Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-02
THE NATIONAL SHOW GROUND.
Capt. Boutelle Tells the History Of the
Year in Yellowstone Park
ADJOURNED AT TWO p. N

The history Of his first year In charge OF the
Yellowstone Park has Just been transmitted by
Capt. f. A. Boutells. U.S.A., the acting super
intendent OF the park, to the Secretary Of the
Interior. He states that at the close of the last
season forest fires ragged necessarily
in Montana and Wyoming and the
troops under his command were kept employed
in protecting the park. Several times fires
broke out in the park, but, with two excep-
tions, were controlled before much DANA ge
was done. In these cases, however, the areas
burned over out Of the line of travel and did
not encroach upon game feeding grounds in the
natural curiositios of the park In one case
the men we're employed for three weeks in try
ing TO hem in a fire which was burning IN the
fallen trees and underbrush. As there was no
water available the only thing that could be
done, the report says, was 10 keep the fire
within bounds and let the fire burn out
SOLDIERS AZ rmEMEs.
Capt Boutelle Is Of the opinion that while the
work OF putting out fres is.not, strictly speak
ing, part of military duty, at the same time
he is Of the opinion that it requires thoroughly
organized and disciplined men. The ma jority
OF the fires were started from the fires of camp
ing parties.
He suggests TO the Secretary that authority
be given for the establishment of regular camp
ing grounds, where all camp fires can be
examined as soon as abandoned. This
plan, he thinks, will do much to lessen
the number Of fires. He also suggests
that two tanks and the necessary draught
animals for Transporting water be
purchased He epforcos the necessity for
adopting measures of protection against fire
by stating that a single fire would seriously
mar the grandeur OF the grand canon by de
stroying the fringe OF forest or would disfigure
the beauty of the Yellowstone lake.
PROTECTING THE ANIMALS.
Capt Boutelle states that he has every rea-
son to believe that the protection of the wild
animals of the park has been perfect. He
states that owing 10 this protection the ami
mails have greatly increased during the past
few years. This is especially true of the
buffalo, and attempt to enumerate
them he abandoned because OF their
great numbers. The number of elk
In the park, he states, is something wonderful
Herds of from two to three thousand were
seen last winter. He thinks that the bear and
puma destroy many young buffalo and elk. and
on this account, as well because these AMI
mails are not very desirable, he suggests that
some be destroyed. As the buffalo and elk do
not remain In localities during the summer.
when the tide of visitors is at
its height, where they can be
seen, Capt Boutelle thinks that il would be a
good idea 10 confine some of these animals in
'-NOe' So 'h"t tic NisitOrs HllSnt AT Ieasl
see samples of the large game animals with
which the park abounds. During the year the
United States fish commissioner began the
work of stocking the streams and lakes with
trout and salmon.
THE HorEIs.
The condition of the hotels, the report states,
has not improved, aud the temporary structure
erected at Morris Basin after the destruction of
the hotel in 1857 is still in use. The accom-
modatlons at tine lower basin are insufficient.
and the condition of the hotels in other local.
ities are not fayorably commented upon
He recommends that the permission given to
erect an elevator or All incline at the Grand
Canon be rescinded SO that the incline be made
to conform to the gulch and that no buildings
be allowed to be erected at the bottom of the
canon. The report recommends that Congress
provide civil commissioner before whom per-
SONS detected in the violation OF the law can he
hroupht and nuni shnl