The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1947-05-22
highlander
Visits NeiIs
Woods Work
Forestry Committee Give
Program Both Instructive
and of Great Interest
FOREST AUTHORITIES
GIVE TIMBER FACTS

One of the most instructive ant
pleasing Chamber of Commerce
meetings possible to plan and carr,
out, was given last Saturday after
noon and evening by the Forestry
Committee of the Libby Chambel
of Commerce, of which Howard
Ahlskog is chairman and the fol
lowing are committeeman: Ted Kes
sci, George Neils, W. E. Powell
w. G. Guernesy, Max Sturm anc
A. c. Austin.
School buses carried the hundred
members and guests from the Hote
Libby to Warland, leaving Libby al
100 p. m. A stop was made en- route
to view a roadside strip of primeva,
forest left for the benefit of traV-
elers along Montana 81. Stepping
through this strip to the logged over
territory a few yards back from
the highway, Chairman Ahlskog
gave an interesting talk regarding
the logging of that particular area
which occurred in 1913, and of con-
ditions prevailing there. He stated
that Ponderosa Pine was the valua-
bic crop from that section of the
forest, and the Douglas fir which
grows there is not of the best quail
ity on account of lack of moisture.
This is good Christmas tree country
and it was stated that Is per cent of
the suitable trees for this purpose
may be removed without injury to
the forest. The yellow pine type
will require an estimated 40 year
period before being cut over again.
The fir trees pushed down by last
v inter's heavy SHOWS, while being
2 boon to the deer population dur
ing the past winter, will prove a
dangerous fire hazard in the forest
this summer.
The party stopped at Warland to
watch the Neils crew unload log
ging trucks from Five Mile Greek,
and load the timber onto open
freight cars for shipment to the
mill in Libby. The work is done by
power lifts. Here members who de-
sired, were given the opportunity
of enjoying trip to the actual log
ging operations on Five Mile, going
by logging truck, while the balance
of the party followed in the buses.
Reaching the operations on Five
Mile Greek, the party had the plea
sure of watching logs come down
out of the woods to the loading
landing, where they were loaded on
trucks for transportation to the
railroad at Warland. Here again, the
lifting and heavy work is done by
power leaders (jammers), controlled
by three Workmen. One of the high
spots of the day, was at this point,
where those who wished, were Civ
en- opportunity to 20 up on the
with the skidding cats"
and come back down with a drag of
logs to the landing. This was rare
treat for the initiated. The writer
and L. w. Doxtater, neither of
whom had seen logs handled in the
woods, went up with Harold Decker /
and received a real thrill" from
being on the big machine as it
spun round on As degree slopes, |
pushed through and over brush and
saplings, crossing logs, large rocks !
and whatever lay in its path. The
trip back down with 10 heavy logs
IN tow, was also interesting.
Leaving the Five Mile area, the
party returned to Warland and |
went on up to the head of Jackson
Creek which was used last fall and /
winter for winter logging. This is a
2onderosa pine and larch country !
With much Douglas fir The area +
vas cut out last winter, and is not I
expected to be used for logging pur-
poses again for a minimum of 80
years. The fact the territory was
cut OUT does not mean that it is in
my way ruined. It means that the
better trees, which examination
hows would probably die within
he next 80 years, have been
marked, and were logged, leaving
he balance of vigorous growing
rees for the next harvest some 80
n more years in the future. There
ire no cut-over waste areas in the
ection.
Returning to the Neils lumber
amp in Warland, the party was
at the company's mess
lall, where the head cook, Mrs. Carl
and her assistants,
erved one of the best banquets any
f the visitors had ever enjoyed.
served 'family-stYle" on the large
ables, the meal contained every
hing hungry logger or c. of c.
member could desire from potatoes
nd gravy to many kinds of pie,
axe and ice cream, with roast tur-
.ey furnishing the piece-de-resis-
ance. Most of, if not all of the visi-
Ors were obliged to let out their
elts before leaving the table.
Paul Church r7rociHoraf ~ 4I,o
libby Chamber, opened the even
ng meeting, turning the chair over
D Howard Ahlskog, program chair
nan, who spoke briefly, stating
ince 1912. $50 million feet of saw
Ogs have been taken from the area.
lie also called attention TO the need
Or thoughtful and planned refor-
Stration, stating il takes two gem