Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-07-12

icsS pfdiIitS dnu lIt udDiGdtl0nS or the |
hardy pioneers who are Rapidly turn- |
ing the Buffalo SO and exposing the
rich black soil to the fertilizipg action
of sun and air. The railroads for a |
distance of four or five hundred miles
to the west of the, Missouri River pass
through thriving cities, to which a /
comparatively thickly settled agricult-
ural community is: tributary. Then
the newer territory is reached. the
towns are of less frequent=oecurence
and smaller in size. the plains appear
more nearly in their native state,
only dotted here and there with the
claim cabins of the settler. AS the
traveller looks out Of the car window
across the billowy expanse he sees
herds of cattle and sheep in great
numbers grazing on the rich punches
of Buffalo grass,
The Missouri River has come to be
regarded in general way as the
boundary line between the east and
west, although in truth, the terms
east and west are extremely elastic in
their appliance. However, we will
consider that all on the sun-do Hn side
of the Missouri River is west. The
traveller when he shall have taken the
tranS-continentaI tour will find that he
gained much for future years and in
the quiet evenings at home he will
find material for a keen and satisfying
enjoyment.
There is no journey that can be
taken on the continent of North
America that presents so much of in
tereSt to the tourist and which can be
taken with such comparatively
moderate outlay of time and money
as trip through the Yellowstone
Park. 1t is the land of new endeavor,
of fresh impulses. The capacity of
the Yellowstone Park for enjoyment
and study is unlimited. The accom-
modations are excellent. The Park
Transportation Company have three
hundred and ninety-seven conveyances
of different kinds. They can handle
fifteen hundred passengers in a single
day. The hotels have a bed-capacity
of fifteen hundred and ninety-four.
Over One-thousand people are en-
ployed in the park besides the two
troops of cavalry which are found
scattered over the entire park, not
only to guard but guide as we'll. First
of all they are gentlemanly and help
full. There are, however, two men in
the park who are very seldom seen but
deserving OF more than passing notice.
They are in the employ of the govern
ment and selected on account of their
special fitness for the place. They are
expert hunters On duty winter and
summer and have no other mission
than to rid the park of destructive
animals, such as Mountain Lion, Wolf
and Coyote. but Notwithstanding their
efforts the greatest drawback to the
increase OF animals to the park, is the
Coyote. On this account the Antelope
are little more than holding their own,
although there are over tive-hundred
in the park. 1t is estimated by the
scouts that there is some twenty to
thirty thousand elk in the park and it
is plain that they are increasing
rapidly. We saw several fine speci-
mems CT Mountain Sheep and they too,
are gradually increasing. There are
sixty Buffalo in an Enclosure of one
Thousand acres, near the Mammoth
Hot Springs where nineteen young
calves may be counted. But. the bear
is perhaps the most interesting OF any
of the animals of the park. More than
seven-hundred have been counted,
consisting of seven varieties. They
seem to wander in small squads Of
from three to fifteen and are seen both
morning and evening around the large
hotels south of Mammoth Hot Springs.
We saw many fine specimens of deer
and antelope that seemed to be in ex-
cellent condition and thoroughly
satisfied with their quarters. We
were informed that there was little or
no violation of the rules in regard to