quite impossible for anj^one to kno\\' at that time how much 

 the hinds desired for the bison range \v()ukl cost. In order 

 to be well within bounds, Senator Dixon asked in his bill 

 for $;3(),()()0 \\'ith which to purchase the minimum area, 

 (twenty square miles) , and for $1(),()()() \vith which to erect 

 around it a wire fence suitable to hold bison. 



The full text of the original bill is as follows: — 



Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 

 United States of America in Congress assembled, that the President is 

 hereby directed to reserve and except from the unalloted lands now 

 embraced witliin tlie Flathead Indian Reservation, in the State of Mon- 

 tana, not to exceed twelve thousand eight hundred acres of said lands, 

 near the confluence of the Pend d'Oreille and Jocko rivers, for a per- 

 manent national bison range for the herd of bison to be jn-esented by 

 the American Bison Society. 



Sec. 2. That there is hereby ap})roi)riated, out of any money in 

 the Treasury not otherwise ap))ropriated, the sum of thirty thousand 

 dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to pay the confederated 

 tribes of the Flathead, Kootenai, and Upper Pend d'Oreille, and such 

 other Indians and persons holding tribal relations or may rightfully 

 belong on said Flathead Indian Reservation the appraised value of said 

 lands as shall be fixed and determined under the provisions of the Act 

 of Congress approved April twenty-third, nineteen hundred and four, 

 entitled "An Act for the survey and allotment of lands now embraced 

 within the limits of the Flathead Indian Reservation, in the State of 

 jNIontana, and the sale and disposal of all surplus lands after allot- 

 ment." 



Sec. 3. That the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized 

 and directed to inclose said lands with a good and substantial fence 

 and to erect thereon the necessary sheds and buildings for the proper 

 care and maintenance of the said bison ; and there is hereby appro- 

 ])riated tlierefor, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise ap- 

 pro})riated, the sum of ten thousand dollars or so much thereof as may 

 be necessary. 



On April 0th the bill was favorably reported to the 

 Senate, and attached to the Committee's report as exhibits, 

 were letters from Edmund H. Seymour and AVilliam T. 

 Hornaday, and the entire matter of the Bison Society's 

 first annual re])ort. except the illustrations. The full text 

 of the Committee's re])ort on the l)ill is as follows: 



The Conunittee on Indian Affairs, lia\iiig liad under consideration 

 the bill (S. 6ir)<)) providing for the establishment of a national bison 

 range, report tlie same back with tlie recommendation tliat it do pass, 

 with amendments. 



For many years it has been a uiallei* of niueli concern to citizens 

 of this country that no systematic effort lias been made to preserve 



