Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-03-27
RANGE FOR BUFFALO
Plan 10 Save Remnant OF Ami.
mails From Extinction.
FEDERAL PRESERVE WANTED
Diil 70 Dc introduced to Reserve Part
Of Fiathssd Indian tands In Mon
tana-Amsriesn Bison Association
Wants Animals Owned by an Indian
Purshassd. y

Wente Animals O~hso pJ an iholhh
Purchased. Z.
A plan is under consideration by
President Roosevelt and several mem
bers VI congress 10 make certain the
future existence OF the American
bison. popularity known ss the Amerl-
can buffalo. William +. Hornada!, di-
rector OF the Bronx Geological park In
New York city and president Of the
American Bison association, is cooper
ating with the president 10 save the
remnant Of q tribe OF beasts that once
numbered Its members by tue millions
Mr.. Hornsdsy went 10 Washington re-
Gently and had long interview AT thu
White House with Mr.. Roosevelt.
There are buffalo In nearly all OF the
aO0s VI the country, but the lives ~
the confined animals are at best pre-
csrious, and no one knows when accl
dent or disease may wipe the captlyes
ont Of existence. Ii is the wish Of Mr.
Hornsdas. says Washington CORE
spondent Of tue New York Post. that a
government range be provided for 4
herd Of buffalo in the northwestern
country where they may live in large
measure as they lived when their only
enemies were the red man and the
woit-a condition OF life that made for
longevity aud for Increase.
A few years ago flathead Indian
named Pablo living In Montana, had
In his possession herd Of 800 buffalo.
which he sold to the Canadian govern.
ment. Most OF the animals were turned
loose In Canada. where II Is said they
are thriving. About oue-half Of them
are icing held for the Canadian gov
srpmeBt by the Indian, II is presumed
these buffalo will he given their free
dom within fence Limitations in the
near future. Pablo will have remain.
Ing in his possession about fifty OF the
anlmals. the increase since he agreed
to seIi his herd and some animals that
he has picked up recently. The officers
Of the American Bison association de-
sire that these animals shall lie pur-
chased and turned loose OH the Flat.
head Indian reservation In Montana.
Senator Dixon Of Montana has be-
come Interested In the scheme and will
Introduce q bill to Set aside twenty
square miles as buffalo Reserve. The
Flsthead land holdings are soon to be
opened up to settlement. and the land
that the government Is asked 10 re-
serve as range Is almost totally unfit
for agricultural purposes. Mr.. Horns
day thinks that II such range Is pro
vided the buffalo will double their
numbers In three or four years and
that the question of the preservation OF
al animal which supposedly had been
doomed to extinction will be solved
II the Dixon bill becomes a law. the
range will be fenced and the buffalo
left to themselves to find a living. Nat.
uralists say that this splendid Ameri-
can animal ID doomed to extinction IN.
less the animals now In captivity are
Siven the freedom OF range and the
food and surroundings which were
natural to their ancestors before the
white man began his war Of extermina.
ton. The proposed range Is said to
have every facility for buffalo pre-,
serve. There Is an abundance Of bunch
grass. plenty Of running water. rayineS
which will AFFORD protection in winter
and timber enough for shelter under
other unfavorable weather conditions
An appropriation WAS made by con
gress last year for the fencing in of
bison preserve In Oklahoma. Fifteen
buffalo were turned loose In the pre-.
serve, and they are increasing in mum.
Der and thriving physically. The
range is known as the Wichita pre-
serve and is situated In the heart OF
the country where once great herds OF
buffalo roamed at their own free will,
When the American Bison asSocla.
ten was formed the herd Of go ami.
mails which has been sold to the Cana,
dian government was still in posses
sion OF the Flathead Indian. Pablo. but
the sale was completed before the as.
ISOLATION had adopted it's constitution
or was prepared to begin its work
Many western newspapers criticised
the organization for allowing the Cana,
dian government to forestall it in the
purchase Of these animals. Officers OF
the association say this criticism was
undeserved for the reason that at that
time the association WAS without
FUNDS to carry on its work. They say
that II the aid now asked Of the gov
eminent Is extended it will not be too
late to save the American buffalo from
determination.
II Is fact not generally known
that there is still in existence herd
Of wild bison. Up in the northern part
OF the province Of Saskatchewan there
are left a few animals known to the
residents Of that country as wood buf
Ialo. How many animals there ar"
and what their chances Of continued
existence are may be put down at
osst AZ matters Of conjecture. Ii is the
nope or naturaiists that the Canadlau
government may undertake ultimately
their protection and preservation The
hyman's belief 10 that the wood bur
fslo and the buffalo OF the plains are
olntrent species, but they are not
ThAv ara iHaut}aat avaopt 20, ~, t.n.