80 cents. Price of lodgepole pine ties where there is a market for them as on the O. S. L. R. R. is about 80 cents. It follows then that a tie operation can be successful only when there is no long haul. A haul of 50 or 60 miles with a large reverse grade would be prohibitive, and it will be many years befor the price of ties would justify any such haul. There is a body of tie timber on Crandall Creek, a tributary of the Clark Fork of the Yellowstone, but it will be impracticable to take it out over this road for it would require an extra haul of 12 miles up the Clark Fork and the present road above Crandall Creek is not suitable for such a haul. To do so would require the construction of a road along the Clark Fork from Crandall Creek to the point where the Red Lodge-Cooke route crosses the Clark Fork. This timber could be taken out to Cody cheaper over the present road. An attempt was made to drive standard length logs and poles down the Clark Fork. It did not prove successful. It is the opinion of the local forest officer that ties and mine props could be driven successfully with comparatively little river improvements. If this can be done it would be the cheapest way to get the timber out. The region is a low fire hazard factor. At only one place did we find evidence of timber killed by fire and that was a small area about 2 miles west of Beartooth Lake. The short season and occasional summer storms make it favorable from that standpoint. (b) Agriculture.-There are about 10 ranches between the beginning of the project at Red Lodge to a point 8 miles up Rock Creek. From this point to Mile 56, where the route crosses the Clark Fork, no agricultural lands are encountered. The region is rough, rocky, or of too high an altitude. There are three ranches in the proximity of the route along the Clark Fork that would be served. Two of these were unoccupied at the time of the investigation. The Dickenson ranch, about 21⁄2 miles below where the route crosses the Clark Fork, is well developed. Mr. Dickenson now gets his supplies and mail from Gardiner via Cooke. (c) Grazing. On the range adjacent to the proposed route in Montana there are grazed 4,500 sheep and 150 cattle under Forest Service permit. On the Shoshone Forest in Wyoming and adjacent range, 2,100 sheep and 60 cattle or horses are under permit. It is estimated that the amount of salt and supplies necessary for this number of stock would be 18 tons. At present the supplies are packed in and hauled to the plateau from points in the Clark Fork Valley to the east of the plateau. Grazing experts inform us that a road over this route would be of no material assistance to grazing permittees for the reason that the home ranches of these permittees are in the Clark Valley to the east and supplies would naturally be taken from there. Pack horses would have to be used to pack from the road and one can pack from the valley about as cheaply. (d) Forest administration. The area on the plateau adjacent to the road is, principally, a grazing type and as long as it is utilized for grazing the proper administration of the area requires an actual review on the ground. This can not be properly accomplished from a road but must be done on saddle horses. Such a road would be of little advantage from the standpoint of administration except what time possibly might be saved in traveling with horses on a road over that by traveling on a trail. (e) Water power. The headwaters of the Clark Fork descend rapidly. There is a small site about 6 miles from Cooke where it is possible to develop 75 horsepower from the natural flow 90 per cent of the time. The Western Smelting & Refining Co. has a power plant under permit located on the Clark Fork, 4 miles easterly from Cooke. It is rated at 40 horsepower. Lateral streams afford a small amount of additional power but would be of little consequence. The Mystic Lake plant of the Montana Power Co., which is located about 18 miles northeasterly from Cooke, could supply any needed amount of power in the Cooke district as that plant is connected to the main system of the Montana Power Co. (f) Mining. The region around Cooke is mineralized. Mining operations were first started in the camp some 40 years ago. Twenty years ago there was a greater mining activity than at the present day. The mineral to the south of Cooke is found in limestone. This limestone formation is a cap on top of igneous and porphyry country rock overlaid by porphyry. In that locality the ore is principally lead carrying silver values. It is found in pockets characteristic of the limestone region. These mines have been worked from time to time but, we understand, were not profitable. There were no mines shipping ore on large. July 10, last. To the north of Cooke, ores carry copper values along with other metals. In the Goose Lake district, about 9 miles north of Cooke, copper ores in the form of chalcopyrite are found. Geological reports indicate good values in that district but a limited amount of ore so far as present developments show. There are some chrome deposits between 1 and 2 miles west of the point where the reconnaissance leaves the floor of Rock Creek. It is at an elevation of about 9,500 feet. A report on these deposits and those on the Boulder and Stillwater is given on pages 67 to 84, United States Geological Survey Bulletin No. 725. That report indicates that the deposits on Rock Creek are not very (g) Recreation.