Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1898-04-15

Cne park. Extracts from the report
say:
"The aggregate number of tourists
visiting the park from the opening of
the season, June l, to August 20, was
$3.50.
During the very heavy travel it be-.
came necessary to station guards at in
tervals on the roads to prevent accident
and imposition and preserve good order.
In order to prevent monopoly of the
choicest camping places, parties were
not permitted to camp longer than two
days in II place. The campers be-
came so numerous between Gardiner
and Mammoth Hot Springs, that I
was obliged to prohibit camping or
grazing of stock in that section after
Aug. l, in order to preserve the grass for
the antelope and mountain sheep which
winter there. The foolish desire 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 opportun-
ity for education has been very limited
or neglected; no cases of violations or
trespass by passengers has 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 typo.
graphical features of the country, and
arrived within the park boundary on
June 9th. The important duties of the
registering of travellers, sealing guns,
making out permits, with statements as
to intended camps, taking accurate de.
scriptions of arms, inspecting wagons
for durability and safety, giving neces.
sary information to visitors, etc., are en-
tirely different from the ordinary rou-
tine duties of camp and garrison and re-
quire time to become familiar with.
In addition to all thus, as the travel
rapidly increased, a constant partrol on
the roads was necessary to see that
camp fires we're extinguished, camping
grounds left clean, and objects of inter-
est and great natural wonders unin-
jured.
On the 14th of August six of the yell
lowstone Park Transportation COM
pany's coaches and one United States
wagon were held up by two masked and
well-armed h%ighwaymen. and the occu-
pants robbed of over $500. The rob-
bers we're arrested on the night of Aug.
29th.
The prevailing impression is that
game-butfalo excepted, is increasing
in numbers. The black bear have in
creased rapidly, and have become very
annoying. Complaints have cons 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 a common occur.
renee 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 mum.
Der is a large grizzly. At least twelve
bears might be disposed of to response
BILE geological gardens, where desired,
for the expense of capturing, which
would be small.
The number of buffalo is estimated at
twenty.four. The coyotes are numer.
GUS and hold. It is estimated that of a
herd of 500 antelope that wintered in
the valley Of the Gardiner and on the
slopes of Mount Everts, seventy-ive
we're killed by coyotes during the past
winter, and many antelope fawns, elk
calves and broods of grouse have been
killed by them this eason
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 c%onveyances or on saddle animals
accompanied by pack animals. During
the first half of the season it was found
that many firearms, fastened with red
tape and sealing wax at the point of en-
try, had broken seals at the point of
exit. In many cases it was evident
that the seals were broken by accident;
others showed signs of having been
broken and resealed. To remedy 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 dis
continued.
A certain sentiment of hostility to-
ward the park and of antagonism
toward 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 boundar.
les. This feeling of hostility seems to
be due to an idea, which prevails widely