The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-19
AT The CAPITAL.
Kansas Takes Lead i'm Plan TO
Preserve Elk.
Wichita Man Proposes to Have
a National Preserve.
APPEAL TO ROOSEVELT
President Made Suggestion I'm
His Message.
Congressman Scott Wants Pub
lie 6uild isg at lola.

Washington, Dec. 19.-Kansas was
American buffalo, and now it bids fair
to do the same in the campaign against
the wholesale slaughter and extinction
of the elk.
John Payne, formerly of Wichita,
Kan, has been recently in Washington
with the idea of having formed an elk
preserve in the northwest corner of
Wyoming that will permit the few re-
naming elk TO be properly cared for,
and the number increased.
The idea of this former kanSan IS TO
have the south boundary of Yellow
stone National park extended to the
fOrty-third parallel of latitude, or con-
siderable distance south of its present
bounds. This idea is because of the
fact that in the winter the elk have to
go further south than Yellowstone, IN
order to avoid the rightly of the eli
mate, to some extent In summer, these
animals room over Yellowstone park,
and are comparatively safe.
President Roosevelt has been in yell
lowstone, and he knows something of
the elk and their condition. The presl-
dent went to the Pacific coast, 1t Will
be remembered in the spring of 1898,
passing through Kansas en- route. He
tarlied at Yellowstone briefly, and is
therefore aware of conditions there gen
orally, and elk and buffalo in partlcu-
lar as his attention was called to the
matter then, as we'll as in his earlier
years in Wyoming.
In his message to congress of last
week. the president called attention to
preserving the elk, and in emphatic
terms spoke of their probable extinc-
ton, if present conditions continued.
Mr.. Payne, in inviting attention OF
members of congress and others to his
scheme, cited the president and his at
titude.
1t will be remembered that c. J. Jones
of Kansas is now game warden OF yell
lowStone National park, or, more pro-
perly speaking, curator of the buffalo
Industry" The latter is not his official
designation, but that is what it amounts
to. Jones, who is known all over the
country as Buffalo Jones, is the ac-
knowledged authority of the country on
buffalo. His intimate acquaintance
with them, and his well known desire
to save them from extinction give him
his standing as an authority.
Some years ago, Jones, then in Wash
ington, called on President Roosevelt,
and interested him in the proposition to
have a warden at Yellowstone for the
sole purpose of preserving the race OF
bison. The position is fairly remunera-
tive, and permits Jones to devote his
entire time to his hobby.
Thus it will likely be with Payne, II
he can secure the cooperation of the
president in the matter. And 1t will
make it possible for not only the genus
bison, but the genus elk, of all the great
American animals which formerly
roamed the western plains, to be saved
to the future, and further propagation
of the animals to follow.
In giving the public building for
Kansas towns the other day, mention
was omitted of the proposed one at lola
which resentative-at-Large Charles
F. Scott is endeavoring to bring about.
The rapid growth of lola, putting it in
the front rank of the second class cities
of the state, has encouraged Mr.. Scott
to believe that he can secure a fair
building for postoftice and other public
purposes He will push his bill with
much effort in this session, and has
hopes of succeeding. There will proba-
bly, be limited omnibus public build