In 1950, an ingenious 4.5 ton, 8-foot diameter ball was used for clearing operations on 6,207 acres in the Hungry Horse Reservoir. Two contractors, S.L. (Red) Wixson and John H. Trisdale, developed it. The ball was dragged at the end of cables by two large tractors, and its height kept chains and cables free of stumps. As a result, clearing was as fast as a man could walk, men were safe from falling trees, and clearing costs were reduced.