Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1912-05-09
WAR ON THE WOLVES.
Biological Survey Does Much to
Exterminate Them.
VALUE OF BAILEY's REPORT
Expert Found Where the Animal.
Bred and Advised the Staying Of
Their Young-Plan Saved
Stockmen Vast Sums.
BY GEORGE cLIN TON.

~oAASuAsuA al department ID muCE
interested just now in the reports
which come from the far west OF the
killing OF cattle and sheep by wolves
ana coyotes. The wolf probably Is
not now as vexing as 1t was, although
Tor years the stock raisers were tire
mendously troubled by the forays OF
the animals. The wolves In the Jack
son Hole region. however. Just now
are preying on the elk. Some years
ago there were few wolves in this sec.
ton and the elk were the prey OF the
mountain lions, or, more properly
speaking. the pumas. Now this big
cat tribe has been pretty nearly killed
on and the wolves have appeared to
take their place.
The wolf plague as It affected the
STOCK raisers was in part done away
with through the efforts OF the bio.
logical survey, which on one or two
occasions congress has attempted to
wipe out OF existence. Recently, how.
ever, the lawmakers have taken more
kindly to the work Of the survey, a
kindness which developed because of
the support which the survey receives
from the farmers and ranchmen of the
country.
Some years ago Vernon w. Bailey
OF the survey went west with the sane
tion OF the biological officials and OF
President Roosevelt. Mr.. Bailey un-
dertook to find means by which the
wolves might be exterminated, or, at
any rate, decreased in numbers with
out making recourse to poison nee
essary. There had been constant
warfare on the part of some of the
western senators and representatives
against the governments policy of set
ting aside forest reserves. One of the
arguments used against the preserves
was that they We're the bree ding places
OF large numbers of wolves who. from
the forest recesses, forayed on the
stock
Young Wolves Slain ! pens.
Mr.. Bailey made thorough inves-
tigation and he found out the wolves
did not make their dens In the forest,
but that they raised their young in
the shelter of rocky caves in the open
country. He suggested the searching
out OF the dens and the killing OF the
young wolves. He told the sections OF
the country in which the dens were to
be found, and as result OF his report
thousands Of the young OF the wolves
have been killed and hundreds OF
thousands of dollars worth OF stock
has been saved from destruction.
Speaking about wolves and pumas
makes one think of bears Down in
the national museum they have the
skin and skull Of what is called the
Louisiana bear. It was shot by Col
onel Roosevelt some years ago and
sent to the national museum authori-
ties. Mr.. Roosevelt had a idea that
this bear represented distinct spe-
Giles, one which it was suspected only
existed in America. Nearly one hun
dred years ago an Englishman had
that the cane brakes of
Louisiana had bear different from
the ordinary black bear of the eastern
United States. He was disputed by
the scientists Of America and the con-
troversy waged hot for a while and
then cooled of and virtually was for
gotten.
When Colonel Roosevelt sent his
bear to the national museum with his
word Of belief that it might be a new
species there was an immediate study
Of the subject, and finally 1t was dis
that the Englishman was
right and that the country east of the
river. instead OF having
only one species Of bear, has two, q
fact which may not seem to be impor-
tant to the laymen, but which is OF
Immense importance apparently to
the scientists.
Some time ago attention was
called to a bill introduced in the
senate providing for pa yment BY
he government to certain officers Of
he Confederate service who had SUI
'ered 1t was said many hardships
while prisoners. and had suffered them
to the usages Of warfare. 1t
vas also said that II a bill Of this kind
lad been introduced years ago that
{ would have been made the subject
II long and heated debates on the
loor Of congress. The war. however,
'eems to be long time in the past.
1t was only recently. however. that
objection was raised by a few subor.
Innate officials in the war department
o cutting into the monument over the
rave Of Gen. Joe Wheeler In Airing
on words which would show that ho
lad been a major general In the
lrmed forces OF the Confederacy. II
hese ofncials hoped to have their way
hey soon found out that It was to bo
lenied them. for many federal SOL
liers. and all the high officials Of gov
protested against the ob5ec-
don. The inscription showing that
Wheeler was a major general Of the
>onfederacy already had be- On cut into
he granite and the hope OF the sane
mes 10 that It will remain there a.
ong a. the granite endures.
went to Arlington and read tho
service inscription. Il
eads the rest of the record Of Wheel
r's soldier service BELOW II AMMAN.