to one or two weeks, can be made to more distant portions of the park, taking in such features as Granite Park, Iceberg Lake, Swift Current Pass, Chaney Glacier, Mount Cleveland, Waterton Lakes, and many other interesting points. Guides, saddle horses, pack outfits, etc., can be secured at Lake McDonald. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PARK IN 1910. Shortly before I reached the park and assumed charge as superintendent of road and. trail construction forest fires broke out in various portions of the reservation, and immediately upon my arrival, August 8, 1910, I devoted my attention to fire fighting. The forest fires were the worst we have had in the West for years and my entire time was taken up in checking them. The following extract from a report made on September 14, 1910, shows the extent of the fires: Kintla Lake Fire: Ford Creek to Canadian boundary and from Flathead River to Rocky Mountains, mostly burned over. Extent: 23,000 acres. Duration: July 17 to August 21; still burning, but boundary not extended since August 21 or 22. Cause: Fire crossed Flathead River from fire started on Trail Creek by lightning about July 14. Estimate: Very little heavy timber burned, but a great deal of lodge-pole reproduction. Value of timber destroyed: No commercial value could be set, owing to its remoteness from sawmills, lack of transportation facilities, and the fact that the timber was of recent reproduction. Bowman Creek Fire: Fire originated 2 miles below foot of Bowman Lake; burned down creek 1 mile and to top of ridge on both sides and back to main range of Rocky Mountains on both sides of lake along ridges, but not down to lake shore, except along the southwest shore. Extent: 8,000 acres. Duration: August 20 to present time; still burning, but under control. Cause: Probably started by campers. Estimate: Area burned over was covered with lodge-pole reproduction. Value of timber destroyed: Unable to give money value; scenic value considerable Quartz Lake Fire: Near head of Quartz Lake. Logging Creek Fire: Secs. 8, 9, and 16, T. 34 N., R. 21 W., M. M. Extent: 200 acres. Duration: Started about July 12; reported July 19. Forty men had fire under control July 23. Force reduced to three men July 25; force reduced to one man August 7, guard removed September 2. Fire still burning, but safe. Cause: Unknown. Supposed to be from lightning or from Whitefish fire. Area: In heavy timber, 1 mile from road between Logging and Quartz Creeks. Estimate: Several million feet of matured timber were lost in this fire. Would have a money value of $3.50 to $4 per thousand stumpage, as this timber could be driven down Flathead River to mills at Columbia Falls. Anaconda, Dutch, and Camas Creeks fires: From mouth of Logging Creek diagonally across to a point 1 mile from Anaconda Creek, 4 miles from road; thence along bench up North Fork of Anaconda to top of ridge 1 mile from head of Logging Lake; thence an irregular line along foot of mountains to ridge between two main branches of Dutch Creek; thence to mouth of Dutch across Camas Creek. Extent: 19,000 acres. Duration: August 20 to present date, but under absolute control from September 4; now being patrolled only. Cause: Probably caused from the Whitefish fire. Estimate: 75,000,000 feet; money value of loss considerable; scenic value even more so. Rock Hill Fire: Between Little St. Marys and Harrison Lakes, 6 to 8 miles north of Great Northern Railway. Extent: 600 acres. Duration: August 12 to September 8. Cause: Unknown. Estimated loss: 3,000,000 feet of matured timber, probably worth $2 per thousand stumpage. Garry Fire: Northwest of Great Northern Railway about 5 miles. Extent: Length of trench on fire line, 12 miles; length of trench swept over by fire, 5 miles. Duration: 18 days. Cause: Unknown. Area: 7,600 acres, estimated; total number of men employed, 42; average length of time for each man, 17 days; average number of hours per day for each man, 13. Quantity and value of timber: It is hard to estimate this loss owing to the fact that this timber was in a very mountainous region, removed from either road or water transportation. Its scenic value did not amount to much, as it is off the line of travel for tourists. Essex Fire: From Middle Fork of Flathead River at Essex on Great Northern, up Ole Creek about 14 miles; about 6 miles up Park Creek; about 8 miles up Coal Creek. Extent: About six townships. Cause: Fire jumped from south side of Great Northern track and Middle Fork of Flathead River from Blackfeet National Forest. Was reported at once to the forest ranger on the Blackfeet Forest at Essex, who remarked it was out of his jurisdiction. It was several days before any effort was made to put the fire out. By that time the fire had spread so that it was almost impossible to do anything