1 8 Introductory 



To place the entire number of buffalo 

 upon this continent to-day, counting those 

 in public parks, government reservations, 

 those in private domains, and a few who 

 still range wild in the region of the Peace 

 River, at five hundred head would probably 

 be putting the figure too high. 1 



This is the sorry story of the American 

 bison, and when we consider that this 

 slaughter was most of it accomplished in 

 twelve years, from 1871 to 1883, we can form 

 some idea of the tremendous tragedy, the 

 like of which has never been seen before or 

 since. 



First among the causes that led to the 

 extermination of the mighty host we will 

 have to place the coming of the railroad to 

 the great plains. When those two racing 

 gangs of men, one carrying the glittering 

 rails east, and the other west, met upon 



1 This statement refers to conditions in 1908. Now there are 

 about two thousand bison on the North American continent. 



