The courier-index., 1919-12-19
TRACT ADDED TO
NATIONAL FORESTS
t,II6,000 Acres In Thunder5
Mountain Region OF Idaho
Set Apart.
HAS LONG BEEN A MENACE
Recurring Forest Fires Have Endan-
Qered Adjoining Portions Of Ma
tionai Forests-Great Tract 10 II
Difficult of Access. n

prepared by the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture)
Washington, d. C.-In accord with
almost unanimous sentiment In Idahs
and in response to considerations vital
iy affecting adjoining national forests,
congress has set apart 1,116,0OO 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 / per cent
of its area suitable for agriculture. has
for years been the scene Of destructive
ires and devastation due to overgras-
ing. 1t Is now to be added to the Pay
cite national forest which adj0ins IL
on the south and west, and tho Idaho
national forest which adjoins 1t On the
north and west The area lies approx
imately 100 miles northeast Of Boise.
Because uncontrolled, II has been r.
curing menace to the adjoining ma
tional forests by reason of fires thai
have gained great Roadway In Its vast
unpatroIled regions s
Swept by Forest Fires.
What has taken place In the Thun-
der Mountain region. according to o.
Gals of the forest service. United
States department Of agriculture. 10
typical Of what would have taken place
IN most Of the national forests haA
these areas not been protected. Three
hundred thousand acres. or approxi-
nately one-third OF the area. has ben
swept By forest fires in the past twelve
years, destroying approximately no.
OOO, 900 feet Of timber. The mining ~
sources. after being specifically eK-
plotted by miners with scant equip
ment, have remained practically UNI
developed. Much OF the wild HE mas
been ruthlessly exterminated, and the
grazing lands have been destroyed ~
nomadic herds. The number Of sheep
which have been grazing without re-
striction or regulation during the past
wear total nearly 100000, whereas :
fair estimate Of the carrying capaci-
~" OF the entire country has been
placed at $1,000 to 10000 head OF
sheep.
| There are no towns orIvillages In the
whole region. The log buildings Of
the first settlement on Monumental
creek still stand-vacant, specter-like
reminders Of the boom days Of many
years ago. Hundreds Of claims which
were 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-
tains an abundance Of low-grade ore,
! but its commercial use has not been
possible because Of inadequate trans
portation facilities. Z Control Of the
area as National Forest land, once OPP
! posed because 1t was feared that Il
might retard mine development, is now
seen to be a practical step toward
bropef use Of the mining resources. as
well as conservative utilization Of
grazing facilities.
Travel 10 Difficult.
At present the roads. trails, and
bridges are in d sad state Of disrepair.
making travel over them on foot or by
horseback impossible. One Of the i'm
portant undertakings of the forest
service, now that the tract has been
added to adjoining national forests
will be to supply the area with I'm
proved lines Of travel.
A large and important watershed Is
included In this area, which Is esti-
mated to supply at least 1000 second
feet OF water to the Columbia river At
low-water periods. 1t Is roughly esti-
mated that more than 100000 horse
power could be generated from waters
rising in the area. The region Includes
no natural wonders. large lakes or
features Of special scenic interest
Deer and trout are plentiful, aud there
are said to be q few wild sheep and