and managed to c-unnt sixteen. xV short ride fartlier on 

 In'onght ns to headquarters. Warden Chambers was 

 away Imt Mr. Brazell, Superintendent of the park, very 

 kindly undertook to show me around. Fortunately, we 

 found the l)ulf alo lying down close to the fence near the 

 road. This afforded a good opportunity for a close-up 

 inspection of the herd, which is not often obtained Ijy 

 persons visiting the park or travelers along the road. 

 The buffalo were fat and tine, not a poor one among 

 them, a few of them got up as we approached the fence, 

 but they apparently were not alarmed, although it was 

 evident they were on the alert and prepared for instant 

 action, but otherwise they appeared as tame as domestic 

 cattle. This is an ideal location for a game preserve. 

 The rolling hills are covered with a thick mat of native 

 grasses, and the Pine Eidge adds picturesqueness to the 

 scenery. There is also in this preserve a fine herd of elk, 

 twenty-one antelope, some white-tail deer and a few 

 mule deer. The peo|)le in Hot Sjirings are very proud 

 of this fine game preserve, and the tourists who visit the 

 park are increasing in number each year. 



Leaving Hot Springs, I proceeded on to Valentine, 

 Nebraska, it being the nearest point on the railroad to 

 the Niobrara Reserve, which is located some four or 

 five miles north of that place. This reserve is part of 

 the old Niol)rara ^lilitary Reserve and is on historic 

 ground, as it includes the site of Fort Niobrara. The 

 Superintendent, ]Mr. Fred M. Dille, has his head- 

 ([uarters in one of the Imildings in officers' row. On the 

 north side of the Niobrara River, which runs east and 

 west through the reserve, are the hills ; to the south, the 

 njidulating sand hills, covered with a thick mat of grass, 

 stretch away like a 1)illowy sea as far as the eye can 

 reach. This would make an excei)tionally fine antelope 

 range. In former years it was the original home of the 

 antelope and Imffalo, countless thousands of them 

 ranged over the territory now included within this 

 reserve, therefore it would be a good i>lan to place here 

 any antelope that it might be ]^ossible to obtain. The 

 fine condition of the buffalo show that their natural feed 

 and surroundings are all that is required to produce 



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