The Newark journal., 1905-02-17
SAVE THE BUFFAL
THE MOVEMENT FOR THIS IS
 GAINING GROUND.
Ernest Harold Baynes Tells of the Men and Societies Assisting in This Work-The Real Ameri-
 can Animal.

American buffalo, not long since the most numerous of the earth's big man. mals, is rapidly gaining ground. The deep regret of the American people at the fact that their grandest native ani- nal has all but disappeared, fines ex- pression in hundred ways. Naturalists and true sportsmen are meeting, both in public and in private, not to discuss the advisabiity or the possibility of pre- serving the animal-those points have been decided once and for all by the best authorities in the country-but to con- siGer and formulate wise plans for it's preservation. Naturalists who have never lectured or spoken in public be- fore are raising their voices in this cause; they know that if they have any thing to say in the interest of the butfa- To, they must say it at once or it will be too late. And men, aye, and women, too, who are not naturalsts, but who are loV- CTS of things which live, are helping the movement by expressing to others their interest in it. Those who can write well are writing strong letters and articles for publication in the papers and magazines, and many others of less ability are writ ing the best they can. and by reason of their great earnestness these are oftimes quite as eloquent as those who have more finished style.
 The interest of scientific bodies is be- ing aroused, and almost every day we hear of some sportsman's club or nat ural history society discussing the sub- ject of the buffalo and passing resolu- tions expressing sympathy with the movement now on foot to save him. Some have gone even further than this, and are even now agitating the question of organizing a national society, whose object shall be to arrange for the preser- vation of the typical American mammal. The first step has been taken. the men and women who took it are in earnest, and it is safe to predict that, before the buffalo has grown his heavy coat to pre- tect him from next winters cold, his friends will have gathered around him in force. for the purpose of protecting him from the colder hand of the fate which now threatens his existence. And when these people have once organized l believe that the preservation of the bison will nc longer be one of the objects which should be accomplished. but rather one of those which must be anG shall be" accomplished.
 In the meantime it is very desirable that those wno are now, and who for months have been, working so hard for this cause, should be assured of the CO., operation of all who have the interest of 1- cess of the movement would be benefi- cial to the entire nation. and therefore il should have the support of the nation. That means the support of the reader of this article, just as much as that of the man in Cincinnati, or St Louis. The. preservation of the buffalo is probably dependent on governmental action in the matter, since in the hands of the govern ment alone will it be quite safe from those who are continually offering big prices for heads and hides. In other words, the matter is in the hands of the people. and my reader is one of these Every set of resolutions that is passed, favoring the movement; every letter addressed to me at Meriden, N H.. will help the cause of the buffalo, and will bring nearer to us the day when this great animal will be out of danger. In the entire United States there are now only G00-odd buffaloes, exclusive of those confined in public parks and gardens, and which cannot be counted on to assist in the perpetuation of the race. The ma jority of these are in three herds the Corbin herd at Newport, N. H.; the Pab- lo-Allard herds in Montana, and the James Philips herd in South Dakota If tuberculosis or other contagious disease were to carry off any one of these herds. the fate of the race would probably be sealed, as even now there are none too many strains to allow for the necessary interchange of blood. This danger could be avoided at once if the government d. vided these herds into smaller ones and provided for their maintenance on sep arate reservations.
 While speaking on this subject with an old plainsman the other day, he re- marked:
 Well, there is no ether native animal toward which Americans should have so kindly feeling as for the buffalo; it has done more toward the civilization of the country than all the rest put together. To the explorer and early settlers it was an unfailing supply of the best kind of food. and many a hundred times have thirsty tradvelers been more than grate- full for the water which collected in the buffalo wallows. And who shall say how many thousands have enjoyed the lux ury of fire on the treeless plains of the west, when but for the constant supply of buffalo chips they would have been