Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-12-27
MOVE STARTED IN NEW YORK
Congress Will Be Appealed to For an
Appropriation to Provide for Reser-
vations for Maintaining Herds of
Buffalo Commercial Value is Urged.
4 Other News Of Interest.

the New York geological gardens,
Bronx park, says the New York Post.
The object Of the founders is to secure
government and individual aid in pre-
serving the bison, which is rapidly be-
coming extinct in the land where once
his breed roved the plains by millions.
Z After securing as large q membership
and % many contributions as possible,
the society will appeal to congress for
an appropriation large enough to pro-
vide one or more bison reservations
great tracts Of land on which the ami
mails may flourish and multiply. At
present there are less than 1000 OF
them in America outside Of geological
gardens, and the owners are private
citizens without enclosures Of sufficient
size to give buffalo the range he
needs. II the government will under
take the solution of the problem, say
the naturalists, there will be no diff
Guilty in warding OF the destruction Of
the finest animals now existing.
At the meeting in the Bronx, Mr..
Roosevelt was chosen honorary presi-
dent Of the society. He had agreed
previously to accept the Office on con-
dition tho active list should be COM
posed Of the proper men, and ever since
the plan was preached to him by Er-
nest Harold Baynes he has been en-
thusiastic over its outcome. The other
officers elected were William r. Horna-
day, president; Professor Charles s.
Minot OF Harvard university and Presi-
dent "A. A. Anderson Of the Campfire
4 Club Of America, vice presidents; Er-
nest Harold Baynes, secretary, and
Edward Seymour, treasurer.
Speaking Of the reasons for the move
ment to save the bison, Mr.. Baynes de-
scribed several experiments he had
made to prove that the animals were
superior to domestic cattle as draft
beasts. He borrowed two baby bulls
from the Corbins, who own herd OF
leo head In New Hampshire and train
Cd them to the yoke. Within few
months they were entirely serviceable
and could give points in pulling load
to any oxen OF their own age. They
were also drilled in single harness, and
throughout their rearing We're cared
Tor like ordinary calves.
Once the government has acquired
herd and started to increase its num-
bers along. proper lines, Mr.. Baynes
eaye. the bison's commercial value to
the United States will become estab-
lished. Besides promising well as
draft animal, .the buffalo furnishes
meat that cannot be surpassed and fur
robes that for certain purposes cannot
be- euualed by those from any other
creature. With the breed systematical-
: y maintained there could be a large
output from time to time for these
uses, the animals being distributed
throughout the country as fast as they
overfowed their reservations.
OF the sentimental reasons for saw
IL. the bison much has been said, but
hitherto no practical step has been TAX
On for his preservation. Every one
knows how his progenitors, when there
were millions Of them, served the west
ern pioneers for food when no other
food was sobtainable and gave winter
clothing to the first settlers when buff
falo hide was the most easily procured
and often the only covering to be had.
Even IL they were Of no commercial
worth. as MIR. Baynes says, Americans
who know Of their part in the country's
history should not Hike to see them eff
faced fron~the, earth.
The danger that the private herds
viii disintekratesmay not be immedi-
ate, but It. 10 certain the strength Of the
breed win gradually diminish unless
the animals can have the freedom and
wide range their natures require. Be
sides the herd In New Hampshire,
there are llfee o1es in Montana and
Texas aud smaller ones in other west
ern states, The Montana herd, owned
By hasf Indian named Pablo, is said
to be the largest, numbering 225. It
Il not known, however, that these are
all full 'blooded. The "cattalo," which
/ Is half domestic cattle and half wild
buffalo, has come to be a common ami
nal in the herds, and some owners
have made special effort to raise
these crosses, which are noted for their
valuable hides.
In addition to the weakening Of the
bison from being shut into small in
closures, his owners are Fastening his
end by selling an occasional head or
hide. A buffalo robe these days brings
from $50 to 5000 A head, well
mounted. costs $500 or 5000 in taxi
dernist's shop. 1t is no small tempta
ton to the owner when buyer drops
IN once or twice year and offers him
fancy prices for few Of the animals.
Mr.. Baynes says the appeal to con-
gress for reservation and an appro-
priaHoal will be made as soon as pos
sible. In the meantime a committee
viii coafer with President Roosevelt
II Rare Bird In England.
The Eoeingioal garden In London re-
Gently received the first hlmming bird
which has reached the garden and the
second which has ever arrived in Eng