SUEVEYS OF FOREST RESERVES. 55' 



MIXED FOREST IN THE CLEARWATER BASIN. 



East of the summit the Douglas fir (red fir) is a comparatively small 

 tree, with average dimensions as follows: Height, 60 feet; diameter, 1 

 foot; length of clear trunk, 10 feet. It is but little used for lumber. 

 Its reproduction after forest flr.es is good, but on the whole it is far less 

 useful than the yellow pine. 



The lodge-pole pine has spread widely through the influence of fire. 

 Its reproduction is good, but the trees here, as elsewhere, are small. 

 Its dimensions may be given as follows: Height, 70 feet; diameter, 10 

 inches, length of clear trunk, 30 feet. 



The lowland flr, so called because of its plentiful occurrence in the 

 lowlands of western Oregon and Washington, a tree here chiefly found 

 above the middle altitudes, has average dimensions as follows: Height,, 

 90 feet; diameter, 2 feet; length of clear trunk, 15 feet. 



FIRE, EASTERN SLOPE. 



The destruction by Are *in the last forty years on the eastern slope 

 has been very serious indeed. More than half the lodge-pole pine on 

 the slopes facing the valley south of the main forks of the Bitterroot 

 has been killed. It is estimated that 130,000,000 feet B. M. of Douglas 

 flr (red flr) has been destroyed, together with 5,500,000 of mixed Dougla? 

 fir and yellow pine, and 2,500,000 of yellow pine standing alone. This 

 is the case in spite of the fact that yellow pine and Douglas flr are 

 particularly adapted to resist Are by their thick and corky bark. 

 Floods have begun to be felt on account of the destruction of the 

 lodge-pole pine at high altitudes, and still greater loss from this cause 

 is anticipated if the destruction is allowed to proceed. A commendable 

 sentiment against flres exists in the valley. Immediately after the 

 visit of the National Forest Commission in 1896, notices were pre- 

 pared by the Anaconda Copper Mining Company, offering a reward 

 for the detection of infractions of the laws protecting timber on the 

 public domain, and it was widely posted along trails and in the passes.. 



WATER, EASTERN SLOPE. 



It has been noted that the destruction of parts of the forest has led 

 to floods in the Bitterroot Valley, and that water for irrigation is- 

 needed, since nearly every part of the valley which the water can be 

 made to reach will produce agricultural crops. The protection of the 

 forests for this purpose is distinctly necessary. 



MINING, EASTERN SLOPE. 



Mining has been prosecuted to any extent only south of the main- 

 forks of the Bitterroot Eiver. Several hundred mining claims exist 

 in that region, and 500 acres of coal lands have been discovered. The 

 future development of these mineral resources is uncertain, but in any 

 case the protection of the timber supplies which that development will; 

 require is important. It has already been mentioned that great quan- 

 tities of timber have been cut from this valley for the use of the Ana- 

 conda Copper Mining Company. Provision should be made by which 

 the production of this timber may be continued under Government 

 supervision, so as to reconcile the development of mines with th& 

 preservation of forests. Hitherto the regulations prescribed in the^ 

 permits under which this timber has been cut have not, as a rule, been 

 observed. 



