The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-01
Seven Big Animals Will BE
Brought to Topeka.
Gift to City and Kansas From
Joshua Hill.
NUCLEUS OF A zoo.
TOpeka's First Attempt at Wild
Animal Collection.
Herd Now Grazing on Plains
Near Pontiac, Michigan.

Topeka will get the seven wild Dull
falo for zoo purposes.
Roy L. Bone, city commissioner
leaves tomorrow morning for Pontiac,
Mich, where the buffalo are iocateo
in the possession of Joshua Hill, who
has presented them to Topeka MI
Bone will load the seven buffalo and
shin them to Topeka at once. 1t is not
known when they will arrive here.
The donor, Mr.. Hill, is president of
the Oakland County Savings bank in
Pontiac. He became interested IN
Topeka's parks and enterprises some
time ago through the reading OF the
newspapers. Although he had several
propositions UP to sell the butfalo to
other cities he turned them down in
preference to Topeka and has written
a presentation letter to Mayor Billiard.
Commissioner Bone, who at one
time was a cowboy of note on the
Kansas prairie has been selected by
the board of city commissioners TO
capture the herd and bring them to
Topeka.
u believe I will drive them over
land and stop in Chicago on my way
home and haul our new garbage wag-
ons to Topeka" laughed Mr.. Bone TINS
afternoon. But Joshua Hill has warn
ed the city officials that the buffalo
are wild and that it will take consid-
cradle tact to handle them. With this
idea in mind Commissioner Bone is
figuring on an extra strong cattle car
from Pontiac to Topeka.
Winter at Fair Grounds.
When the herd arrives in Topeka
with their keeper, they Will be sta
toned in the fair grounds for the win
ter-or until some Topeka public park
can be equipped in good shape to take
care of the animals. What park will
be chosen for a permanent home OF
the herd-no one seems to know
LII oil rafaT 7rN1Ic sTF0V1C ~
charge of the city parks said this af
ternoon that he had not chosen the
park for this purpose. The general
sentiment in the city favors Gage park
on account of the fact that it is the
ambition of the supporters of this
park to establish a zoo in it's borders.
This would be an incentive for the To-
peka railway company to extend its
street car system to the park this
spring.
From certain expressions by Joshua
Hill in his letter to the mayor last
night, the city officials have decided
that it will take more than small
wire fence to hold the animals. Mr..
Hill suggested that the city send
number of men for the purpose of
bringing them to Topeka. Commits
sioner Bone will not take any cowboys
with him but intends to break in
few Michigan citizens.
The two letters received by Mayor
Billiard from Mr. Hill read as IoHoWS;
MFR. HIPS Letters.
"Hon. ]. B. Billiard. Mayor, Topeka,
Kan:
'Dear Sir:
yours of the 25th just received. 1
cut Mr.. Emmons off by phone at De-
troit and reserved all seven buffaloes
for your city and state. If too many,
there is q chance to sell pair to Lin
coin. Neb., inclosed.' I would prefer
they go together. Men are hard to get
here so send all you can. Days are so
short and uncertain and buffalo hard
to handle. 1 will speak to a few I know
but most all are engaged away ahead.
1 don't get out much.''
The second letter:
ITO insure notice, I write again that
I notified Mr.. Emmons & Co., at De-
troit, that withdrew option of sale as
club not fully formed. I want you to
have them. I present these animals,
once native of your fertile plains-an-
cestors to your city and state. Think
they are fine, as they are pure. The
oldest two being captured in pocket of
Cascade mountains, Montana. 1 owe
this to Kansas and Topeka in part pay
ment of benefits to both health and
fortune. I admire most of your people
and state officials including Bristow
and Murdoch, but when you have a
mean one he's dead mean. I know
very few.
with kind regards,
JOSHUA HILL"