SURVEYS OF FOREST RESERVES. 5& 



tition with the products of richer and more accessible forest regions. 

 In addition, many of the streams, the only possible means of transpor- 

 tation, are too rough to be easily driven. For the present, therefore, 

 the development of these forests in a commercial way is out of the 

 question. Provision is required for controlling the limited use made 

 of their timber by ranchers in the immediate neighborhood ; but other- 

 wise, the task of forest management here resolves itself for the imme- 

 diate future into protection against fire, the construction of trails, 

 chiefly to that end, and the study and mapping of the forest. 



FOREST FORCE. 



It has already been recommended that one forest ranger be stationed 

 at Missoula and that he should exercise a limited supervision over the 

 Flathead and Lewis and Clark reserves, while devoting the greater 

 part of his attention to the eastern slope of the Bitterroot Eeserve. 

 Forest guards under his direction should be stationed at or near Ovaudo 

 and Columbia Falls for the Flathead and Lewis and Clark and at 

 Hamilton and Darby for the Bitterroot. Twenty fire watchers should 

 be assigned to the eastern slope. For the present it is recommended 

 that no men be assigned to the western slope. In time guards should 

 be stationed at or near Elk City, Shoup, Indian Post-Office, on theLolo 

 trail, and other commanding points. 



BOUNDAEIES. 



The present eastern boundary line of the reserve was intended to 

 inclose the whole of the precipitous mountain slopes which follow the 

 western edge of the Bitterroot Valley. The correction here recom- 

 mended is intended to bring this condition about. The available 

 information regarding the western slope is not sufiQciently definite to 

 afford a basis for the recommendation of new boundaries for that part 

 of the reserve, if such are required. The eastern boundary proposed 

 is as follows: 



Commencing at the intersection of the line between ranges 19 and 20' 

 west, principal meridian, Montana, with the State line between Mon- 

 tana and Idaho; thence nor-therly along said range line to the base 

 line; thence westerly along said base line to the southeast corner of 

 township 1 north, range 20 west; thence northerly along the surveyed 

 and unsurveyjed range line to the northeast corner of said township;, 

 thence westerly along the surveyed and unsurveyed township line 

 between townships 1 and 2 north to the point for the southeast corner 

 of township 2 north, range 21 west; thence northerly along the sur- 

 veyed and unsurveyed range line to the point for the southeast corner 

 of section 24 in township 2 north, range 31 west; thence westerly along 

 the surveyed and unsurveyed south section lines for sections 23 and 24= 

 in said township to the point for the southeast corner of section 22 in 

 said township; thence northerly along the surveyed and unsurveyed 

 east lines of sections 22, 16, 10, and 3 in said township to the point for 

 the southeast corner of section Si in township 3 north, range 21 west; 

 thence westerly along the surveyed and unsurveyed township line 

 between townships 2 and 3 north, range 21 west, to the point for the 

 southeast corner of section 32 in township 3 north, range 21 west; 

 thence northerly along the surveyed and unsurveyed east section lines 

 of sections 32, 29, 20, 17, 8, and 5 in townships 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 north, 

 range 21 west, to the point for the southeast corner of section 32 in 

 township 8 north, range 21 west; thence easterly along the surveyed 