-The region is largely used now for recreation purposes. The many lakes in the region on the Wyoming side abound in fish. These were planted years ago. At Bertooth Lake there is an established dude ranch. On Little Rocky Creek, at the Meadows, about 2 miles from Deep Lake, Doctor Johnson has also established a dude camp and is making extensive improvements. Local as well as eastern people horse pack into that region to go fishing and have an outing. The lakes now and probably always will afford the best places to fish as the streams are chracteristically rapid, which do not afford suitable places for fish to live. The streams afford spawning grounds. The Bertooth Range is bold, rugged, and rocky, containing permanent snows and glaciers. This route would afford an excellent view of a large section of mountainous country that ordinarily can not be seen from valley roads. A major use of the road would be for recreation; that is, to open up the region between Cooke and Red Lodge for recreation and fishing, and as an entrance to the Yellowstone Park. 14. County development.-The mineral territory around Cooke is located in the extreme southeast portion of Park County, Mont. The taxable resources of the district are not great. Residents of Cooke informed us that Park County for the past five years has not expended a dollar on the road between Cooke and the park boundary and this is one of the objections of the people in Cooke to using the present road to Gardiner. That portion of the road between Cooke and boundary is a county road. The road between Red Lodge and Riechel Lodge on Rock Creek, a distance of 13.1 miles, is a county road. 15. Relation to State highway development.-At the first conference with the Montana State Highway Department for the consideration of those roads to be included on the forest highway system, the commission requested that this route be included. Subsequently the project was deferred and not included on the forest highway system as now adopted. Since a large portion of the project is in Wyoming, it would require the consideration of that State. The route does not form a part of the State system. 16. Cooperation.-Practically no funds have been provided by the State of Montana for State highway purposes. The possibility of securing cooperation in this State, therefore, is remote. The resources of Park and Carbon Counties are not such that an appreciable amount of cooperation could be given. The project would be of very little benefit to Park County, Wyo., as both termini would be in Montana. Probably but little cooperation could be expected from that source. 17. Alternate routes.-The route down the Yellowstone River through the Yellowstone National Park to Gardener; the Clark Fork of the Yellowstone to Cody or to Red Lodge; via Daisy Pass and the Stillwater to Columbus are alternate routes to Cooke. 1. Via Yellowstone River to Gardiner.-The distance from Cooke to Gardiner is 53.2 miles, as recorded by the auto-stage odometer. Fifty miles of this distance is within the Yellowstone Park. The road from Cooke to Tower Falls, 24.1 miles, is a 11-foot mountain road, but in poor condition as to surface, due to heavy trucking when the roadbed was wet. At the time of this visit the park authorities were carrying on maintenance over this section. At Tower Falls the route connects with the regular park loop to Gardiner. Between Tower Falls and Gardiner a climb of 1,100 feet is made to keep out of the canyon along the Yellowstone. It would be possible to build a road down the Yellowstone River along the north bank between these two points and thereby have a water grade all of the way from Cooke to Gardiner. It is believed questionable whether a permit could be obtained from the park authorities for such a road. Topographically this is the natural outlet to the Cooke district. The fee charged for the use of park roads by people traveling to and from Cooke is $20 per year for both autos and trucks. Travel from Gardiner to Tower Falls is not permitted between the hours of 11 a. m. and 4 p. m., the reason for this is that the regular park traffic leaves Tower Falls for Mammoth and Gardiner at noon and the road is not a full two-way width. This causes some inconvenience to Cooke travel; it is not serious. The distance is such