Arizona silver belt., 1896-07-30
THE OLYMPIC MOUNTAINS
A Splendid Spot for a Govern
 ment Game Preserve.
The Region Abounds In Large Game Which should Have the Protection of the Law--Cruei Slaughter by
 Pot Hunters-

Bs-,
 F. W. Hawkins, well-known noun tain climber and woodsman, lately re- turned from Spokane from an expedi- tion into the heart of the Olympic mountains. He was accompanied by one companion, made the trip with horses, and the only course laid and fol- lowed was that already mapped out by the broad elk trails which intersect the country in every direction. The trip was fruitful of great many inter- csting things, though it had no other object than to investigate the extent of the grazing country that lies back of the small range of mountains parallel ing in a way the coast line on the south side of the Straits of San Juan de Fuca.
 Mir Hawkins is now firmly convinced that the government ought to at once set apart large area of the Olympic mountains as a grand game reserve, for the protection of the big game on the coast, which is fast being eXtermin- ated. There is no doubt that the 0lym- pie mountains are the greatest elk country in the union to-day, and up to the present time but little known to the big sportsmen of the country.
 Soon after leaving the lower levels of the Olympic mountains indications of big game begin to show up in a most wonderful manner. Broad trails, which are veritable highways, cross the lower mountains in almost every di- reetion, leading from plateau to plateau, from grass field to grass field, from valley to valley. These trails run along the mountain side and have been so much travelled that although they may be on a mountain side at an angle of 45 degrees they become almost flat from long tramping, and as solid as the hills themselves. These trails are two and three feet broad, and so readily trav- eled that MT. Hawkins and his com panion had no difficulty in following them on horseback 50 miles into the mountains. They are sometimes ob- structed by fallen timber, but it is of a light kind, being above the regular forest belt, and a horse can easily sur mount it. One beauty of the country is that one cannot get off the trail.
 It is impossible to otrayellong through the country without falling in with one of these trails, and it always leads somewhere. These trails, or elk high ways, are as characteristic of the Olym- ric mountains as the mounds are in a prairie dog village.
 The elk country lies above the couD- try adapted to agriculture, and even above the forest belt, from which the Inerchantable timber is reduced. lt is timbered, but the growth is that of the Alaska cedar, not large, as timber is considered in this country.
 For the very reason that to make of this a great elk and game preserve would not interfere with nor curtail either agricultural or timber interests in this state, it is urged that the gov ernment ought to set it apart as such.
 On top of these mountains, which reach an elevation of 4,500 and 5000 feet above the sea, are to be found great areas of bunch grass land several thou sands of acres in extent. These are the great elk pastures, to and from which lead the broad paths referred to above.
 In reaching this section Hawkins and his fellow wanderer went in from Port Angeles, but did not follow the govern ment trail, which strikes boldly across the mountains that come down close upon the coast. They took the course somewhat east of the town, and did not go far till the last ranch was left be- hind. They edged their way around the first mountains, and thereafter laid q course toward the Lillian river, a \ tributary of the Elwha. They had not the least difficulty after leaving the set clement in following the elk paths. They made camp 45 or 50 miles in the interior, and every day while out as- cended one or the other of the nearest mountains to explore the elk Iasturage to be found near the top. At night | they returned to camp, and the follow ing day took another elevation. Mount Olympus, the senior grand of the peaks in the coast range, stood out in its grand magnifcence a little southwest, while Mount Constance was in an al most directly opposite direction, and almost or quite as far toward the east.
 An area of several hundred miles in territory could be included in a great game preserve in the center of these and thus protect and per petuate indefinitely the noble game that is there to be found.
 The country, as whole, can never be put to other use than possibly as a grazing ground for isolated herds, and this is improbable. As it is at present, the land is unsurveyed public domain, and it is Mir. Hawkins belief that con certed action ought to be taken to have the government declare it public re- serve, and preserve the game.
 Small hunters have long been in the habit of hunting elk in the mountains near the settlements, but occasionally arc heard instances of shameful slaughter on the part of reckless and people. Last winter one crim- inally inclined individual slaughtered { band of 30 head of elk which had been lriyen into the foothills by the excessive inowfall on the upper eleyations.-- Portland Orcgonian.
 Stick fo One Style.
 The woman who cannot afford an as- 'ortment of hats and bonnets and who & also wise never experiments. When 'hc has found a shape that suits her ace she modities and changes it, but