The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1879-09-05
DOMESTlCATING THE BUFFALO.

the Kansas Pacific Railroad, to 2omesticate
hide of the animal is said to be superior in
value to that of the common domestic cattle
for manufacturing purposes, while the meat
is as good. The bison has also been crossed
with domestic stock, and the new breed is
highly spoken of, though we doubts its su-
periority for dairy purposes. A proposition
has been made to the National Government
by the Railway Company, to establish
huge corral or enclosure for the vast herds
of buffalo, aud feed and domesticate them for
common use.
If this can be successfully done II will add
enormously to our stock of available cattle,
as wild herds far exceed the domestic cat
tie of Texas in numbers. Our resources for
hides and meat would be increased at once
on a prodigious scale, and we should no
longer depend upon the cattle of the Buenos-
Ayres pampas for our hides, when we should
| have such resource as this to look to. We
trust that the efforts will be made under
some sure auspices, whether Congress shall
| reject the offer or not. Unless something of
this kind be done, these vast herds of buffa-
loes will be wasted away by the Indians and
white hunters in pursuit of their hides for
robes.
1t should be understood that it is work
of time, labor, care and study to domesticate
any wild animal, more especially one like
this, accustomed to the most unrestrained
| freedom, and always traversing plains to.
| gether in herds. That it can be done we
do not doubt-indeed it has been done on
small scsle-and if it were achieved it would
lay the foundation of great and permanent
trade, both for the railways and the dwellers
on the plains. That the common domestic
stock can also be impoved by crossing with
the buffalo has been demonstrated by exper-
ments made in Kansas. Thus we shall pro-
duce an American stock of cattle differing
from any in Europe and perhaps better
certainly as good, in supplying food for
man.
| If the domestic stock were allowed to run
loose on the plains it would soon become as
wild as the bison. The domestic cat does,
|
Hogs allowed to run loose in the forest to
feed on acorns become half wild. 1t is clear
therefore, that the domestic animals were
originally as wild as the buffaloes, and have
been tanned. So we think the buffalo could
be if corraled and fed. The success of such
an enterprise would at once convert Kansas
Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado into vast
cattle-rasing regions, and give prodigious
impulse to business, both for the supply OF
the mea t-markets of the Union, and for the
command of the trade in hides, and in such
materials as glue, whips, sandpaper, etc.
made from the horns, hoofs, etc.
If we suffer the herd of bufaoes to pas
out of existence without utilizing them in
this way great loss will be inflicted or
many industrial interests, and we shall bt
compelled to seek out other and more costly
methods of turning the great plains to somt
practical account. This is the shortest and
easiest one that has yet been offered, and a
it requires no large expenditure of money mt
laborious planting of trees or building o
roads, we think it ought at once to be acteC
upon, so that the plan could be put int
!, operation with the opening of spring. Tn
markets of the Atlantic States could then b.
/ supplied with buffalo meat even more cheap
ly than common beef, as we should have tn
herds sent to market alive to be sold an
slaughtered here at our doors. If we los
such an opportunity as this, one that offer
so many advantages at SO little expense, an
that would open the way to a vast and per
manent interest on the great plains, we sha
deserve to be set down as extremely short
sighted. Germantown Telegraph.