60 SURVEYS OF FOREST RESERVES. 



and uusurveyed township line between townships 7 and S north, range 

 -1 west, to the point for the southeast corner of section 33 in township 

 S north, range 21 west : theuce northerly along the surveyed and unsui'- 

 veyed east section lines of sections 33, 2S. 21, 16, 9, and 4 in townships 

 S. 9. and 10 north, range 21 west, to the point for the northeast corner 

 of section 4 in township 10 north, range 21 west; thence westerly along 

 the surveyed and nnsurveyed township line between townships 10 and 

 11 north, range 21 west, to the point for the northeast coruer of town- 

 ship 10 north, range 22 west, at which point the line joius the one estab- 

 lished as tlie northern botmdary of the Bitterroot Forest E«serve by 

 proclamation of February 22, 1S97, with which line it is thenceforth 

 continuous. 



BLACK HILLS FOREST RESERVE. 

 SL'MMAKT. 



Situation : "Western Soath Dakota. Acres. 



Area -svltliin present lines 967, 6S0 



Adverse holdings, very large but not known. 



Exclusions proposed, approximate 202,880 



Inclusions proposed, approximate 535, 040 



Area witMn proposed lines, approximate 1,299, 8-tO 



Inore.ise, approximate 332, 160 



Per cent of 



Present lines: total area. 



Area of forest land (?) 85 



Area marked by fire (?) 85 



Area badly bomed (?) 25 



Proposed lines : 



Area of forest land (?) 95 



Area marked by fire (?) So 



Area badly buiiied :. (?) 25 



Force recommended: Two rangers, 5 forest guards. 60 fire watchers. 



Sources of information: Report and statement of H. S. Graves, Special Field Assistant, 



United States Geological Surv-ev. Personal examinatdou, October 22 to November 



4. 1897. 



An ondnlating elevated region, well adapted to the growth of trees. 



Fire has determined the condition of the forest over nearly the whole area. 



The water supply for mining and irrigation is important. 



Mining is the principal industry of the region, and means must be provided for it's 

 continuance. 



Agriculxure is important, and agricultural land should be opened to entry. 



Grazing is not largely practiced and does no harm to the forest. 



The immediate commercial development of these forests is imperative if the reserve 

 is to be maintained. Special attention is directed to the recommendation on page 42. 



The Black Hills Forest Eeserve occupies the southern portion of the 

 elevated region of the same name in the western part t>f South Dakota. 

 Its boundaries include an area of 967,080 acres, of which an unknown 

 but very considerable part has passed into private hands under patents 

 as lode or placer claims. The Black Hills themselves have a length 

 from north to south of 120 miles and a breadth from east to west of iO 

 mdes. Since the lines of the reserve should be extended to cover nearly 

 the whole area of the Black Hills, both in South Dakota and in Wyo- 

 ming, the descriptions which here follow have been made to apply to the 

 latter. 



The topography of the Black Hills consists essentially of a rim of 

 limestone rock surrounding an inner region of schists and slat«s. with 

 granite at the surface iu the center. With the exception of the cliffe 

 and canyons of the limestone and a rugged area in the granite, the 

 outlines of the country are rounded. The soU is rich and the climate 