with it, or at least it took a large force of men and almost a month's work before it was gotten under control. Estimate: On Ole Creek, 15,000,000 feet; on Park Creek, 54,000,000 feet; on Coal Creek, 20,000,000 feet. Fielding fire: Have no data on this fire, as it was principally handled by railroad employees. Midvale Fire: Followed Great Northern right of way from Summit to creek near Midvale; followed creek 3 miles north toward Two Medicine Creek; thence northwest 2 miles to the mountains. Extent: 8 miles square, estimated. Cause: From fire at Fielding across the divide. Value destroyed: About 8,000,000 feet of good timber, $3 per thousand stumpage; balance in old fire burns and late reproduction; principal loss to the park was its scenic value. Upon the cessation of the fires in 1910, I turned my attention to trail work, but the season was practically over and camp was broken September 26. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PARK IN 1911. Administration headquarters this year were temporarily located at the foot of Lake McDonald, the department authorizing the renting of six log cabins, which were turned into headquarters. Active operations for the season of 1911 began on April 28. As the proposed Government road between Belton and Lake McDonald ran through patented areas, deeds from the several owners were secured for a right of way 60 feet wide and 2 miles 610 feet long.. Much difficulty was encountered in its building by reason of the fact that the route ran through a dense forest, in some places swampy ground being encountered. On September 30 the road was practically completed, at a cost of $7,634.89 per mile, making a total cost of $17,178.50. This amount includes the cost of plows, scrapers, tools, etc., and is a saving of $797.70 over the engineer's estimate of $17,976.20. The following shows the amount of trail work done in the park this year: Trail work, season of 1911. Old trail cleaned out from foot to head of Lake McDonald.. New trail, foot to head of Lake McDonald.. McGee's meadow trail, partly reconstructed.. New trail constructed from ranger cabin at head of Lake McDonald to McDonald Cleaned out trail from head of Lake McDonald to Avalanche Basin. Cleaned out trail from head of lake to Sperry Glacier. Cleaned out trail from head of lake to Kootenai Lake. Cleaned out part of Bowman Lake trail (Browns Pass). Built new trail in Bowman Lake country.. Cleaned out old trail from Boundary Line up Boundary Creek. Miles. 11 1 41 2 71 6 34 20 6 8 15 20 20 5 7 10 10 10 or 12 There are now 199 miles of trails which have been put in fair condition, at a total cost of $3,321.50. The telephone lines built this season and in active operation are as follows: Belton Station to the temporary administration headquarters at the foot of Lake Administration headquarters to ranger station at head of Lake McDonald. Miles. 2 12 22 6 A total of 42 miles was installed at a cost of $1,400.37, including nine telephones. Telephones were installed in the residence of J. M. Gruber, and in the store of W. L. Adair, a rental fee of $4 per month during the time that the phones are in use being exacted therefor. Two docks were built on Lake McDonald for the use of the public and the licensed passenger boats, at a cost of $528.42. NUMBER OF VISITORS. Between June 1, 1911, and October 1, 1911, there were 4,000 visitors in the park. The majority entered the park by way of Belton and registered at the superintendent's office at the foot of Lake McDonald. Midvale stands next in the number of persons visiting the park, and a few entered from the north. Considering that this is the first year of the park, this number far exceeded expectations. ADMINISTRATION HEADQUARTERS. A site for administration buildings has been selected at Fish Creek, a point on the western shore of Lake McDonald, about 2 miles from its foot. This point will be connected by road with the recently completed macadamized road between Belton and Lake McDonald. Plans were drawn for the buildings, and bids solicited, but as the department regarded the bids as excessive they were rejected, and the matter has been dropped for the present season. 