that it is practically a one-day haul by trucks one way. The trucks can leave in the morning and reach Cooke at night. There are no hourly restrictions against traffic coming from Cooke. No estimate was prepared by the undersigned for the construction of a new road between Cooke and Gardiner but Mr. Albright, superintendent of the park, has estimated that it will cost in the neighborhood of $248,000 to bring the 20.9 miles of road between Tower Falls and the park boundary to the park standard, which means a two-way surfaced road. This is a favorable route from the standpoint of snow. The maximum depth would be at Cooke, gradually decressing toward Gardiner, except going over the hill between Tower Falls and Gardiner. The snow on this hill does not get as deep as at Cooke. 2. Via Clark Fork of the Yellowstone to Cody.-The distance from Cooke to Cody, via this route, will be approximately 94 miles by following down the Clark Fork of the Yellowstone to a connection with the Black and White Trail between Cody and Billings. An old road now exists between Cody and Cooke which goes over the Dead Indian Hill. The road is usable for cars and trucks to within 3 miles of Crandall Creek, From Crandall Creek to Cooke it can not be classed as other than a wagon trail on account of the steep pitches, washed out culverts, and bridges, and mudholes, although there are stretches that are in fair shape. Residents of the valley informed that there were 17 cars which negotiated the entire route last year. For a heavy-duty road it should be built down the Clark Fork Canyon from the mouth of Sunlight Creek rather than ascend the Dead Indian Hill. The Denver district of the Forest Service (D-2) has made the survey from the county road below the Clark Fork Canyon to the junction of the roads on Sunlight Creek, a distance of 27 miles. Heavy work is encountered from Sunlight Creek to the mouth of the canyon. No particular difficulties would be encountered from Sunlight to the point where it intersects the Red Lodge-Cooke route at our Station 15770. A series of benches would be followed above the Box Canyon of the Clark Fork. Our estimate of the road from Cooke to the intersection with the Black and White Trail between Cody and Billings for the same standard and on the same basis as the estimate for the Red Lodge-Cooke City is $915,810 for the 64.8 miles. This point on the Black and White Trail is about 29 miles northerly from Cody and about 27 miles from Red Lodge. The distance from Cooke to Red Lodge via this route would be 92 miles and to Cody 94 miles. This is a very favorable route from the standpoint of snow conditions. The maximum snow during the winter gradually decreases to the open country at Sunlight Creek where it is practically open all winter. The open condition practically continues from there to Cody by the canyon route. The only adverse grade would be the 450-foot climb from Cooke to the divide of the Clark Fork. A road this way would serve about 15 ranches along the Clark Fork and would serve the Sunlight mining district as well as Cooke. 3. Via Daisy Pass and the Stillwater to Columbus.-The distance from Cooke to Columbus, a station on the Northern Pacific Railway, by this route would be approximately 77 miles. A road now exists from Columbus to Wood's ranch at the mouth of the Stillwater Canyon, a distance of about 42 miles, which is a fair county road but the grade and alignment should be improved to serve heavy traffic. It would also have to be surfaced. From Wood's ranch to Cooke is 35 miles. A reconnaissance of this section was made by the then senior highway engineer, J. S. Bright, of the Bureau of Public Roads. His report is dated September 14, 1918. His estimate did not include surfacing. This has been added. Using Bright's report as a basis, our estimate of the cost of a surfaced road from Cooke to Columbus for the same standard as that estimated for the Red Lodge-Cooke route is $1,044,758 and that section from the end of the existing road at Wood's ranch to Cooke, $666,758. The Daisy Pass has an elevation of 9,605. The elevation of Cooke is 7,651 feet. This would give an adverse grade of 1,954 feet; which would be practically the only adverse grade encountered. Snowdrifts would be encountered for three-quarters of a mile on each side of the pass. The general contour of the pass is more even than that encountered as the higher regions of the Red LodgeCooke. The snowdrifts are more uniform in depth. To use this route as a truck road would require snow removal over this mile and a half at the summit. It could be used as a sleigh road during the winter without snow removal until the spring breakup at which time it would have to be removed. It is not as favorable as route from the standpoint of snow as the Gardiner or Clark Fork routes but is more favorable than the Red Lodge-Cooke route. The territory between Columbus and Wood's ranch is a farming country. Such a road would serve these farmers and the town of Absaroka through which the road would pass. It would serve to develop the chromite deposits on the Stillwater. 