New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-15
THE BUFFALO PRACTICALLY EXTINCT.
LESS THAN SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY HEAD
ON THE AMERICAN CONTINENT.
fBY TELEGRAPH 10 rae rkrnuSE.1

ON THE AMERICAN CONTINENT.
WASHINGTON. April iA-Professor ". t. Hornmiay,
of the Smithsonian Institution, is preparing for the
next annual report OF that institution paper on the
determination of the American bison II VIII Include
the observations Of Professor Hornaday on bis trip
90 tho Texas Pan Handle in 1886 in search OF the then
supposed sole remaining herd Of the buffalo In exist
ence IN n wild state and Information gathered by
extensive correspondence on tho subject for the last
four years It will treat Of the habits and range
of the animal in It's native state and will DO Illustrated
by maps showing the gradually decreasing extent OF
territory in which It was to be found. The history
N thu famous slaughter from 1868 TO 1872, when
th,ee and a half millions OF the buffalo were slain
IN tbe country west OF the Mississippi and south Of
the Missouri forms one OF the most interesting chap
ters: another Is devoted TO a description OF
the herds in existence, both domesticated ana
wild. with their number and location. This SHOWS
that within less than quarter OF century no
animal one of the most valuable that inhso'ea inc
country and at ono time ono OF the most nun0rouS'
has become practically extinct. 49,. -,
s.ony Maintain, Montana, was the first, as far as
nap ne learned 10 enter upon the breeding ana cross
breedins of this buffalo anything IKE an extensive
seale He began IN 1877 With nero oi ono Jun
and Hour heifers. In November, lsoe, DO nao oenS
three head full b,oods and half breeds ana 'hese
were then sold for S2S,OUO, 10 W. o. "o""'' W
C,ty Kan He IS now trying TO atone In measure
o., n. sIanehter of the buffalo In its wild state py
,ncreasine its number In domesHcaton Pror 70
The nurchase OF Bedsons herd, Jonas had thirty cows
and twenty.four bulls. nearly all captured IN ue
Tcxas Pan Handle. Beside this herd there are III
confinement tho following
At Silver Heights, tho country residence OF ei
sr,t ~ The Canadian Pacific Railroad. nvc miles rom
yylnninso manitoba Ave head with Buffalo BITS "ha
west show on the way 70 Paris eighteen head; on 'ne
p1ashssd Indian Reservation. Montans oeIonging
Charles Ailsrd thiry.ave head; on Charles eoodnshE
ranch near Clarendon, Texas. thirteen head There are
also several small herds Of two or tsfee hsSN' "-"
total Of 24a head In o domesueaed sese' -.
AS regards the buffalo which are running ",ia'
Professor Hornsday has been able to iocae tnc iof
lowing herds ,,....
In the Pan Handle Of Texas on tho oaasman hiv.r,
thirty head on the RED Desert southern Wyomna twenty
head In the yellow stone National Park, 200 head IL she
usss Shell country, Mentsna TIN head IN
Dakota I'VE head. Halfbreeds and troopers IRON ui'
Peace River vstsy. Csnada just EAST OF the ROCKY Mou
tns aud sevesa hundred miles north OF ths boaef OF S
United Sates report the existence Of hsrd whose NUM-
beFs range from 900 TO 1000 according 70 the uns'es
estimates Professor Hornadsy incines % the pene'
that the smaller number Is likely g be osrrscL
This then makes Q grand total OF lcss tnsn ~
buffalo IN all The American continent where less han
quarter OF . century ago the buffalo ranged me
plains IN countless thousands, rats OF txtcrmnhuon
that IL almost incAieulsblc ad ono OF which tnc hinu
can have no Just conception.