The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-03-13
Wild Animals Now in Jackson's S
Hole to Be Moved North
ward by Cavalrymen.
CONGRESS PROVIDES
THE NECESSARY MONEY
Estimated That There Are 30,
600 Elk in the Herds Roam
ing Over Wyoming.
Snecial In Tho Tribune.

Special TO The Tribune.
WASHINGTON. March 12.-Amendment
TO the agricultural bill appropriatins $780,
600 FOR feeding and removing elk from
Jacksons Hole to better feeding grounds
in Wyoming passed during the last
hours OF congress. was the prelude 10
what must undoubtedly prove the most
interesting and exciting spectacle OF Its
kind ever witnessed In any country. The
amendment means that sometime next
summer tho government troops will at
tempt to herd 10000 or more Wild elk
from the crowded ranges of Jackson S
Hole TO better feeding grounds on the
Big Horn range.
When the range cattle business was
in Its palmiest days In this section OF
the west 1t was not an uncommon sight
to witness immense herds of half wild
cattle. numbering 5000 and even 10000
head. being driven hundred miles 10
the railroad. But even the widest con-
ception OF the most enthusiastic cattle
the immensity OF the problem Of herdine
more than 10000 of these wild. fleet
creatures distance Of almost 100 miles
over a rough forest country. The elk
can outrun horse. has greater endur-
sncc, is surer-footcd, and VIII travel over
precipitous trails over which the most
NcntureSome nofSeman WOULD neSllab 10
follow.
Drive Is Planned.
Instinctively perfected in the art OF
lodging the hunter, he is only caught
during the hunting season 10y stalking;
To attempt TO drive him anywhere. and
in band numbering thousands, seems
an impossible task. yet the government
appropriation is sufficient substantial evil
dence that this feat will be undertaken
\ promise has been secured from the
IpDlTtmpnI for sufficient cavalry
men to herd the elk \ tentative plan
suggested Is to have the vast herd sur
sides save the one in the direction il
is desired 10 drive the elk. with two
additional lines OF cavalrymen strung out
along the course \ closing in Of this
and the unique race would be on.
At n given signal the outridcrs along
the course would also move forward.
kccplng we'll in advance OF the fleeing
herd. Detachments to serve as relays
for these riders would Lave 10 be sta
toned at intervals along hle proposed
route, and the surgng. struggling mass
kept moving until the goal was reached.
Picture 10000 wild elk in full flight, pur-
sued by mounted cayalrymen firing their
revolvers into the air to further terrfy
ridcrlcss mounts-broken bones il not
loss Of liz" 1t will be spectacle the
like o! which has never been Witnessed.
west ever saw in its widest days.
Herd Numbers 10000.
NJ least 10000 elk must be moved from
Jackson's Hole OF they Will die of star
vaton. For the last few years the state
OF Wyoming has been sppropriating large
sums for hay TO. keep these animals from
Starving. and each winter finds condi-
tions worse. II Is estimated that at least
10000 elk winter in the Jacksons Hole
country large area south OF the Yel-
lowstonc National park. The elk scatter
during the summer months. many OF
them grazing in the park but as winter
approaches they converge toward their
old winter quarters. These quarters were
annie before the homestcader came To
fence the lands. The elk would feed on
the rich grass OF the valleys i'm The fall.
work upon the sheltered hillsides later In
the winter, and, when necessity urged.
descend TO the creeks and browse among
the young willows and other foliage un-
I'll the spring grass came. The homestead
er's fence has made this impossible now
range. The result is that despite the
large amount of feed furnished them by
the state. each winter sees an enormous
death loss Of this fast disappearing game
animal. Now they roam what is left Of
the open country I'm droves Of thousands.
growing weaker and weaker for want OF
food winter advances. AS "A last re-
sort they browse In the willows until
many OF them arc too weak To stand; then
lie down within tho protection of a friend
" bush for days too weak to rise until
death finally relieves them of their SUI
fcrin~
Driven to desperation by hunger the
elk will break down the strongest harbcd
wire fence surrounding a hsYstack aud
during portion Of the winter tho set
tiers must guard their hay night and
day The elk have been known to mount
Ions. and thus climb TO the top Of u
thatched roof shed. where they would
voraciouslv devour the rotten hay or
straw used as a roof covering