Gilpin observer., 1902-03-27
YELLOWSTONE PARK
PUBLIC OPINION in WYOMING.


Some Of lts Best seenery-sut II
viii Have the Effect Of Protecting
Game-Eik Now Rapidly Being
Slaughtered.
Cheyenne, Wyo., March 25.--The bill
for the enlargement of the Yellowstone
National park sent to the Senate by Sec
retary Hitchcock is both commended
and condemned. II the park is en-
larged, the addition will be at the ex-
pense Of the state of Wyoming, and
will take from the state some of its
most magnificent scenic country, in
Guiding the beautiful region about
Jackson's lake and the Three Tetons,
and this phase Of the question does not
appeal to the people of the state. That
the game Of the region, now slaughter
ed at desire by residents Of the section,
be protected is the desire of every
sportsman in the state, and, as the
state has proven itself unable to fur
nish the desired protection, the general
desire is that the government take the
matter in hand.
The enlargement OF the park. IL
made, will undoubtedly be effected by
extending the eastern boundary to in
clude all or part of the Yellowstone
park timber land reserve. and Of the
southern boundary to include at least
part of the Teton forest reserve. A
year ago the number of elk in these
reserves and in the park was estimated
to be GO,OOO 10000 of which were in
the immediate vicinity of Jackson's
lake. great wintering place. On the
timber reserves the animals are pro-
tccted by the game laws of Wyoming,
but the laws are not enforced in one
80 AA..
the country bordering the reserves do
not seem to realize that the game laws
are intended to apply In their case. 1t
is common talk that the chief summer
diet of the country is salted elk meat
The Yellowstone park timber land re-
serve covers about 1900 square miles.
1000 square miles in Big Horn coun-
ty, and 400 square miles in Uinta coun-
ty. Here every spring thousands Of
elk and countless herds of deer gather
to take advantage of the pasturage af-
fordcd. At the present time the entire
eastern part of the reserve is overrun
with the animals. some of the herds
being so vast that they cover the coun-
try as far as can be seen. The animals
are now closer to the outside world
than they get at any other season of
the year, and, while many are being
hiitb. iiit SiuuSuttI uOt-S uol tOIIDdTt
with that which occurs in the Teton re-
serve later in the year.
The Teton forest reserve embraces
the celebrated Jackson's Hole, long n
haven of refuge for Mormons who fail
ed to get along well with their neigh
bors In other states. In this country
the elk gather each fall to pass the
winter. and though scarcely fifty miles
from their spring feeding ground. are
separated from 1t by an almost impass-
able barrier of rugged peaks and bad
lands. To go from one feeding ground
to the other the animals are compelled
to make the long trip westward around
Yellowstone and south to the Jackson's
Hole. Residents of the two districts
take another route, passing to the
southwark OF the mountains and there
by avoiding the park and the restric-
tions imposed by the government. If
the park boundaries are enlarged the
reserve will cover not only the spring
feeding ground and the winter feeding
ground, but also the country which
must be traversed by the herds in pass
ing from one to the other.
The principal slaughter of elk oc-
ours in the Jackson's Hole country, and
the adjacent districts in Idaho and
Wyoming There is much show of
obeying and enforcing the state game
laws, but nevertheless a steady stream
of beautiful antlers and the much
sought after elk teeth comes out of the
district the year round. Wyoming Is
the principal supply place of elk teeth
for the entire country. and as only
bulls have tusks. and but four good
ones each, the extent of the slaughter
can be appreciated.
II the proposed extension of the
parks limits occurs, there will undoubt-
edly be strong protest lodged by the
residents of the Jackson's Hole and 9TH
er surrounding districts, as well as
from the state at large, but the extern
sion will be urged by fully as great
number of people in the southern and
eastern counties.