Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-12-20
TRACT ADDED TO
NATIONAL FORESTS
1,ll6,W0 Acres in Thunder
Mountain Region Of Idaho
Set Apart.
HAS LONG Been A Menace
Recurring Forest Fires Have Endan.
Gered Adjoining Portions of Ma.
tional Forests--Great Tract Is
Difficult Of Access.

prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture)
Washington, II. C.-ln accord with
almost unanimous sentiment III Idaho
and IN response TO considerations vital.
congress has set apart l,ll6,o0o acres
OF land in Idaho known as Thunder
Mountain region. as national forest
lands This great tract, difficult of ac-
cess and having not over l per cent
OF It's area suitable for agriculture. has
for years been the scene of destructive
fires and devastation due to oyergraH.
ing. 1t is now Ia he added to the Pay.
cite national forest which adioinS il
on the south and west, and the Idaho
north and west The area lies approx
imaiely 100 miles northeast of Boise.
Because uncontrolled. 1t has been re-
curing menace 10 the adjoining ma
tional forests by reason of fires that
have gained great Roadway in it's vast
unpatrolled regions.
Swept by Forest Fires.
What has taken place in the Thun.
der Mountain region, according 10 Off
cials of the forest service. United
States department OF agriculture. is
typical Of what would have taken place
In most of the rational forests had
these areas not been protected, Three
hundred thousand acres. or approx.
mately une-third of the area. has been
swept by forest fires in the past twelve
years, destroying Approximately 1W,-
HD0OO feet Of timber The mining re-
sources, after being specifically eX'
plotted by miners with Scant equip.
mcnt have remained practically mn.
developed Much ~ the wild life has
been rnthtesSly cXtermlnated. and the
grazing lands have been destroyed by
nomatlic herds. The number of sheep
which have been grazing without re-
striction or regulation during the past
year total nearly 3AlOUU, whereas a
fair estimate OF the carrying capacI |
ty" Of the entire country has been (
placed AT $4,000 10 10000 head Of
sheep.
There are no towns or villages In the I
the first settlement On Monumental |
creek still stand vacant. specter-like |
reminders of the boom days OF many |
years ago. Hundreds of claims which
We're located during the rush Of 1901 |
have been abandoned. Some high
grade ores have been found, and the
general belief is that the region con.
tuinS nm abundance Of low grade ore,
but its commercial use has not been
possible because Of inadequate trans
portatlon facilities. Control Of the
area as National Forest land, once OPP
posed because 1t was feared thnt 1t
might retard mine development, Is now
seen to he practical step toward
proper use of the mining resources. as
We'll rs conservative utilization of
grazing facilities.
Travel Is Difficult.
Ar present the roads. trails and
bridges are in Il sad state Of diSrtpair.
making travel over them on foot or ny
portant undertakings Of the forest
service, now that the tract has been
added to adjoining national forests,
viii be to supply the area with i'm
,roved lines OF travel
4 large and important watershed IL
included in this area, which is eSt!-
mated to supply 1T least 900 second
Get Of water 10 the Columbia river at
ow-waicr periods. II Is roughly eSti-
mated that more than 100000 horse
,ower could be generated from waters
Using in the area. The region includes
10 natural wonders, large lakes or
eatures OF special scenic interest,
ocer and trout are plentiful, and there
re said to be few wild sheep and
.oatS.