"If we can get the range, the animals will be put on 

 it," I stated. 



"Do you think so?" 



"I am sure of it." 



"Professor Elrod, I hope they will do it. We all hope 

 so. The Indians are very sorry to see the Buffalo go. 

 They all love them. They all think the Government 

 should keep them. They don't want to kill them. They 

 love to see them roam over the hills and plains. Every 

 Indian will be glad if the Government can and will save 

 them, and keep them where they can be seen. And if 

 there is anything in this world I can do to help, I want 

 to do it." 



All the intelligent men whom I have talked with on 

 the reservation express the same opinion. Enterprising 

 people in Missoula with whom the matter has been dis- 

 cussed are hopeful of the outcome, and greatly desire that 

 the undertaking will be w^orked out successfully. The 

 press has in a number of cases spoken highly of the pro- 

 posed plan. Few have knowledge of the proposed range, 

 and when its boundaries and the character of the land 

 are understood the plan will meet with universal favor. 

 I have previously mentioned the efforts of Joe Allard to 

 interest Congress in the herd. Col. Rankin, allotting 

 agent, is full of enthusiasm over the plan. There will not 

 be a dissenting man, unless perhaps it may be some one 

 who wants a portion of the range for himself. 



Climate. — The climate on the western slope of the 

 Rockies is agreeably surprising to all those who stay 

 in the country for any length of time. The absence of 

 the great humidity of the Eastern and Central States 

 relieves one of the disagreeable oppressiveness in summer, 

 and the severity of cold in winter. The extremes are not 

 great. The thermometer does not often fall below zero, 

 and then for a short time only. The coldest weather 

 recorded by the Weather Bureau in a record of over 

 twenty years was 27 degrees below zero, during the winter 

 of 1904-05. The mercury does not frequently fall below 

 15 degrees Fahrenheit. There have been winters when 

 the thermometer did not fall below zero. The mean tem- 



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