THUNDER MOUNTAIN 



BY HENRY S. GRAVES 



CHIEF FORESTER, UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE 



IN THE high mountains of Central Idaho there is an 

 area of over a million acres that tells the story of 

 what would have happened in the western mountains 

 if the National Forest system had not been established. 

 It is an area of public land, rich in forest, mineral, water, 



THE THUNDER MOUNTAIN REGION IS A VAST WATERSHED 



An important source at the headwaters of the Columbia River. The 

 streams are swift, and there is an immense amount of potential water- 

 power in the region. 



and grazing resources, in which abuse by fire and over- 

 grazing has wrought such havoc that the whole region 

 is becoming a menace to both the local and the 

 general public. It is surrounded by National Forests, 

 in which for over twenty years there has been protection 

 from fire, careful regulation of grazing, progressive 

 development of trails and other improvements, and a 

 foundation of industrial upbuilding and prosperity. 



The Thunder Mountain country was not included 

 within the National Forests because of local opposition. 

 Within the area are valuable mineral deposits, and just 

 prior to the establishment of the National Forests in 

 Idaho there was a stampede of miners from all parts 

 of the West into that region. Thousands of sanguine 

 prospectors poured in, and mining camps sprang up as 



if by magic. A beginning was made in building roads, 

 trails, and bridges. Money was lavishly spent, merchants 

 prospered mightily, and Idaho regarded the Thunder 

 Mountain region as a future center of great industrial 

 development. It was feared at that time by many peo- 

 ple in Idaho that the existence of the National Forests 

 might operate to retard mining development, and the 

 public sentiment against including Thunder Mountain 

 in a National Forest was so great that it was left as open 

 public land unprotected and subject to the abuses of 

 unregulated grazing of sheep. 



The region now stands out in striking contrast to the 

 surrounding National Forests. While in the Forests the 

 resources have been saved and are being progressively 

 developed, the Thunder Mountain region is being 

 rapidly ruined, industrial development has practically 

 stopped, and unless steps are taken at once to bring this 



TIMBER OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 



The dense Lodgepole Pine makes an admirable soil cover. It also pro- 

 duces material of great importance in mining. 



area under protection and control of the public, Idaho 

 will not only have an unproductive waste but will suffer 

 seriously through injury to an important water system. 

 The mining boom collapsed when the more available 

 mineral pockets were exhausted, and when it became 



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