Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-09
YELLOWSTONE PARK
IMPROVEMENTS MADE DURING
THE PAST YrAas
Annual Report of Maj, Pitcher, Super
intendent, Submitted t6S Sec
rotary Of the Interiors

The Secretary of the Interior has re-
ceived the annual report of Major John
Pitcher. 9Th United States Cavalry, acting
superintendent of Yellowstone National
Park. With regard to the improvements
made in the park during the ,3ast year
Major Pitcher says: ]
1.-The Northern Pacific Railway Company
has completed the extension of its road
referred to in my last report, and It's ter
minus is now at Gardiner, . little town
just outside of the northern boundary of
the park and only five miles distant from
the Mammoth Hot Springs. Here this
company has built handsome and COM
Portable depot -4
road and the building of the depot has
added greatly to the convenience and COM
fort of tourists entering the park. Here
tofore the tourists who have entered the
park from the north have never been GER
tain when they had crossed the boundary
line, but today Immediately after leaving
the depot they pass through q stone arch
way, or gate. which indicates to them at
once that they are within the bounds of
the park The corner stone of this arch
was laid April "a 1908. by President Roose-
welt. on the occasion of his recent visit to
the park.
A Wire Fence.
'In connection with this gateway a wire
fence has been constructed which extends
for about four miles along the northern
boundary Of the park. This fence has long
been needed, and it now affords a means
of keeping stock of all kinds Off that section
of the park in the vicinity of Gardiner and
Cinnabar, thereby saving for the antelope.
deer and elk the grass which they badly
needed in the winter.
"The new system of roads and the cement
sidewalks about the springs have been
completed and fair crop of grass and
clover has been grown on that portion of
the plateau. where 1t is hoped that we will
eventually produce handsome lawn.
Mr. f. Jay Haynes house and barn,
which formerly stood near the center of
the plateau. have been removed to point
movaI has added greatly to the appearance
of things on the plateau. :#
'"The completion Of the roads referred to
above and growth of the lawns have al
most entirely done away with the drifting
sand and dust which was formerly an ex-
ceedingly Objectionable feature about the
springs. =. II =
The engineer officer in charge of improve
ments. etc, in the park has had an exceed
ingly fine and accurate map made. showing
the location Of all of the roads. walks,
buildings, ETC., in the vicinity of the springs
and a copy of this map will be forwarded
as soon one can be obtained"
Game In the Park.
With regard to the game in the park the
report states:
'1n spite Of the predictions Of many of
the old settlers in this section Of the coun-
try to the contrary. the past winter was
an exceedingly favorable one for all of
the various kinds of game that1ive entire
ly within the limits of the park. and the
percentage of loss through starvation or
the effect OF the weather was very small.
MANY startling reports were sent out
from the country south of the park con-
corning the great loss Of elk In that section
through starvation, but from information
received from one of the park scouts. who
was located there during the entire winter.
I am of the opinion that the reports were
greatly exaggerated and that the loss was
very slight.
''The danger Of heavy loss Of starvation
during the winter of the large game that
spends the summer In the park Is increas-
Ing each year, due to growing settlements
or the winter ranges Of the game and de-
structive effect Of the large baiids of sheep
on the ranges. It is't0 be hoped that every
possible support will be given to Superin-
tendent A. A. Anderson In his effort to
regulate in a reasonable way the number
of sheep that will be permitted to Craze
practicable the grazing of sheep on the
reserves may be absolutely prohibited.
Animals That Should Be Fed.
II lS VI COui 30 iuiRkdCtlCdUit u Leu Ill
of the large game Of the park at any time,
but there are certain portions of 1t that we
should be prepared to feed when on ac-
count of deep SHOWS it becomes necessary
to do so. The animals that should be thus
cared for are the antelope and the noun
tain sheep, and as their winter range is
close to Fort Yellowstone they can be
easily cared for.
About 800 antelope have already been
nf
Mount Everts and near the town of Gardf-
ner. and 1 believe the number in the park
to be about 1000.
1.-THE mountain sheep have begun to come
back to their winter range on Mount
Everts. and a number have already been
seen. I believe that they have increased
considerably in numbers during the past
year and that there are now over 100 in
the park.
1.-The bear seem to be about as numerous
as they were last year. and as they can
always be seen about the various hotels
they continue to be a great source of
amusement and interest to the tourists
They have done no harm to any one during
the past season.
Deer Increasing Rapidly.
1.-THE deer seem to be increasing E,ore
rapidly than any other game in the park,
at least they are becoming tanner and more
fearless than any other species, and during
the past winter from so to rs could DO seen
breaths followed by a frightened silence.