Evening journal., 1900-04-02
COW IS, OR STEAM ENGINES.
Which fave Done the Most for tn,
Ad, 'aneemcnt Of Mankind?

Wnlcn \ lave Donc the Most for the
Ad, aneemcnt Of Mankind?
Ernest seton.Thompson. author Of
"wild AM lmals | Have known ''The
Biography Of a Grizzly" etc. in writ.
ing in IN, March Century of "The
National q 90 at Washington raises
an INTEREST," ng question as to the rela.
tive value OF domestic animals and
human inve ntions.
At the beginning OF this century
the continent OF North America was
one vast ard teeming game range.
Not only were the buffalo in millions
across the Mississippi. but other large
game were fully as abundant. though
less conspicuous. Herds OF elk. mum.
bering ten or fifteen thousa I'D, were
commonly seen along the upper Mis-.
souri,. The antelope ranged the high
plains IN herds OF thousands: white.
tail deer. though less gregairious. were
seen in bands OF hundreds; while big.
horn sheep, though still less disposed
to gather in large flocks. were rarely
out Of sight In the lower parts OF the
eastern Roc xies, and Il was quite
usual to see several hundred blacktail
in the course of a single days travel.
But a change set in when the pion.
eer Ame ricans. with their horses.
their deadly rifles. their energy and
their taste for murder. began 70 IN.
wade the newly found west. The set.
tiers incr eased in numbers, and the
rifles beer me more deadly each year:
but the animals did not improve in
speed, cunning or fecundity in an
equal ratl o. and so we're defeated In
the struggle for life. and started on
the down grade toward extinction.
Aside from sentimental or esthetic
reasons, which | shall not here dis
cuss, the extinction OF large or high.
ly organized animal IS serious mat.
ter.
1. lt is always dangerous to disturb
the balance of nature by removing a
poise Some Of the worst plaques
have arisen In this way.
2. We do not know, without much
and careful experiment. how vast
service that animal might have done
to mankind as a domestic species.
The force OF this viii be more ap.
parent IL we recollect how much the
few well-hmown domestic species
have done for the advancement OF
our race. Who can decide which has
done more for mankind. the COW or
the steam engine. the horse or cleo
tricity, the sheep or the printing
press, the dog or the rife. the ass or
the loom? No one. indeed, can pro-
nounce on these. yet all on reflection
feel that there is reason In the COM
parisons. Take away these inventions
and we are put back a century, or per
haps two; but further. take away the
domestic animals. and we are re-
duced to absolute savagery. for n was
they who first made II possible for our
aboriginal forefathers to settle in one
place and learn the rudlments of civil
ization.
And 1t is quite possible. though, Of
course, not demonstrable. that the
humble, chuckie barn fowl has been
larger bonefactor of our race than
any mechanical invention In our pos
session. for there Is no inhabited
country on earth to-day where the
barn fowl is not mainstay of health.
There are vast regions of South Amer
lea and Europe where Il is the main
stay. and nowhere is there known
which Is probably more than can be
said Of anything in the world Of me-
chanics.