516 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 
early in the autumn of 1877 he addressed a letter to the Chief of Engi 
neers, U.S. A., which was responded to as follows :] 
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF DAKOTA, 
Office Chief Engineer, Saint Paul, Minn. 
To the CHIEF OF ENGINEERS U.S. A., 
Washington, D. C.: 
GENERAL: I have the honor to submit the following report, in compliance with in- 
structions contained in an indorsement upon a copy of a letter to the Chief of Engi- 
neers from the Commissioner of Agriculture, which I found inmy office upon my return 
from the field, October 26, 1377. 
The following is an extract from the letter referred to above: 
* * * “Twas advised that I might obtain through your department some valuable 
information in relation to the forestry of this country, embracing the present extent 
of the forest area; the lines of drainage; the elevation and rainfall, whether ascer- 
tained barometrically or otherwise; the various characteristics of the timber, and the 
extent, condition, and growth of the principal bodies of timber, especially those bor- 
dering upon the plains. I shall esteem it a favor if you will furnish this department, 
at your convenience, with the information here indicated, as well as any matter of 
interest connected with the general subject of the forestry of the country. 
“Respectfully, 
WILLIAM G. LE DUC, 
Commissioner of Agriculture.” 
It is to be seen that the information requested covers a great deal of ground. 
To enable me to report as fully as possible, I requested that the following circular- 
letter be sent from these headquarters: 
‘¢(CIRCULAR LETTER.) 
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF DAKOTA, 
, Saint Paul, Minn., November 8, 1877. 
‘¢ COMMANDING OFFICER (each post in Department of Dakota, excepting Fort Snelling): 
“Str: The commanding general directs that as soon as possible after the receipt 
hereof you send to these headquarters as full a report as possible upon the reservation 
of your post and adjacent country in respect to the following points, viz: 
“1st. The present extent of the forest area. 
“Od. The lines of natural drainage. 
“3d. The elevation, whether ascertained barometrically or otherwise, and the rain- 
fall; and the manner in which both have been ascertained. 
“Ath. The various characteristics of the timber, and the extent, condition, and 
growth of such timber, together with any information of interest connected with the 
general subject of the forestry of the country. 
‘5th. The rate of decrease in the amount of timber, and the cause of such decrease, 
as, for instance, by fire, or through the agency of man. 
“6th. Whether the planting of trees has been resorted to, and, if so, whether by 
shoots or transplanting, and with what success. 
“¢To enable you to comply with these instructions, you will call, if necessary, upon 
the post-surgeon or other officers of your command for subreports upon the points 
hereinabove enumerated. 
““T am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
GEO. D. RUGGLES, 
Assistant Adjutant General.” 
The request was kindly complied with, and the reports have now all been received 
and referred tome. A report from Fort Snelling was not asked for. 
The reports of Lieut. Col. Daniel Huston, jr., Sixth Infantry, commanding Fort 
Buford; of Lieut. Col. William P. Carlin, Seventeenth Infantry, commanding Stand- 
ing Rock; and of Assistant Surgeon Blair D. Taylor, U.8. A., post surgeon, Fort Rice, 
will be found of more than ordinary interest, and attention is specially invited to them. 
REPORT. 
Dakota, lying west of the Red River of the North, and bisected diag- 
onally by the Missouri, is embraced between parallels 41° 40’ and 49° 
north latitude and 96° 25’ and 104° longitude west from Greenwich ; its 
a 
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