The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-12

and that they discovered this advantage
GUS spot for their new dams and houses
OF ali the streams In the country and of
all the points along the stream selected,
there is none SO enainently suited to the
purposes of the beavers as the one they
imals is especially adapted for their work
and they have constructed the finest bea-
raj history. The place selected is a point
where nature saved them much work and
weather and surprise by the enemy
They went to work. in the new field and
dam and erected their houses The dam
IS we'll and strongly built and IS pro
dam in Colorado today. There is less
brush and more dirt than was ever seen in
A short time after this dam was finished
some hunters set fire to the brush and
could be broken presumably to enable
them to easily catch the trout inclOsed in
ter a second experience of this kind the
beavers rearranged the dam entirely SO
top of the dam for the entire distance.
Thus the brush and wood are kept wet
all of the time so it is now impossible for
the potters to destroy the dam at any
point by setting fire to it. This dam is abb
soluteiy level on top, is about 500 feet long
and incloses about 10 acres of water
Several members of the Academy of Sci
reports OF Dr. kinney nave visited the dam
and all are loud in their expressions Of ad-
| nlratiOn for the remarkable intelligence
exhibited by the beavers. Some OF them
believe that there are at least SO in the col
about 30-at dusk, when they begin to come
out, the doctor having counted about 30
at one time.
From some of the people living in the
country from Denver students OF natural
science gathered information that led
many of them to alter their notions in re-
spect to the habits of the beaver. They
say that the beaver uses his tail simply as
signal-both Of danger and other pur7
poses. Actual observations made reveal
| the fact that while at work the beavers
begin or quit work. This signal is made
by slapping the water with the tail. AS
/ approach of an enemy. whether man or
/ beast. With remarkable alacrity and
| of the rest No evidence could be shown
to prove that the tail is used las is com
down the mud used in construction.
Professor Halves related the method of
of 'f danger Sometimes e when persons are
/ near the beavers will discharge work if it
! is urgent, such as repairing broken dam
In such exigency the work is done beneath
! the surface of the water and ground. All
can be seen in the constant appearance Of
the sticks and brush above water and
near the point where the dam is broken.
I tunnels under the dam and along the edge
! Of the stream through which the beaver
Mr Borchert. Of Denver. who watched
this mode of work in the face of danger,
| said that when all the sticks and dirt
necessary had been put in place in this
manner and it was necessary for the fin
| ishing touches to be made, he saw of
the beavers appear, and, going to the top
/ of the dam, perform that task alone and
| with perfect calmness and despatch He
| patted the mud, arranged the sticks and
| rounded up the dam just as well If it
i had been done when no danger was at
hand. DR.. kinley believes this beaver had
| been selected to risk his life in order to
Some Of the trees feIed by the beavers
! it was found were as large a mans calf
and were cut down with surprising speed
/ and neatness-
The frugality and providence of the bea-
| material always at hand. There were piles
| of brush and sticks ready to be used in
case it was necessary to discharge work in
] the face of danger and after an accident
to the darn
| The durability of the dam has suggest
priety of raising beaver for the purpose Of
constructing irrigation bitches throughout
| the arid section. The proposition has been
| seriously referred to one of the irrigation
| organizations and a plan Of procedure in
! the matter was discussed 1t was decided
/ that it far more feasible than the
scheme of the southerner to train monkeys
to pick cotton.
The house constructed by the beavers
at their new city are marvels of ingenuity
an eye to convenience as well as security.
| From any point Of their operation these
houses may be reached by subways. The
houses are so built to admit of ventila-
ton while it would be impossible for a
coyote even badger to modest them
DR. Kinley says it would be impossible for
a man to build a house to suit SO admir-
ably the purposes for which these are used
with such material as the little animals
had at their disposal.