Hungry Horse news., 1955-03-04
Mr.ArmstronQ's Memorial


We question the wisdom of Flathead's Repre-
sentative Dry Armstrong leading the drive in Helena
that resulted in the Montana House and Senate
adopting Joint Memorial No. IL that recommends
enlargement Of the Bob Marshall Wilderness area.
Mr. Armstrong is of considerable in
fluence in Helena. He is Republican minority lead
er, and formerly speaker of the House. He CO.
sponsored the wilderness enlargement resolu-
ton.
AS result the Montana House and Senate have
gone on record supporting enlargement OF the Bob
Marshall area that in effect will widen boundaries
OF the area that cannot be logged, have roads and
likely dams to Spotted Bear ranger station and
almost to U. S. highway No. 2.
There are IL whereas" sections in the mem
orial.
Briefly the heart of the resolution is as follows:
Whereas the large remaining roadless region
including the present Bob Marshall Wilderness area
and that portion of the South Fork and Middle Fork
of the Flathead drainages proposed for road con-
Strction represents the last large unit of grizzly
bear range in Montana lying outside the National
Parks,
seWhereas, large former blocks Of grizzly range
within the State have recently been penetrated by
roads, thus becoming relatively useless grizzly
bear range,
Whereas, the Middle Fork OF the Flathead
drainage represents valuable link between
the natural sanctuary presented by Glacier Park
and the Bob Marshall Wilderness area
Then the resolution stresses the Importance of
orderly immigration of elk from the Flathead to Sun
There is also "easy access made available by
such roads would materially lead to the defamation
of the Montana blackspotted cutthroat trout in the
last major drainage basin frequented by this val
liable Species"
whereas, in addition to adding to the
tional possibilities now enjoyed by thousands reach
ing the area by pack and saddle horses as well as
hiking type travel the presence OF these trout rep
resent invaluable source OF eggs and brood stock
for the restoration of this highly desired species
throughout the State"
Whereas the status of the Bob Marshall Wild
erness area be considered in 1885, and further
Whereas continued periodic reconsideration
develops argumentative hardships on the persons
concerned"
House Joint Memorial No. II is certainly well
drawn up and convincing, but we doubt that it IS
move in the best interests Of Montana and the
majority of its people.
For so years now the United States Forest
Service has been the nations principal agency for
conservation. The Forest Service is planning re-
study of the Bob Marshall Wilderness area boun-
daries with the idea that they may be extended
There have been no thought that they would be re-
duced, and we, incidentally, opposed to any
reduction
The Armstrong memorial becomes strong
pressure move on record before the study is made
The Armstrong memorial says continued per-
iodc reconsideration develops argumentative hard
ships on the persons involved" Truth is the present
wilderness has not been the subject OF boundary
study since 1910.
status for the present Bob Marshall Wilderness are;
with its 100000 acres We oppose any resolution
that would have the primitive enlarged before
study is made, seeks to prejudice such study
and would close the door to any future reconsid
Grafton.
Our reasons are simple. There is the proposed
feasibility study OF Middle Fork diversion into Hun
cry Horse reservoir scheduled for 1878 that ap
parently will find itself well within boundaries Q
the enlarged primitive area.
The Flathead has over $500 men engaged
logging and numbering. Columbia Falls itself Las
year shipped nearly three times the sustained yiel
capacity of Flathead National Forest.
BY enlargement of the primitive area we woul
reduce the sustained yield capacity of the Fores
by as much as 20 per cent. There are relativel
accessible timber stands off U. S. highway No. u
the Middle Fork that can be logged on sustaine
yield basis.
1t is our opinion that the memorial co-sponsore
by Mr.. Armstrong will cost men in the Flathea
jobs.
This section in the United States is certainly dc
ing its part to preserve wilderness aspects OF OF
heritage. There is Glacier National Park and tn
Bob Marshall Wilderness area for total OF abo'