The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-08-19

report as to their number were maze,
and it is estimated that within a very
short number of years there will not
be less than 500 of them.
If tho animals were to be saved it
was well that the government took
the immediate precautions for guard
ing them that it did. Before two
months had passed after their discov-
cry had been announced a number Of
sportsmen, hunters of big game, men
who would travel great distances and
endure all the, hardships incident to
trip into this practically unknown
country, began preparations for their
determination merely for the sport OF
shooting them. The police details at
Calgary and Edmonton turned back
number of them whose object was
known at these places. few others
travelled the 500 or more miles into the
Lake Athabasca country only to be
met by the police detail sent in ahead
of them and so prevented from car
rying out their intentions. Up to last
spring but three of the animals had
been killed, and they fell victims to
the Indian trappers.
The task of the small detail of police
is by no means an easy one. Their
headquarters is the log stockade near
| the headwaters of the Clearwater
river near Lake Methye, but through
out the greater part of the year they
must live in tents and move wherever
the untrammeled wills of the buffaloes
take them, and at times are from 300
to 500 miles from the only home the
men know.
ct is not exactly what you would
call a pleasant life," said Col.
Hechemerer, late commanding officer
of the police, to me; ''the men must
stand, great many hardships; they
can stay but a short time in any one
place, and while the physical exertion
is not great it is a lonesome vigil.
Around the headquarters on the Clear
water, however, the men manage to
make out passable existence. There
they are to be seen quite as they are
at any of the western posts, with the
same attention given to every detail OF
discipline, drill and dress"
/ asked one of the government Of
fcials connected with the mounted po-
lice what the object of the govern
ment was in protecting the herd so
: as to insure it's increase.
81 do not know that I can answer
such question satisfactorily, he re-
, piled. 81 do not know that l ever
heard an object given but there might
be several. You know the Canadian
/ government has at all times looked
after the interest of it's wards, the
5 Indians. Within few years. the herd
will be sufficiently large to, under
: proper regulations, provide meat
supply for these people. The same
7 is true of the settlers who are already
S advancing into the Peace river valley.
e Within very few years the fertile soil
t and comparatively mild climate of
+ that great territory with its wonder
e full wheat crop possibilities, will at
t tract thousands of settlers, and here
t will be meat provided for them until
|. such time as their farms are sufficient
r ly advanced and stocked to provide
a other for them. This would but be
: in keeping with the policy of the gov
e eminent to provide in every way pos
e sible for the welfare of the settlers
|. now going into all parts of western
IL Canada in such large numbers
e Through the summers the grass fur
o nishes abundant forage for the buf
e faloes, and during the winters they
e, subsist on the foliage of the young
e pines which grow around the shores o:
r the thousands of lakes and rivers.
e For years we have been familia.
n, with the phrase: "The last of tn,
,e buffaloes," but now Canada is pro
re tecting the start of a new supply tina
n may become a novel inducement 70
"a settlers to emigrate and people he
he vast, uncultivated domains in tn
n northwest.
st WRIGHT A. PATTERSON.