The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-01-06
that specimens of what was practi-
cally an extinct animal would become
in time very valuable. Ten head
changed ownership Mt s250 each.

that specimens of what was practi-
cally an extinct animal would become
in time very valuable. Ten head
changed ownership ut $3.50 each.
On the Pablo reservation the buffa-
10 had his chance. No ruthless plum
derers closed around him. In 1898
there were on the Flathead ranch
thirty-six thoroughbreds in excellent
condition, the nucleus of the herd that
now roams through the grazing coun-
try of the Battle river. The hybrids,
or "catloes" we're never allowed to
mingle with the thoroughbreds on the
ranges. but were kept on an island in
Flathead lake. In twenty-three years
the whole herd had increased thirty
fold The percentage of loss was
small: indeed experiments had re-
peatedly shown that the young bison
was harder than the ordinary ran-e
calf. There are said to be instances
of the calves in the Pablo-Allard herd
! finding their feet in less than a min
ute after birth and showing fight with
in half an hour.
AS the return Of the former herds
to the plains of Montana brought
wealth to a couple of ranchers, in the
same measure did the presence of the
welcome invaders bring joy and en-
lcouragement to the forces of the con-
servatlon movement. The idea of es-
taDlishing profitable breeding herds in
the United States had been discounted
by American naturalists.
But all the time the big Montana
corral was attracting the attention
OF the Canadian government, particu-
larly OF Howard Dougles. commission
er OF dominion parks, and as the re-
suit OF numerous visits, after every
one of which a report was submitted
TO the Canadian government authori-
ties. he received instructions to enter
INTO negotiations for the purchase of
the entire herd and to close the deal
not only at the closest figure but
with the utmost secrecy. Eventually
Messrs. Pablo and Allard were given
100000 for the herd and an inter-
national asset became the sole prop
erty OF Canada, much to the annoy.
ance, it is said, of President Roose-
welt.
During the same period Frank Oil
YER, minister of the interior for Can
ada selected the national buffalo re-
treat. The 100000 acres specially
chosen in the northern portion of the
province of Alberta on the line of
the Grand Trunk Pacific, were care
fully examined and the contracts let
for fencing the entire tract. 1t is a
happy region of rolling grazing lands,
clean bedded lakes and sheltered
valleys. where the buffalo gras -four
lshes perhaps better than in any other
portion of America. 1t is an accepta-
BILE retreat bounded by buffalo fence
eighteen miles square and as dia-
meter 1t has the Battle river. which
winds its convoluted course between
great wide banks, through the shelter
og hills and willow clumps and some
times slowly and sluggishly and
sometimes with tumultuous rushes.
Some have thought that the river
at certain seasons of the year would
be pitfall and deathtrap for the
herd, but whether their fears were
we'll grounded or not remains to be
demonstrated.
The first round up OH the Montana
plains a year ago did not assemble all
that roamed over the Flathead reser-
vation, although two months were oc-
cupied in the work. Seventy five ex-
perienced cowboys. expert riders. Sc
lected from every portion of the staet
constituted the army that led the cam.
paign against the buffalo. At every
turn there lnrked danger and death
and frequently the herders We're plac-
ed OH the defensive. Once an en-
RACED bHffalO turned OH a horse and
rider and catching the pony on its
horns. carried ii a hundred yards
across the prairie.
For weeks the round UP was a COM
plete failure. Only three times in
more than month of daily drives
did the cowboys succeed in getting a
few head into the corral. Finding
the emselves being driven from their fa-
miliar pasturage. the buffalo charged
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