As a preliminary step on the part of the government, 

 toward the final selection and fencing of the range, it was 

 arranged in AVashington that 3 officers, representing the 

 3 different bureaus concerned, should meet at Ravalli, and 

 make a careful examination of the proposed bison range 

 and its environs. Accordingly, on October 28th, 1908, 

 there met at Ravalli the following officers: — Dr. C. Hart 

 JNIerriam, Chief of the Biological Survey, Department of 

 Agriculture; J. P. ^Martin, Engineer of the Forest Ser- 

 vice (Department of Agriculture), and F. X. Salzman, 

 Chairman of the Allotment Commission of the Indian 

 Bureau. 



Mr. Martin, an engineer of the Forest Service, was 

 specially concerned in the fencing of the range, and studied 

 the situation from that point of view, while Dr. ]Merriam 

 considered the adaptability of the ground as a whole. 



The whole area between the Jocko River and ^lission 

 Creek was thoroughly inspected, and the party drove 

 twice completely around the proposed range on the boun- 

 daries proposed by the Bison Society, and spent several 

 days in examining parts of the boundary requiring spe- 

 cial attention. Dr. ^lerriam took many excellent photo- 

 graphs, several of which are herewith reproduced, by per- 

 mission of the Secretary of Agriculture. 



It was found that in view of the steep and rocky nature 

 of the hills along the east and south sides it would be a 

 difficult and expensive undertaking to run a fence on the 

 original lines of the 2()-mile range, whereas, on account of 

 better conditions lower down a nuich larger area could be 

 fenced at considerably less cost. It was agreed by the 

 officers of the government that instead of providing a fence 

 only high enough to hold bison, the fence shovdd be made 

 88 inches high, tnid thereby render tlie range available for 

 elk and antelope. 



By the unanimous agreement of all ])arties interested, 

 it was decided that Congress should be asked to authorize 

 the purchase of additional land up to 2(),()()() acres with the 

 $30,000 available, instead of taking 'JO miles only, and 

 turning ])ack into the treasury the une.\i)ended bahniee. 

 It was also agreed that Congress should be asked for 

 $3,000 more for fencing, as the original appropriation of 

 $10,000 was insufficient. xAceordingly. Senator Dixon 



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