b SURVEYS OF FOREST RESERVES. 



base line to the southwest corner of township one (1) north, range six (6) east; 

 thence northerly along the range line between ranges five (5) ami sis (6) east to the 

 northwest comer of township two i,2) north, range six (6) east; thence westerlv 

 aloiig the unsurveyed township line between townships two (2) and three (3) north 

 to the point of intersection with the boundary line between the .Stares of South 

 Dakota and Wyoming; thence southerly along said State bonndary line to the point 

 of intersectiou by tlie township line between townships six (6>"aud seven (7) south. 

 Black Hills base line : thence easterly along said township line to the southwest 

 corner of township six (6) south, range four (4) east: thence northerly along the 

 range line to the northwest corner of said township ; thence easterly along the 

 township line between townships five i5) and six (6j south to the southwest comer 

 of township rive (5) south, range sis (6) east: thence northerly alonsr the range line 

 to the northwest corner of said township ; thence easterly along the tirsi (Ist ) stand- 

 ard parallel south to the southwest corner of township four (4) south, range seven 

 (7) east: thence northerly along the range line between ranges six i6) and seven (7 1 

 east to the northwest corner of township one (1) sonth, range seven ^7) east, the 

 place of beginning. 



Survey.— It was known in advance that considerable section-sub- 

 division work would be necessary in this area, and that there were 

 some township lines to run, but the exact localities of the work could 

 not be known until a held examination had been made. 



A leveling party, consisting of four men, was organized and com- 

 menced work on the 18th of June, and disbanded December 11; and 

 a second leveling party, consisting of three men, commenced work on 

 the 12th of July and disbanded on December 4. A topographic party, 

 consisting of eight men, commenced work on Jidy 14 and disbanded 

 December 5. Owing to the fact that the necessary instruments for land- 

 surveying work could not be obtained until August, although ordered 

 in June, sectionizing parties could not be started as early as desired. 

 One sectionizing party, consisting of nine men, was organized August 

 10, a second of nine men commenced work on the 30th of August, and 

 a third of nine men on October 17. The total number of miles of stand- 

 ard and township lines run to December 4, the close of the season's 

 work, by the three parties, is 109 miles of township, 405 miles of sub- 

 division lines, and 21 miles of retracements of old surveys, being por- 

 tions of 14 townships. There remain to be subdivided portions of 16 

 townships. 



Judging by statements made by parties living in the Black HiUs 

 and from Mr. Douglas's own experience while working in that locality 

 late in Xovember, the latter had good reason to suppose that field 

 work coidd be prosecuted to advantage until late in December. He 

 therefore planned to increase the Black Hills parties in October and 

 November by adding to them such parties as would be forced to dis- 

 continue work in other reserves on account of storms and snow. This 

 plan of increasing the parties was carried out, and in October one tri- 

 angulation party of four men and two topographic parties of three men 

 each were added. Another topographic party of three men was added 

 in November. Satisfactory progress was made until the latter part of 

 Zlsovember, when frequent and severe storms and cold weather inter- 

 vened to greatly delay the work. The expense being so great and the 

 results so small in comparison, it was decided early in December to 

 order the field work stopped. The outline of the timber areas was 

 obtained and depicted by sketches on the old maps of that section of 

 the country. 



Up to the close of the work an entirely new and accurate survey was 

 being carried forward, including the running of level lines, the plac- 

 ing of bench marks, as required by law, the accurate sketching of the 

 topography, and the careful outlining on the map of all timber areas, 

 distinguishing between burned or dead and living timber, the work 

 being executed by a total force of 57 men. 



