Bismarck daily tribune., 1908-12-15
NEMsER OF ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW FOREST RESERVE.

NEW FOREST RESERVE.
The setting apart Of a forest re-
serve in North Dakota is perhaps
more important than is generally ap-
preciated. North Dakota is a COM
paratively treeless state, and the gov
ernment in addition to reserving .
tract where forestry may be practic-1
ed, encourages the forestation of 9TH
er areas over the state. a Washing
ton correspondent of the Herald at
Grand Forks, in speaking Of the new
reserve in this state, says:
t.assThe new Dakota National Forest
consists Of 14,0S0 acres in the Bad
Lands region. 1t is located in Bill
lings county and lies an equal dis
tance between tae Northern Pacific
railroad on the north and the Chi
cago, Milwaukee and st. Paul on the
south. 1t means that an experiment.
al field for forest planting has been
4 secured in North Dakota, the least
forested state in the union, having
only one per cent of tree growth.
The forest service expects to estab-
lisa forest nurseries with the hope
that in time to come the area may
be reforested by artificial means.
4 This feature is expected to prove a
very good object lesson to the set
4 tiers, who it is hoped, will in turn
plant wind dbreaks around their farms.
1 s The forest is very open and for
( the most part contains a scattering
stand of western yellow pine timber.
Along the creek bed is found ash,
box elder, cottonwood, elm and birch.
Cedar breaks are also found on pre-
cipitous slopes bordering the streams.
Western yellow pine is the only mer-
ehantable species, however, on the
I forest and the average stand per acre
is not over 1000 feet. The repro
duction Of pine is fairly good wher-
ever mature trees occur, but owing to
the open condition of the forest and
the dense growth Of grass it lis for
the most part unsatisfactory.
There is but little timber that will
{ be sold from the forest at the pres
ent time since this area is very isoIat-
ed, being surrounded on all sides by
4 vast plains. Many homesteaders have
In the past come to this forest for
timber for logs to build their houses.
Since the completion of the st. Paul
r, r., Billings county is being rapid
II settled and while stock grazing is
at the present time the most import
ant industry it is very probable that
farming will become the most i'm
l portant industry within the next few
years IT is very important, taere-
fore. that the timber which now re-
K mains should be conserved exclusive
B 1y for the use Of the home builder.
AT the present time there are but
y seven homesfeaders within the boun-
daries of the forest, but all of the
odd sections are alienated land, be-
Ing owned by the Western Land Se-
eurities company This company has
been seiIin portions of their holdings
during the past few years. Very lit
tie Of the government land within
the boundaries OF the forest is suit
I able for farming purposes, since it
Is quite rough and broken and wa
ter is very scarce. 1T is the country
outside of the forest which is now be-
ing taken up by settlers.
No sawmiiI operations have ever
been conducted on this area. When
the Northern Pacific railroad was
heing built a large number Of trees
+ were cut for railroad ties and al
q together with the logs whoch have
been procured for house building BIZ
settlers this is the only use which hal
been made of the timber on the for.
est 1t is understood that the logs
used In the construction Of President
Z R0osevelt's cabin, which now stands
In the state capitol grounds at Bis
marck, N. u, were obtained from TIL
area now included In the North Da,
kota National forest.
Governor Burke Of North Dakota
u very much interested in this fores
M