yet remains in government posses
sion, should be permanently with
drawn from sale or settlement.
Whether it should be proclaimed as a
forest reserve or held as a permanent
withdrawal by the reclamation serv-
ice would depend upon the amount of
public land available, and whether
active reforestation work could be
undertaken. 49,
The conditions which make it adj
visable to reserve the above men
toned areas are: 2
1. The low land, comprising the
FIRST bench" along the river, is sub
jeet to overflow. If cleared for agri-
culture, this ground would be subject
to serious damage from the overflow
2. Before the timberIand was cut
or burned over, portion of the FIRST
bench" and all the second bench"
which is similar in character and
composition. produced a fine growth
Of cottonwood timber. Under proper
management this land can be made
to produce from 1000 to 5000 feet Of
merchandise timber every thirty of
thirty-five years. '@"'
8. The bluffs and coulees along
the south side Of the valley from the
Yellowstone river to the eastern limit
of the Nesson project is, at the pres
ent time, only for grazing purposes.
Grazing lands are SO plentiful that its
value in this respect is very small
The coulees in which there is running
water are valuable as drinking places,
but stock nsed not be excluded as
they will seldom Craze or trample
| over the areas to be planted.
T.. The bluffs which were originally
covered with cedar are still capable
of producing an abundance of valu-
able cedar timber. .-,e@ -:
5. There Is sufficient amount of
this land to warrant the permanent
employment of a forester, and the
work is SO diversified that it will
furnish continual employment.
| s. Systematic forest work on the
land within these irrigation. projects
will be valuable object lesson to the
people of the surrounding country. At
the present time the timber is looked
upon as something to be cut down
Land gotten out of the way as soon as
possible. Forest planting on the
waste lands wiH stimulate the people
Eof the entire region to plant on their
farms wherever practicable. #.t
! Opportunity to Assist Settlers.
| A forest nursery, il established In
connection with the management oi
the withdrawal lands and maintained
for the purpose OF supplying forest
trees to homesteaders and settlers al
actual cost of production, would have
la desired stimulating effect on. forest
Iplanting. Such a nursery should
have an annual capacity OF at leas,
one million trees. The country Ii
IneW and at present is being rapidly
settled up by homesteaders. The de
mand for forest nursery from now Of
/ viii be large, and the prices asked b
fnurserymen for such stock prohibits
even moderate planting. II
i Few of the settlers understand tina,
/ the choice of species very largely
determines the success or failure 81
\ Ia plantation, and willingly accepts
i such species as the nurserymen offer
4 which are usually boxelder. cotton
wood, willow and ash.
1 With the nursery under the imme
diafes narra& 4 f,ta f,re ~, II, ~ y