Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-24
GAME AND GEYSERS
Condition Of the Yellowstone Park
This Year.
CAPTAIN ANDERS0N'S VIGILANCE
The Bison, Moose, Elk and Deer
Increasing.
UNCERTAIN BOUNDARIES

Y n CE RT AIN BOUND RIES
Inc report OF Capt. George L. Anderson of
the sixth cavalry. acting superintendent of
tne Yellowstone Park. was received TODAY
at the Interior Department He SAYS the
accommodations for tourists have been ma.
terialiy improved during the year. new
hotel has been built at the fountain geyser.
which is the largest and best in the mark.
Inc road system has been extended to
make possible tour from the lake to the
Upper basin without passing over any DOR.
ton OF the route twice. At Mammoth Hot
Springs new post has been built to ac.
commodate troop Of cavalry. Nearly q
mile of board walk has been laid connecting
the principal buildings of the post with the
hotel.
The failure Of travel last year, which
Capt. Anderson predicted, occurred in con-
sequence of the financial depression. The
season was the poorest the park ever saw.
The past winter was exceedingly mild, with
slight snowfall. On that account the ho-
tells were able to open earlier than usual,
and tourists by June l could make the cir
| cult of the park. The season has, like last
year. been one Of slight travel to the park.
There were 426 guests at the hotels dur
ing June, 1895. which is but 100 more than
during the same month last year, when the
panic, strikes and washouts forbade travel
Inc usual travel to the park in July is
from 200 10 l, 800. but last year there were
but ZIG guests there in that month. Capt.
Anderson believes that the increasing
travel to Europe is the chief cause of tins
diminished travel parkward. He says the
park is less known in this country than in
Europe. In Germany they teach the chill
dren in the public schools all about 1t,
while in the United States but little is
known generally of its wonders and beau
ties There were last year in all 1.6a5 per
sons visiting the park who registered at
the hotels. and it is estimated that lao
were there in camping parties. The usual
number who stop at the hotels in a sea-
son is from 1900 to 1900.
Future improvements.
New leases have been granted the Yellow
stone Park Association for the sites oc.
cupied by 1t at the Mammoth Hot Springs,
at the fountain, at the lake and at the
canyon. Surveys of sites were made at
Norris, Upper Basin. the Thumb and Tower
Creek. AS soon as business will Justify 1t,
buildings will be put up at these points
for store has been approved, and as
there is no store nearer than Gardiner,
Mont, the accommodation is one looked
forward to with lively anticipation.
The jail and residence for the United
States commissioner. for which Congress
appropriated 5000 last year, will be COM
pleted this fall. 1t is the only stone build
ing in the park.
There has been no trouble with licenses
to conduct parties through the park
this year. as licenses have oeen limited
to persons who conduct camping parties.
Capt. Anderson says the accurate latitude
and longitude OF the park was determined
two years ago near the lake outlet by par
ties sent out by the coast survey. yet he
tions. He would like to have them to
inscrfbe on the monument set for them.
This Is important in connection with the
survey of the boundaries Of the park and
OF the timber reserve, about which more or
less trouble continually occurs He urges
that monuments be set to mark the EASTERN
most point of Yellowstone lake, tine west
erly point Of Shoshone lake, as these are
of the park.
Few fires occurred in the forests in the
park last year. The captain maintains q
system of daily patrols from the numer-
Gus outposts to prevent fires. A man starts
every morning, with bucket and shovel, to
look out for fires and to extinguish embers
left by any party of campers
These patrols keep on until they meet
similar patrolmen from a neighboring sta
tion. There We're twelve convictions for
violating the rules In regard to campfires
doing the past year. The men have a
hard life at times. especially in the snow
shoe travel of winter, but they like it, and
there Is no trouble in securing the best
men in the service for the park detail.
The body of Private Matthews, who was
lost while on patrol duty last winter, was
not found until six months afterward. 1t
was evident he lost his way. became crazed
and perished in the cold.
Much work has been done in repairing
old and constructing new roads. This
work is done under the direction Of the
Secretary of War.
The hotel service is this year said to be
IS a day to 81. with reduction to s. after
seven days sojourn. The transportation
company now acts more liberally in its
stop-over privileges and does not try to
through the park.
The fishing is splendid. The trout
planted by the fish commission have done
well and thousands have had fine sport
this year. Black bass have also been
planted. and to Captain Anderson's regret
they seem to be doing well. He is afraid
they will eat up all the trout
Protecting Game.
Upon the subject of poaching a good re-
port is made, so far as the north, east and
south boundaries Of the park are concern
ed. The Idaho border gives trouble.
There is a section of country. beginning
at Henry's lake and extending south for
about twenty-five miles, Inhabited by a
merciless and persistent lot Of head and
laws of Idaho shield these fellows, and the
bison there are not protected at all by
law The only herd of bison In the United
States is in the park near that region, and
liable at any time to roam over into Idaho
and be shot. This herd is in danger CT
extinction. Ten were killed there two
years ago. Three calves were captured
last spring. Rumors of a herd Of 100 bison
seen in Idaho this summer indicate that
the park herd has wandered beyond The
boundary"
Beaver are multiplying rapidly in the
park. The elk, antelope, bear and other
game animals are we'll protected. How
many of the bison remain, Capt. Anderson
caLnot say positively. Fugitive bands are
seen occasionally. He is inclined to think
there are about 200 in all. Prof Langley
has put $1,000 at Capt Anderson's disposal,
ard a corral and sheds will be built this
fall, and as many as possible kept wlkhin
it until spring The moose on the Sake
river are increasing. The mountain sheep
are seen almost daily by tourists, and are
Undoubtedly prospering. There are at least
800 antelope in the park. Deer have in
creased more rapidly than any other game
animals in consequence of the mild winter.
The bear are plentiful and tame visiting
the hotels nightly. to the entertainment OF
the tourists.
The special recommenda tions made are
that the park be SURVEYED and its houndA