As a preliminary step on the part of the government, 

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

 arranged in Washington 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 'iSth, 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. 



jNlr. ^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. JNIerriam 

 considered the adaptability of the ground as a whole. 



The whole area l)etween the Jocko River and ^Mission 

 Creek was thoroughly inspected, and the party drove 

 tAvice 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. JNIerriam took many excellent ])hoto- 

 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 riui a fence on the 

 original lines of the 20-mile range, whereas, on account of 

 better conditions lower down a much larger area could be 

 fenced at considerably less cost. It was agreed by the 

 officers of the government tliat instead of providing a fence 

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

 88 inches high, and thereby render the range availal)le for 

 elk and antelope. 



By the unanimous agreement of all parties interested, 

 it was decided that Congress should be asked to authorize 

 the purchase of additional land up to 20,000 acres with the 

 $30,000 available, instead of taking 20 miles only, and 

 turning back into the treasury the unexpended balance. 

 It was also agreed that Congress sliould be asked for 

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

 $10,000 was insufficient. Accordingly, Senator Dixon 



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