Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1912-05-04
BISON RANGE At WIND CAVE.
Congressman Martin Introduces Bill to
Appropriate S32, 900 for That :
Purpose.

bill introduced BY Congressman E
W. Martin, recently proposes to estab
lish the "Wind Cave National Gam,
Preserve" on lands adjacent to the Wine
Cave National Park, near this city. for
permanent national range for herd o
bison, or buffalo, to be presented to the
United States by the American Bisor
society. The matter 10 now before th,
committees on agriculture In both tn.
House and Senate, Mr.. Martin having
taken 1t up before the senate committs,
with view to having the approprIa
ton called for, SO, 900, added to the
agricultural appropriation bill in the
| Senate. So
Ofthe So, 100, sl5, 900 is to be used in
the purchase of additional lands for add.
ing to the bison range, and to insure q
permanent water supply in dry seasons.
The remaining $4,000 is for purpose oi
fencing the entire range to protect the
animals and prevent their straying or
being killed. In addition to providing
q range for bison, it Is incidentally the
purpose to have the proposed national
game preserve stocked also with other
native quadrupeds. such as elk, moose,
deer and Rocky Mountain sheep, which
it is claimed are in danger Of being des.
troyed just a. the fast disappearing buf.
falo has been snnihiliated by the savages
of hunters and climate.
Not only is the American Bison soci.
city keenly interested in the bill and
anxious to see il enacted into law, but
the citizens of South Dakota would glad
ly welcome the establishment of such q
game reserve within its borders. Rep
reseDtative Martin has been working on
the proposition for months, and it 10
said that 1t 10 favored by both of the
South Dakota senators. In addition to
this, the bill has been strongly urged by
the Secretary of Agriculture, under
whose jurisdiction the condemnation
proceedings for securing the land it 10
proposed to buy will fall. Much of the
tract that will be secured by the Govern
ment, in case the measure goes through,
is land that has been little cultivated,
though there are q few settlers whose
rights the Government would be obliged
to purchase. The tract to be fenced will
include approximately l0,666 acres.
Following is the bill:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United States
Of America in Congress assembled, That
there is hereby established national
game preserve, to be known as the Wind
Cave National Game Preserve, upon the
lands embraced within tho boundaries
Of the Wind Cave National Park, in the
State Of South Dakota, for q perman nent
national range for herd of bison to be
presented to the United States by the
American Bison Society, and for such
other native American animals as may
be placed therein. The Secretary of
Agriculture is authorized to acquire by
purchase or condemnation such other
lands ~ may be necessary for the pur-
pose of assuring an adequate, permanent
water supply at cost not exceeding the
sum of fifteen thousand dollars, which
amount, or so much thereof as may be
necessary for the said purpose, is here
by appropriated. There is hereby fur.
ther appropriated the sum of seventeen
Thousand dollars, or so much thereof as
may be necessary for the purpose Of en-
ablipg the Secretary Of Agriculture to
enclose the said game preserve with .
good and substantial fence and to erect
thereon all necessary sheds and build
ings for the proper care and mainten-
ance of the said animals, in all the sum
of thirty-two thousand dollars.