New Iberia enterprise and independent observer., 1910-04-02
BROUSSARD WANTS CON-
GRESS TO BRING AFRI-
CAN ANIMALS TO
LOUISIANA,

importation into this country OF
wild animals from Africa to be
domesticated and furnish addl-
tional food, was explained at
length today at hearing before
the agricultural committee OF the
House. ~
The most unique scheme which
has been advanced in years. ii
appealed to the committee I'M
mediately and is destined to eX-
cite worldwide interest. One OF
the { rst results Of the adoptl0n
of the Broussard plan by Con
gress would be the removal to
the forests and bayous Of Loulsl-
ana of a variety of African AM
mails suited to that climate. which
would prove Of enormous value
to the State.
Mr.. Broussard has introduced a
bill providing for the removal here
of large variety Of African ami
mais, and an appropriation OF
$250,6D for that purpose. The
hearing today was on tbs meas
ure and so deeply is the commit
tee interested that favorable re.
port IS anticipated.
Congressman Broussard, Capt.
Fitz Duquesne and Major f. X.
Burnham told the committee about
the scheme. Duquesne is the
great African hunter. lie Is a
Boer. Burnham is an American
and a former officer in the Brit
ish army in Africa. The animals
which it is proposed to import are
to be placed on reservations and
public lands in localities best suit
ed to them and where domestic
animals won't live.
The animals are useful as food
and as beasts of burden,
Among the animals well suited
to America, the committee was
told, are the white rhinoceros, the
water buffalo, the Gland, many
species of the African antelope
family, camels, the hippopotamus,
water buck, etc. Practically all
of these, if the bill passes, would
be transplanted in the Louisiana
forests. 90
Especial interest attaces to the
project at this time because OF the
Roosevelt hunting trip in Africa.
One of the animals which it is pro-
posed to import into the United
States is the famous Andrae speci-
ment of the antelope family killed
by Roosevelt, the "dig-dig' !,
whose curious name has caused
much amusement. The small an
imal is especially suited to New
England.
1.-The 1hippOpotamus could be a
boon to louisiana" said Repre-
sentative Broussard to the COM
mittee. "They are natural dredges
and would clear the streams and
bayOus of that Stale Dom the
water lillies now infesting them.
which impede navigation. and
cause an expenditure of thou
sands of dollars annaully in an
attempt to get rid Of them. The
water lilly is the natural food OF
the hippo. This beast is docle
and easily domesticated.
"In Louisiana there as Sc, 6,4OO,-
600 acres Of marsh lands and
100000 acres Of swamp lands.
Here the hippo, the water buffa-
10, water buck and other Afrl-
can animals would thrive and be
Profitable.
1.-THE hippo weighs 1000 lbs.
at birth and gains 100 pounds a
month. The flesh forms excel
lent food and one animal would
give from 1000 to 5000 pounds OF
dressed meat. The hippo would
not require lands needed for the
support of domestic animals.
Their hides are excellent and their
fat, used in making the finea,
grades of soap, is the purest in the
world. II is estimated that in a
few years the Southern States
would produce 100000, 600
pounds of delicious, nourishlng
hippo meat every year.
Mr.. Broussard said that he had
received his figures and esti-
mates from Prof. w. N. Irwin of
the Agricultural Department.
Prof. Irwin addressed the commit
tee in favor of the Broussard bill.
The two African hunters told all
about the project. its practicable
ity and cost and gave an inter
esting account of animal life to
Africa. No proposition has caus-
ed more interest in the capital for
years"