18. Conculsion.-(1) Of the four routes discussed the one to Gardiner is the natural outlet topographically. (2) None of the routes investigated would develope any large economic forest resources. (3) The region is not one of his fire hazard and a road is not essential to the protection of the timber. (4) The route to Red Lodge is the most scenic of the four. (5) An important use of the road would be to open up the Beartooth Plateau region for recreation and as an entrance to the Yellowstone Park. This club, representing the combined business and agricultural interests of Sheridan County, strenuously oppose the construction of Red Lodge-Cooke City Road if any part of Wyoming's highway funds will be used for its construction or maintenance. We further oppose it because we feel new entrance to Yellowstone Park unwarranted and unnecessary. Large sums of money now invested in development of Cooke City mineral resources by citizens of Sheridan, who protest vigorously, based on claim by these investors that Red Lodge-Cooke City Road will be of no economic advantage to residents or mining interests of Cooke City. They hold that the only feasible route from mining camp to railroad is into Yellowstone Park, down Yellowstone River, to Gardiner. If consistent with your views and duties, we urge you to appear before the Senate committee conducting the hearing and present our protest. SHERIDAN COMMERCIAL CLUB. Senator JOHN B. KENDRICK, Washington, D. C.: BUFFALO, Wro., March 29, 1928. Buffalo Commercial Club most vigorously protests against proposed Cooke City entrance to Yellowstone Park. With five entrances already in existence impression here seems to be that effort should be made to improve these. Many established roads could use forest funds to much better advantage. Thank you. J. G. FLINT, Secretary. Senator J. B. KENDRICK, Washington, D. C.: SHERIDAN, WYo., March 29, 1928. Strenuously oppose Walsh bill proposing to spend $300,000 Red Lodge-Cooke City Road. Wyoming in no way benefited. This would deprive Wyoming of much needed highway money. A. K. CRAIG. The CHAIRMAN. We will pass over at this time Docket No. 28, which is also Senator Walsh's bill, S. 1806. The next is docket 29, S. 1900, a bill introduced by Senator du Pont; and the chair understands that Mr. Martin, speaking for Senator du Pont, wishes to be heard briefly. Mr. MARTIN. Senator du Pont, because of illness, can not, as he would like, present this in person. Unfortunately it is impossible for those who have the matter in hand to be here at this meeting, and if it is agreeable to the committee and you will permit it to go over without prejudice, Senator du Pont will greatly appreciate it. The CHAIRMAN. Do I understand that Senator du Pont will have witnesses at some other date? Mr. MARTIN. If that is agreeable to the committee. The CHAIRMAN. It may be arranged at mutual convenience. Mr. MARTIN. Yes. We will ascertain the earliest possible date and then we will advise the committee and arrange with the committee. The CHAIRMAN. Is there any objection to passing over this bill without prejudice until such time as it may be heard? Without objection, that order will be entered. (S. 1900 is as follows:) [S. 1900, Seventieth Congress, first session] A BILL To provide for the construction of a post road and military highway from a point on or near the Atlantic coast to a point on or near the Pacific coast, and for other purposes Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, TITLE I.-NATIONAL SURVEY COMMISSION ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION SECTION 1. (a) There is hereby established a commission to be known as the National Survey Commission (hereinafter in this act referred to as the "commission") and to be composed of the following: (1) The Secretary of War. (2) The Secretary of Agriculture. (5) The Postmaster General. (6) Six individuals appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Such appointments shall be made with due regard to the appointee's knowledge of highways and highway construction, general engineering knowledge, and business experience. No more than three of such individuals shall be from the same political party. (b) Vacancies in the commission shall not impair the power of the remaining members to execute the functions of the commission, and shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. A majority of the commissioners shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of the business od the commission. The commission shall elect a chairman from among its members. (c) The commission (1) Shall maintain its principal office in the District of Columbia. |