Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-11-21
A BUFFALO FARM.
RAlslNo THE NEARLY EXTINCT
ANIMAL FOR PROFIT.
Meatana Contains che Only Demss-
tIoatsd Herd In the country--
csAas- Had nss<Esi~~s

tIostsd Herd In the country--
Cross Bred eussaless.
Montana IL the home OF many
strange geological and agricultural
wonders. but none more so than that
Of Che only herd Of domesticated
bufaloes In this country. Ravalli Is
located upon the edge of the old
Flathsad Indian Reservation, and
can be reached by the Northern
Pacific, from Helena, In half a days
ride. 1t Is thriving and enterpris-
ing place In q most picturesque part
OF the country, and in the summer
time many tourists get of there to
inspect the herd of buffaloes owned by
Mr.. Chas. Allard and Marched Pablo.
Scientists and representatives Of
museums frequently drop of here
and try to buy buffaloes to ship east.
and one day the leader Of travelling
circus tried to bargain for the whole
herd. AS there are nearly 200 in
In the herd, and the price for buffa-
loes is advancing rapidly every year,
this enterprising Snowman did not
realize the sum of money he would
have required for the purchase. A
good buffalo hide Is worth 500 to-
day, and a mounted head all the way
from 5000 to $500; but what whole
buffalo would cost it is difficult to
say. The overs of the herd are not
selling to-day; they are breeding for
the future. Letters pour in upon
them from all parts Of the country
asking them their price for from one
to dozen buffaloes.
but we are not selling any buffa-
To-" says Charles Allard, "for the
reason that we need them all at
present. They will not be put upon
the market for several years yet.
Museums, parks and shows are con-
stantly making efforts to get them in
quantities, and though we might dis
pose Of one or two singly we have no
pairs to sell. We will have alto
gether about 200 by this fall"
Two years ago this herd consisted
of 80 animals. and was then located
at omaha, and was known as the
Jones herd. Allard paid SIS 900 for
them, and removed them to Mon
tana, where they are kept on large
range. Later Marchiel Pablo, we'll
known cattle merchant, went into
partnership with Allard. and the two
have conducted the buffalo farm be-
tween them ever since. During the
present summer party of scientists
and travellers visited the herd. and
they enjoyed something rarely tasted
in these days, steak Of buffalo. An
accident had made it possible for
them to try this tempting morsel,
and everyone pronounced it more de-
licious than any steak ever put upon
the market, and buffalo meat in time
may become a rare product of our
markets. When the animals are bred
in sufficient numbers they will be
killed gradually for their hides and
heads. and the meat alone will bring
a good sum to the owners.
Buffaloes crossed with domestic
cattle make fine meat for table use
also; some fine specimens here cross
ed with polled Angus stock are won
ders to the strangers. They are all
large and magnificent animals, and
the fur is finer and closer than that
Of the pure buffalo. The cross breeds
yield very valuable robes and in
many ways retain the looks and
characteristics of their wild projen
itors. Cross-bred buffaloes may yet
roam over the country in herds and
infuse new blood into our domesti-
Gated stock giving them the strength
and vitality so much needed in the
West to withstand the storms and
billiards.. The 6omesticated buffa-
loes and the cross breeds defy the
severest storms and they face them
every time. While horses and cows
will be driven before the storms for
many miles the buffaloes simply
stand still with their breast toward
the wind and wait until it has
abated. Then they will hunt around
where the snow is thinnest and
search for food. Their thick, shaggy
coats appear to be waterproof and
cold proof. AS soon as a storm APP
proaches the herd punches together
and form a wedge, with the we'll pro-
tecte head OF the oldest bull at the
apex. In this way the weakest cows
and calves are sheltered by the more
hardy animals.
The domesticated herd has lost
much Of the natural wildness of the
untamed buffaloes, and they feed
quietly within the range not far from
human spectators; but their instincts
are the same, and it Is an interesting
study to watch them as they Craze
on the rich grass. The report of a
rife near by Invariably startles them
and they rush across the field in
true buffalo style, giving you an idea
OF what kind of death awaited one
who happened to be in their way.
The animals are trusty to certain
extent, but 1t needs an experienced
cowboy to handle them when the
bulls are around. These animals,
though not so fierce as the Spanish
bull reared for the arena, are more
savage and determined when drawn
into battle. If placed in the arena
with Spanish bull, wild buffalo
would come out victor every time, IL
one can Judge of his fighting quail
ties out here in the native wilds.
His head is as hard as rock, and
nothing short OF cannon ball could
make an impression upon It. The
shaggy hair acts as thick pad to
most of the head and protects the
eyes and brain so that rifle ball
could not penetrate through hair and
hide unless it happened to strike at