The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-01-12
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK.
Its boundaries to be Extended and Leases
Modified.

WARRINGTON, Jan. 5.-On the first OF
September last, Acting Secretary of the In
terror, Joslyn, agreed to lease to Carol r.
Hobart aud Ii. Il. Douglass, OF Dakota,
400 acres within the Yellowstone National
Park, for hotel purposes. Hobart and
Douglass associated with themselves Rufus
Hatch, and the lease was drawn ready for
signature. On December 7th, the Senate, at
the instance of Vest, instructed the Secretary
of the Interior to furnish the Senate with
copies Of the agreement, and the proposed
lease. The matter was referred I" the COM
mittee on Territories 10 investigate, and the
committee inclines 10 the conclusion that
the Interior Department transcribed its au-
thority in making the agreement, and agreed
to report bill clearly defining the duty Of
the Interior Department, and also extending
the area of the park to the east line north
and south through Cedar Mountain, and
southwark to the 44th parallel Of north lati-
tude, an addition of about 1914 square miles
to the Park, the whole area of which will
then be GOA square miles. The bill pro-
vides that all the territory within the limits
eff the park shall be Withdrawn from settle
nent, occupancy or sale, and set apart as
public park and pleasure ground for the peo-
pie of the United States, present trespsssers
to be removed and further trespass prevent
ed, troops to be used if necessary. Fish are
only to be taken by hook and line and the
killing of game is prohibited. The Secre-
tary Of the Interior may grant leases for
terms not exceeding ten years of small par
cells of ground, but no more ground should
be leased than necessary for hotels or store
houses for the accommodated of visitors and
necessary outhouses, and for gardening or
grazing land in connection with the hotels,
but no exclusive privilege or monopoly OF
any kind shall be granted, which shall In any
manner interfere with free, unrestricted
access TO all portions of the park. The ex-
tension of the limits Of the park were
recommended by the committee al the sug-
gestion of General Sheridan, who as COM
mandiug officer of the Military Department
embracing the park, made careful study of
the country, and was convinced the reserva-
ton should include the proposed extension,
on account of geographical and other physi-
cal conditions.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.-Apparently the
Yellowstone Park is to be turned over into
the hands of hotel vandals. Rufus Hatch
has been here several weeks banging away
at Congress, and finally has succeeded in get
ting the Senate committee OH Territories to
report bill giving the Secret airy of the In.
terror the right to lease land in the park foI
hotel purposes. The bill stipulates, how
ever, that no exclusive privileges be granted
any one. This was not what Hatch wanted,
but he is not afraid of the competition that
will have TO be met. The bill introduced
to-day contains very stringent provisions for
the protection of game, song birds, and the
natural beauties Of the park. Heavy fines,
ranging from $50 to $3.50, and imprisonment
SIX months to one year, are provided for In
fractions of the regulations for the preserva.
ton of the natural features of the park.
However, the police force Of the park Is
scanty, and although the Secretary of the
Interior is authorized to call upon the Secre.
tary of War to enforce the regulations Of the
park, yet tgoes without saying If the place
Is to be made a resort for hotels, it will be
| extremely difficult to enforce the rsgula
tions.