The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-21

compelled to leave a sick, bed against
the advice of his physician.
Colonel Jones prefaced his remarks
by alluding to en- incident CT his boy
hood days which he says laid the foun-
dntion for his career 1T was the cap
ture of a squirrel which he accomplished
in a forest as twelve year old lad
when his father had sent him out to cut
wood The squirrel was captured after
an exciting time and was later sold FOR
two dollars. It was his first financial
experience and from it he drew the les
son of making every dollar which he
made honestly. He said that the method
which a child employed to make his
first money would be the method of ac-
quiring il all through life and 1t was
the duty of parents to see that their
children made their money in legitimate
ways.
When Colonel Jones had attained his
majority he set out for the plains of
Kansas which were at that time filled
with rowing herds of the American
bison. He tried catching them for a
while and then selling them into captiv-
ity for domestic purposes but there
were so many of them that people could
get all they wanted themselves. 1t was
necessary in some way to make a liveli-
hood so there was nothing left for the
young scout to do but to join a party
which was making a business of slaugh-
tering the buffalo for his hide. Mr..
Jones was not in love with this voca-
ton. He said that the look of sadness
in the dying buffalo and their means
made the cold chills run up his back
and that every night he would resolve
to discard his gun and seek the I'M
fortunate brutes no longer. However,
when he would go back to camp he
would reflect on the business and when
he would see that it only made about
fifteen minutes in the life of the buffalo
whether he continued or not, he stayed
with it for some time. However" said
Mr. Jones. Il then and there made a
vow that if there was ever an Opportuni-
ty presented to me to do anything for
the buffalo 1 would do all that it was
within my power to do. I am glad to
say that 1 have helped to perpetuate
this race OF valuable animals In yell
lowstone Park we have a herd of over
fifteen hundred animals. These came
from a small herd of eighty-three. fifty
two of which l captured myself. 1 am
now resting with a clear conscience as
1 think 1 have done my duty and paid
my VOW"
Buffalo Jones also told of his eff
forts in crossing the bison with cattle
and the product of which he has
named the "cattalo." This animal is
destined in the opinion of Mr.. Jones
to be one of the greatest blessings to
mankind From every standpoint it is
much more valuable than the common
cattle and IT inherits enough of the
instincts of its buffalo progenitors to
gather its own living from the plains
1t will thrive in the coolest winter
weather with snow four feet deep on
the ground without the attention of
man. Each animal is worth nearly a
thousand dollars. He has also sue
ceeded in getting good results by
crossing the buffalo with Persian
sheep
The buffalo in the estimation of Mr.
Jones is the greatest blessing that ever
came to Kansas. The fertile soil which
makes 1t possible to raise any product
in Kansas is due to the buffalo who
has enriched the soil and even at his
wards improving the soil
For several years Colonel Jones was
game warden of the Yellowstone Ma
tional park and while in that capacity
he had a great deal of influence in
perT,etuating the early wild animals of
America. He has had a part in killing
off the mountain lions and other enc
mics of the elk and antelope. In this
connection Colonel Jones scored the
soldfers who are sent to the park as
guards as many of them are in the