ee ee 
FIFTY-SECOND CONGRESS, 1891-1893. 1573 
thize with my friend from Mississippi generally. I do not like to 
appropriate money when it does not inure to the benefit of all the 
people. I admit that there is a very large portion of the population 
of the United States who will never see the Yellowstone Park; but 
there has been some sentiment about this matter. Iam in favor of 
keeping up the Botanical Garden. I have spent very many pleasant 
hours in going through these trees and shrubs, and I never knew a 
~ gentleman on the floor of this House with a flower in his lapel that did 
not conduct himself properly. 
I never-saw anyone cavorting up and down the aisles with a flower 
in his coat. I say that there is some sentiment about this matter. I 
have often visited that park myself, along with other people, and it is 
necessary that we should have good roads in that park so that visitors 
can get through it. 
Mr. Tuomas R. Srockpae. I would like to ask the gentleman from 
Indiana a question, if he will permit me. 
Mr. Houtman. Certainly. 
Mr. Strocxpate. Is this appropriation of $40,000 a good sentiment? 
Mr. Horman. Oh, I will come to that. Iam coring to the senti- 
ment of the proposition ] am going to make. 
To enable people to visit those curiosities, the Upper Geyser, the 
Yellowstone Falls, and other objects of extraordinary interest, the roads 
have to be kept up. When we commenced the appropriations, as I 
remarked a while ago, the whole amount expended for the roads was 
about $19,000 a year. Then we had a body of civilians, a superin- 
tendent, and nineteen watchmen to guard the park. Now we have the 
military there upon the ground with a company or two of cavalry. So 
that my friend misapprehends. This money is not for the purpose of 
protecting those objects of extraordinary interest, perhaps the most 
remarkable in the world, but for the purpose of constructing and keep- 
ing in repair the roads through the park. 
Mr. Benton McMituiy. Are the troops kept there for the purpose 
of virtually policing the park? 
Mr. Hoitman. Yes; that is what they are there for. 
Mr. McMitrrn. Does not my friend think that that is rather an 
unsoldierly business ? 
Mr. Hortman. Oh, it is a very pleasant duty. They are not there 
very long each year. And, Mr. Chairman, instead of this Zoological 
Park here in Washington buying elephants and other foreign animals, 
why should we not keep up this great natural park and preserve from 
utter extinction specimens of the animals, natives of this continent, 
that once roamed over the plains and hid themselves in the rocks and 
mountains? Instead of importing and trying to keep alive at great 
expense these animals from remote regions, let us have a collection of 
the American animals which are now rapidly disappearing—the bear, 
the buffalo, the elk 
