The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-01-16
SOCIETY TO SAVE BISON
Plans of Organization Supported
by President Roosevelt.
MOVEMENT STARTED AT NEW YORK

Congress Will Ee Appealed to For an
Appropriation to Provide Reserva-
lions For Maintaining Herds of huff
falo-American Mammals CONNER
to Be Urged.
Supported by President Roosevelt
and by the leading naturalists Of the
country, the American Bison society
was organized recently at a meeting in
the New York geological gardens,
Bronx park, says the New York Post.
The object of the founders Is to secure
serving the bison, which Is rapidly be-
coming extinct in the land where once
his breed roved the plains by millions.
After securing as large a membership
and as 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 a buffalo the range he
needs. If the government will under
take the solution of the problem, say
the naturalists, there will be no diff
Guilty in warding off 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 the active list should be COM
posed Of the proper men. and ever since
the plan was preached to him by En-
nest Harold Baynes he has been en-
thusiastic over its outcome. Inc other
officers elected were William T. Horna-
day, president; Professor Charles ;.
MinOt Of Harvard university and Presl-
dent A. A. Anderson of the Campfire
Club Of America, vice presidents; Ell
nest Harold Baynes, secretary, ana
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 dra1t
beasts. He borrowed two baby bulls
from tho COrbins, who own herd or
100 head in New Hampshire. and train
ed 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 were cared
for like ordinary calves.
Once the government has acquired a !
herd and started to increase its num- |
bers along proper lines, Mr.. Baynes
says, 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 equaIed by those from any other
creature With the breed systematical-
~ 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
overlooked their reservations.
OF the sentimental reasons for saw
ing the bison much has been said, but |
hitherto no practical step has been tax
en- 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 obtainable and gave winter
clothing to the first settlers when a buff |
falo hide was the most easily procured |
and often the only covering to be had. |
Even If they were of no commercial |
worth, as Mr. Baynes says. Americans