11355°-INT 1911-VOL 1--43 INSTALLATION OF SAWMILL. An order has been placed for a sawmill and shingle machine, with all appurtenances, for the purpose of sawing all dead and down and infested timber into lumber and shingles. In many places the cutting of fully matured timber will not in the least mar the beauty of the park, but will benefit the growing timber. In the past it has been the custom of the department to set aside a certain amount of money each year for the purpose of killing off insects infesting timber. This work was done by the Bureau of Entomology of the Department of Agriculture. A great many merchantable infested trees were cut down and left to rot on the ground, the Government not deriving a cent of revenue from the timber. At the present time, it is my plan to temporarily install the sawmill at Fish Creek, the proposed administrative site. Near this point there is a large amount of matured, dead, and infested timber that can be cut out without injuring other timber or marring any of the beauty of the park. It is proposed to saw out all lumber (outside of finish material) and shingles needed for the administration buildings, having it right on the grounds, thereby effecting a saving in the way of hauling. Numerous inquiries for lumber have been received, and in a short time it is believed lumber will rank first among the sources of revenue. CONCESSIONS. A concession for a stage line between Belton and Lake McDonald was granted to John Weightman, an experienced liveryman of Kalispell, Mont. During the season he ran five stages between the abovenamed points, making three round trips each day. A concession for a boat line on Lake McDonald was granted to Messrs. Denney & Kelly, who during the season had two gasoline launches in service, with a carrying capacity of 25 persons each. In August they launched a new boat, having a carrying capacity of 100 persons, to meet the demands of the public, and expect to have it in operation next season. The schedule for the season was arranged so that there were no delays in changing from the stage to the boat, and vice versa, connections being made during the day with all passenger trains on the Great Northern Railway at Belton. Twelve permits were issued granting the privilege of transporting passengers in and through Glacier National Park by means of saddle and pack horses. Each permit included 25 animals, with the exception of one, Josiah Rogers's permit calling for 60 horses. W. J. Hilligoss also had 50 horses included in his permit for permanent camps, making the total number of saddle and pack horses authorized by the department 385. Ten leases were issued for cottage sites within the park. ALLOTMENTS OF APPROPRIATION. The following shows the purposes for which the appropriation of $69,200 for 1911-12 has been used: 1,000.00 200.00 186.00 104.32 81.95 181.70 Construction of docks. Team, wagon, and harness. Salary and expenses of E. S. Bruce, expert lumberman. Traveling expenses of superintendent and rangers. Traveling expenses of Supt. Logan. Traveling expenses of H. F. McCabe.. Traveling expenses of E. M. Sunderland, architect. Telegraph charges.. Compensation of E. M. Sunderland, architect. Logging operations.. Remaining unallotted.. Total..... ⚫ 6.94 350.00 12.00 3,000.00 3,000.00 9, 075. 71 69, 200.00 Purchase of rowboat authorized from saving of allotment for purchase of team, wagon, and harness, $40.95. RECOMMENDATIONS. One of the most pressing needs of the park at the present time and vital to its success is the building of new trails to scenic points which have heretofore been inaccessible, and I have accordingly requested in my annual estimate that the sum of $25,000 be set aside for this purpose. Most of these trails will be along and over the Continental Divide, and it will necessarily take a considerable amount of money to put them in such condition as to afford the maximum of safety to tourists. I recommend that a road be constructed around Lake McDonald, a distance of 25 miles, connecting with the new Government road from Belton to the lake. When this road is completed it will, without doubt, be one of the grandest scenic highways in America. For the construction of this driveway I have requested that the sum of $75,000 be set aside. Another need of the park, which demands immediate attention, is the construction of a bridge across the Middle Fork of the Flathead River, thus lessening the distance between Belton and the foot of Lake McDonald by 1 mile. At the present time use is made of an old wooden structure which was hastily erected some years ago by the Flathead County commissioners and which is liable at any moment to go out during the spring freshets. The bridge on the park side of the river would connect with the new Government road and would be the entrance to the park. The estimated cost of a steel structure across this river is $50,000, and I have accordingly requested in my annual estimate that this sum be placed at my disposal for the erection of a bridge this coming year. At the present time the road runs up for half a mile on the river bank, thence across the wooden bridge, above referred to, and back for half a mile on the other side along the base of a mountain. In places the road is in a dangerous and bad condition. It is also recommended that a bridge be constructed across McDonald Creek at the foot of Lake McDonald in order to connect the new Government road with the proposed road around the lake. |