The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1920-06-01
GAME PARK
SURE THING
CANDY BILL TO ADD 30 900
ACRES TO CUSTER SANCTT-
AIRY, PASSES ENATE

Pierre, June South Dakota is
10 nave its state park and game sane
tuary near Custer on the scale in
tended for according to word re-
ceived yesterday from CONGRESSMAN
Harry l.. Candy at WASHINGTON. his
bill to add 10000 acres to the pres
ent park has just passed the senate
and having previously passed the
house, now goes to the president for
MS signature. Not only will this
give South Dakota additional land for
its park but it will make it one of the
biggest and finest parks of the kind
in the United States and the state
will fence it and assist in caring fo,
it.
1t is proposed by this bill to au-
thoriZe the establishment of n game
sanctuary or preserve in the higher
ranges of the Black Hills of western
South Dakota. Immediately adioin-
ing the land proposed to be included
in the sanctuary the state of South
Dakota owns and conducts Custer
state park, which is approximately
10000 acres in area and was patent
ed by the United States in lieu OF
commonschool section 1G and SO re-
tanned upon the establishment of the
Black Hills and the Harney National
forests. The park was established By
legislative enactment and is governed
by park board The forest therein
is in charge of the state forestry de
partment, modelled along the line of
the National forest service. The park
board has started to develop the re-
creational possibilities of this tract,
and the work already done includes
the erection of a surrounding game
tight fence and a start on highway
development, tourist accommodations
and fish hatchery The park is
stocked with several hundred elk.
antelope, deer, buffalo, and other
game animals.
Under the provisions of this bill,
after the land shall have been desg-
mated as a game sanctuary the state
will be authorized to fence the eX-
terror boundaries, subject to restric-
tions as to gates, upon the order of
the secretary of agriculture. This
will connect the higher ranges in the
Black Hills with the Custer state
park, making in reality a game sane
tuary or preserve of approximately
10000 acres, which, when once well
CT A1 &c al
ties well developed, will be valuable
asset, not alone to South Dakota
folks but to all the people of the Cen
tral Northwest. In altitude the park
sanctuary will carry from 5000 to
1000 feet, containing rugged peaks,
scenic mountain gorges, and clear,
springfield streams.
In order that the state may ac-
quire land for the construction of
buildings necessary to the admin
stration of the game sanctuary and
to properly care Off the yearly in
creasing number of tourists that are
visiting the Black Hills, and also that
some artificial lakes may be proyid-
Su, ou'hoiitg 10 SINNh Aoi 'ii' ''N't' y
to acquire 1000 acres on an eX-
change basis with forest reserve.
The lands affected are now and
will continue to be part of the Harvey
National forests. The administration
of the lands for purely forest service
purposes will continue as now, to be
in the hands of the secretary of agri-
culture.
In short the bill carries an appro-
priatiOn and one is ever contemplate
ed. 1t does not affect the ownership
of the land or the timber thereon
1t does provide that the state may
fence the game sanctuary when i
shall have been so designated by the
president, and the game animals
therein and in the Custer State Park
adjoining will be protected. Further,
it is provided that on a basis of busi-
ness exchange the state may acquire
1000 acres from the United States.
This matter has been very care
fully considered by the South Dakota
legislature, by the governor of the
state, by the forest service, by the
secretary of the interior, and by the
Sacretary of apricultIrrp