II^VESTIGATION AT ANACONDA, MONT. 23 



were badly spotted and injured for several miles from the smelter, 

 and down as far as Race Track the crops did not appear to grow as 

 luxuriantly as those around Deer Lodge. The trees growing in the 

 valley were so few in number that it was nearly impossible to judge 

 what their injury might have been. In several places examined south 

 of Eace Track the soil that had been irrigated by Deer Lodge River 

 water appeared to be injured, especially near the irrigation ditches. 

 This injury Avas shown by bare spots in various fields, such spots often 

 shoAving a blue-tinted crust that evidently contained copper. This 

 was especially true in fields along the river in the vicinity of Race 

 Track. Beyond this point no serious injury to the few trees remain- 

 ing was noted. The crops of alfalfa, potatoes, clover, etc., examined 

 beyond Race Track did not show any evidence of having been at- 

 tacked by smelter fumes. 



A trip was next made from Anaconda along the western side of 

 Deer Lodge Valley until Lost Creek was reached, the valley of this 

 creek being followed for about 7 miles. Samples of cattle-food 

 materials, soils, and foliage were collected and observations were 

 made on the general appearance of the vegetation. In Lost Creek Val- 

 ley the junipers Avere absolutely uninjured, and the lodgepole pines 

 were badly injured at the lower end of the valley, but the damage 

 gradually grew less until it became practically insignificant at a dis- 

 tance of about 5 miles up the valley. Throughout the entire 7 miles 

 of the valley the red firs were almost all killed, although an occa- 

 sional live one, or a group of them, would be found. 



A trip was made from Anaconda along the western side of Deer 

 Lodge Valley until Modesty Creek was reached. The valley of this 

 creek was followed for about 5 miles. Samples of cattle-food ma- 

 terials, soils, and foliage were collected and observations were made 

 on the general appearance of the vegetation. The lodgepole pines 

 throughout this valley were injured to only a very slight degree, this 

 distance evidently being near the extreme limit of injury for this 

 species of tree. About 50 per cent of the red firs Avere dead or badly 

 injured and those remaining did not appear to be healthy. 



Another excursion was made from Deer Lodge up the valley of 

 Tin Cup Joe Creek for 2 or 3 miles. The lodgepole pines were un- 

 iiijured and reforesting Avas taking place. The red firs Avere hardly 

 touched, only the older ones shoAving any injury at all, Avhile young 

 red firs Avere rapidly springing up. On the Avhole it appears that 

 this valley is beyond the limit of injury to lodgepole pines and at 

 the extreme limit of injur}^ to red firs. 



EAST OF THE SMELTER. 



The only trip made to the east of the smelter Avas in connection 

 Avith the return trip from Deer Lodge, already described. As far as 

 the writer examined east (Avhich was to J. R. Perdee's place, a dis- 



