The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-09-28
Washington Office of The Herald,
1415 G Street, N. W.

| Washington, D. c., Sept 25@The
commissioner of the land office in his
annual report to Secretary Bliss will
commit himself in favor of the expan-
sion of the Yellowstone national park
to about twice its present size. There
| has heretofore appeared in this cor
respondence an extended description
and map of the proposed new bounda-
ries of this national preserve. The en-
| larged park as favored by Commissioner
| Hermann takes in the south half of
Gallatin county, Mont, and also alb
serbs a tract in Idaho something small
| er than the District of Columbia. But
the principal additions to the park are
| in Wyoming, where huge 'cantle outs,
10 the east and south of the present
park have been added to it.
During the preliminary discussion of
this expansion project it appeared prob
able that there would be so much op-
position to it, on the part of senators
from the states most interested, that
its defeat would be certain. But there
are many existing evidences of a
change of heart on the part of num-
Der of the senators and members from
the mountain states bordering on the
park. This is especially true of the
Wyoming delegation, which was bitter
ly hostile to the bill when it was first
presented by Senator Hansbrough. This
change of opinion is said to be largely
due to the influence of some leading
politicians who live inside the limits of
the extended park. These men are de-
sirous of having the park extended be-
cause of the opportunities that will be
presented for money making as guides,
hotel and restaurant keepers and COM
mon carriers. As the proposition to con-
sumo mountain state territory in vast
forest reserves of every description has
always been popular among eastern
senators and representatives, ii is easy
to predict the passage of the park eX-
pansion bill, if Wyoming opposition
cOllapses, as there is a possibility it
may.
The park now contains about 500
square miles. and if the proposed ad-
dition is made it's size will be doubled.
ii is the opinion of Mr.. Hermann that
the domain of the park can be in
creased with advantage, as it would in
sure the close supervision of the United
States army over the entire region, as
is the case with the park today.
Owing to the fact that here is what
is called the continental divide, and
that the Missouri and other rivers have
their origin here, the preservation of
the forests assume great Importance.
The protection from fire and other
dangers which menace the life of the
trees would be, it is thought, more
complete under the proposed conditions.
Then, again. the steadily dwindling
herd of buffalOes in the park range
beyond it's bounds through this cOun-
try, and when the animals get outside
they can be shot without violation Of
law. But if this territory is made q
part of the park then the roaming
grounds of the buffalo would be pro-
tected. There are other reasons which
influence the commissioner in making
this recommendation and they will be
duly set forth in his forthcoming an
nual report.
Mr.. Hermann expresses himself as
being highly pleased with the manner
in which the law in regard to forest
reserves is being carried out The work
was inaugurated, he said, rather late.
owing to the fact that the appropria-
ton did not become available until July
of this year. He believes, however, that
the force of rangers now in charge OF
the various forest reserves will be able
to do effective work in protecting the
from other dangers.
He says he has noticed a decided
change in the public opinion in the
west in regard to the forest reserve
law, and now that it is understood the
purpose of the law is to protect the
water supply and not to interfere with
mining rights and the rights of the
settlers. the sentiment of the west is
strongly in favor of the law and the
setting apart of additional reserves.