78 SURVEYS OF FOREST RESERVES. 



WATER, WESTERN SLOPE. 



The floods of the Flathead Eiver, which form a considerable source 

 of danger to the settlements in the Flathead Valley, must be consider- 

 ably influenced by the forest condition of the drainage basin of its North 

 Fork. The Stillwater has a similar importance. Both streams may be 

 expected to be of some value for irrigation in the future. 



MINING, WBSTKRN SLOPE. 



Mining has made little real progress in this part of the reserve, 

 although a certain number of claims have been developed to some 

 extent. 



AGRICULTURE, WESTERN SLOPE. 



There is some agricultural laud along the North Fork of the Flat- 

 head, and perhaps along the Stillwater also, but no special provision is 

 required, beyond that already described, for opening it to entry, nor 

 will the boundaries of the reserve require modification for this reason. 



GRAZING, WESTERN SLOPE. 



Grazing is not important, since open grass lands do not exist withiu 

 the reserve to any noteworthy extent. 



FOREST FORCE. 



An adequate number of forest officers can not be supplied for this 

 region under the appropriation suggested. It needs to be said in this 

 connection that on the eastern slope 3 guards located on Swift Cur- 

 rent, St. Marys, and Two Medicine creeks are urgently needed to pro- 

 tect their watersheds from the fires which uniformly follow prospectors 

 in the West. 



On the western slope 3 guards on the North Fork, McDonald Lake, 

 and the Stillwater, respectively, should be set at work as soon as appro- 

 priations will permit. Twenty fire watchers might with advantage be 

 appointed in this region. The lack of settlers on the eastern slope 

 would make similar action difficult or impossible on that side. 



FOREST MANAGEMENT. 



East of the continental divide the simple and easily controlled system 

 of cutting in strips seems best adapted to the forests. These strips, of 

 perhaps 100 yards in width, should be located under the supervision of 

 the forest force, should be separated from each other by twice or three 

 times their width, and should be completely cleared of old timber. The 

 trees should be thrown in such a way that their tops will lie together 

 in heaps, and during the wet season these heaps may be cheaply and 

 safely disposed of by burning. The neighboring trees will completely 

 seed the areas, while the uniform direction of the winds will permit the 

 location of the strips in such a way as to avoid serious loss from wind- 

 falls. West of the continental divide a somewhat similar plan of man- 

 agement will be required. It is probable that some form of localized 

 selection, a method at once cheap, simple, and safe, in proper hands, will 

 be preferred, on account of the mixed character of the forest. This 

 method is easily adapted to a system of licenses. It should be worked 

 out in detail for this forest before any cutting is allowed. Special care 



