The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-08
UNCLE SANS BIG PARKWAY
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT
OF THE YELLOWSTONE
From June I to August 20, 1907,
$40 People Visited the Park
Campers Permitted to Locate for
but Two Days Highwaymen
Hold Up Coaches and Secure $500
buffalo and Bear Prosper.

General Passenger Agent Fee, of the
Northern Pacific railway, has received
copy of the report of Acting Super
tntendent Maj. J. w. Pope. of the yell
loWstone national park, to the secre-
tary OF the interior, for the year 1897.
Following are extracts taken from
the report:
The aggregate number Of tourists
visiting the park from the opening Of
the season, June 1, to Aug. 20, was
8,720.
During the very heavy travel it be-
came necessary to station guards at in
tervals on the roads to prevent acct
dent and imposition and preserve good
order. In order to prevent monopoly
OF the choicest camping places, par
ties were not permitted to camp longer
than two days in one place. The
campers became SO numerous between
Gardiner and Mammoth hot springs
that was obliged to prohibit camping
or grazing Of stock in that section after
Aug. Il, In order to preserve the grass
winch winter there. The foolish de-
sire to write names in conspicuous
places, SO far as may be judged by
manifestations during the season,
seems to be limited to the class Of
campers whose opportunity for educa-
ton has been very limited or neglect
ed; no cases of violations or trespass
by passengers have been reported, the
result, no doubt, of careful drivers and
guides from the hotels.
The troops placed under my COM
mand for protecting the park were
strangers to the geographical and ty-
biographical features Of the country
and arrived within the park boundary
on June ~. The important duties Of
registering travellers, sealing guns
making out permits, with statements
as to intended camps, taking accurate
descriptions of arms, inspecting wag-
ons for durability and safety, giving
necessary information to visitors, ETC.,
are entirely different from the ordinary
routine duties Of camp and garrison
and require time to become familiar
with.
In addition to all this, as the travel
rapidly increased, constant patrol
on the roads was necessary to see that
camp fires were extinguished, camping
grounds left clean, and objects Of In
terest and great natural wonders I'M
injured.
On the 14th Of August six of the
Yellowstone Park Transportation COM
pany's coaches and one United States
wagon were held up by two masked
and well armed highwaymen, and the
robbers were arrested on the night Of
Aug. 20.
The prevailing impression is that
game, buffalo excepted, is increasing
In numbers. The black bear have in
creased rapidly, and have become very
enjoying. Complaints have come in
from hotels and lunch stations and
from the station Of a detachment Of
soldiers at the canyon that the bears
have broken into their storehouses and
destroyed meat and other provisions in
large quantities. It is q common oc-
curence to see from six to twelve bears
any afternoon feeding on the garbage
dumps within a few hundred yards of
the Fountain hotel. Among the num-
Der is a large grizzly. AT least twelve
bears might be disposed Of to respon-
sible geological gardens, where desired,
= for. the expense of capturing, which
would be small. 5-,
The number of buffalo Is estimated
at twenty four. The coyotes are num-
erous and bold. 1t is estimated that Of
a herd Of 500 antelope that wintered in
the valley of the Gardiner and on the
slopes Of Mount Events, seventy five
were killed by coyotes during the past
winter, and many antelope fawns, elk
calves and broods of grouse have been
destroyed by them this season.
The custom Of carrying firearms
through the park has been almost uni
versal among those who live in the
neighbOring states and travel in their
own conveyances or on saddle animals,
accompanied by pack animals. Dur
ing the first half of the season it was
found that many firearms, fastened
with red tape and sealing wax at the
point Of entry, had broken seals at the
point Of exit. In many cases 1t was
evident that the seals were broken by
accident; others showed signs of hav-
ing been broken and resealed. To rem
edy this a new system of sealing has
been adopted similar to that used
by express companies, and the practice
Of using red tape and sealing wax has
been discontinued.
A certain sentiment of hostility to-
ward the park and of antagonism to-
ward the efforts of the authorities to
protect the wild animals from destruc-
ton has existed and continues to exist
among the ranchers and the people of
the settlements near the park bound
aries. This feeling of hostility seems
to be due to an idea, which prevails
widely, that reservation Of any part
Of the public domain for the perpetual
benefit of the people is an invasion and
an abridgement of the private rights
OF the people Of the adjoining region.
Attached to Maj. Pope's report is a
copy of the latest map Of the park, in
Guiding the annexed timber reserve,
showing roads completed, roads pro-
jected, roads under construction, roads
available but not yet used by the Park
Transportation company, saddle trails
and old wagon trails that may be used