Semi-weekly herald., 1911-02-09

In 1908 the Biological Survey es-
timated that the total number of ante
lope in the United States had been
reduced to 1900 OF these about TO-
900 were in Montana, Wyoming and
the Yellowstone National Park. and
the remaining 1000 were distributed
In twelve other states.
On the Wichita Game refuge 1t is
hoped that the antelope will find
themselves In surroundings suited to
their Increase. The Wichita is really
National Forest, and Game Warden
Rush acts as its supervisor and
attends to all the business involved
in its ADMINISTRATION. But on the WITCH.
lta, which was set aside by act OF
Congress as a National Game Refuge
because OF its special suitability to
act as breeding place FOR the wild
creatures OF the plains and OF the
lower Rocky Mountain regions, the
Importance of the game work has over
shadowed the ordinary uses of the
National Forest. There are over 15O
National Forests. but only two Nat
ional Game Refugees.
rms does not mean that outside
OF those refuses the game on the
National Forest is not protected for
the National Forest officers are un.
iformly instructed to see that the game
laws of the various states are observed
on their Forests. in so far as they
can do this In justice to their other
duties, Many of the Forest officers
are regularly appointed Deputy State
Game WardeDs. and it is the policy
of the Department of Agriculture to
encourage their acting in that capacity
when they can do so without prejudice
to their work as Forest officers. They
are not, however, expected to 20 off
the Forest in order to inforce the game
laws of the States, nor can they make
enforcement of game laws their prfn-
cipal occupation. The work of a
Forest officer in looking after Uncle
Sans affairs generally insures his
being pretty busy man, and what he
does in inforcing game laws can only
be incidental to selling timber, pro-
tcting the Forests from fires, looking
after grazing matters, and responding
TO the various other calls which use
of the Forest by the public involves.
Ordinarily, game matters pertain
to the States, and not to the National
Government The State prescribes
when and under what conditions game
may be killed If it desires to pro-
hibit the killing of game In certain
parts of the state, in order that the
game may breed there, and these parts
of the State are in the National For.
ests, the Government cooperates with
the State to carry out the law. Such
cooperation may require the closing
OF fixed areas of the National Forest
to grazing, for when big game becomes
plentiful 1t must have sufficient food
left on the range to carry 1t through
the winter, or 1t will succumb for lack
of sustenance. If the range is fully
utilized by cattle and sheep during
the summer, elk and deer will fare
hardly in the winter.
In the Wichita and the Grand Canon
Game refugees the government has not
left the matter of caring for game
protection wholly to the States, but
has established National reservations
on which an attempt will be made to
breed big game. The Wichita is nota-
OF buffalo on it, which the game ward
en- regards as the apple of his eye.
They were donated by the American
Bison Society and shipped from the
New York Geological Garden in 1908.
They then numbered 15, and have
since been increased by the addition
Of 10 calves; two of the original herd,
however. died In the first year. To
the buffaloes are now added the ante
lope.
The antelope were shipped from
tllON SlolS IaIh, anu nave Dtcu llD-
Grated in one of the buffalo pens
which had been prepared for them.
They will be given more and better
range as soon as a proper wire en-
closure can be made. Two additional
head are expected to follow the eight
already received. Since the antelope,
once SO abundant on the plains, is
in serious danger OF entire extinction,
this attempt to establish the species
on the Wichita Game Preserve will
be watched with interest by all who
wish to see our native wild animals
given chance to perpetuate them
selves, though surrounded by civiliza-
ton.
MONTROSF, Colo, Feb 6.-Rev.
MacD. Thompson, who on the strength
of a reported shortage in his accounts
as city clerk and water collector, at
slontrose, resigned said positions last
Wednesday, was placed under arrest
late Saturday afternoon on the charge
of embezzlement. The warrant was Is
sued by Justice OF the Peace J. w.
Howe, on information made out by
Mayor Allen The bond was placed at