The spring of 1910 opened so peculiarly that it was 

 decided to defer action until August, which was done. 

 In that month, letters were written to all the donors 

 whose gifts had not yet been delivered, asking that 

 arrangements for shipment be made; and the matter of 

 rates was at once taken up with the express companies 

 with a view to securing a reduction from the regular 

 rates. In this connection, I have to report that the 

 Society's request for reduced rates was most generously 

 received by the American Express Company, and through 

 the persistent efforts of Mr. J. H. Bradley, Vice-President 

 and General Manager, and a very considerable amount 

 of correspondence on his part with the Government and 

 with other companies, a reduction of one-third from what 

 would have been the regular rate was granted. For this 

 substantial favor the Bison Society is greatly indebted 

 to the American Express Company, and to Mr. Bradley. 



Inasmuch as our request of Oct. 18, 1909, to Mr. 

 Hill for the delivery of his gift failed to secure the animals, 

 Mr. Hill was again addressed on Aug. 30, 1910, with a 

 similar request, and renewed directions for the shipment 

 of the animals. On September 2 we were much surprised 

 by the receipt from Mr. Hill of a brief communication, 

 stating that the bison had been killed by his order. The 

 writer's correspondence with Mr. Hill is submitted 

 herewith. 



In accordance with our request, the Blue Mountain 

 Forest Association, Austin Corbin, President, kindly con- 

 sented to make its bison gift consist of one male and 

 two female yearlings, of excellent physique. These 

 animals were promptly shipped, and reached their 

 destination in excellent condition. 



The following correspondence covers the Hill and 

 Corbin gifts. 



October 18, 1909. 

 James J. Hill, Esq., 



Great Northern Railway Company, 



No. 32 Nassau Street, New York City. 

 Dear Sir: I have great pleasure in being able to report to you 

 that the Government has just finished the erection of a fence com- 

 pletely enclosing the Montana National Bison Range at Ravalli, 



