THE EXTERMINATION OF THE AMERICAN BISON. 507 



This has given rise to the statement, so often repeated, that the Indian 

 killed only enough buffaloes to supply his wants. If an Indian ever 

 attempted, or even showed any inclination, to husband the resources of 

 nature in any way, and restrain wastefulness on the part of Indians, it 

 would be gratifying to know of it. 



The building of the Northern Pacific Railway across Dakota and 

 Montana hastened the end that was fast approaching ; but it was only 

 an incident in the annihilation of the northern herd. Without it the 

 final result would have been just the same, but the end would probably 

 not have been reached until about 1888. 



The Northern Pacific Railway reached Bismarck, Dakota, on the Mis- 

 souri River, in the year 1876, and from that date onward received for 

 transportation eastward all the buffalo robes and hides that came down 

 the two rivers, Missouri and Yellowstone. 



Unfortunately the Northern Pacific Railway Company kept no sep- 

 arate account of its buffalo product business, and is unable to furnish 

 a statement of the number of hides and robes it handled. It is there- 

 fore impossible to even make an estimate of the total number of buffa- 

 loes killed on the northern range during the six years which ended with 

 the annihilation of that herd. 



In regard to the business done by the Northern Pacific Railway, and 

 the precise points from whence the bulk of the robes were shipped, the 

 following letter from Mr. J. M. Hannaford, traffic manager of the North- 

 ern Pacific Railroad, under date of September 3, 1887, is of interest. 



"Your communication, addressed to President Harris, has been re- 

 ferred to me for the information desired. 



"I regret that our accounts are not so kept as to enable me to fur- 

 nish you accurate data ; but I have been able to obtain the following- 

 general information, which may prove of some value to you : 



"From the years 1876 and 1880 our line did not extend beyond Bis- 

 marck, which was the extreme easterly shipping point for buffalo robes 

 and hides, they being brought down the Missouri River from the north 

 for shipment from that point. In the years 1876, 1877, 1878, and 1879 

 there were handled at that point yearly from three to four thousand 

 bales of robes, about one-half the bales containing ten robes and the 

 other half twelve robes each. During these years practically no hides 

 were shipped. In 1880 the shipment of hides, dry and un tanned, com- 

 menced,* and in 1881 and 1882 our line was extended west, and the 

 shipping points increased, reaching as far west as Terry and Sully 

 Springs, in Montana. During these years, 1880, 1881, and 1882, which 

 practically finished the shipments of hides and robes, it is impossible 



* It is to be noted that hairless hides, taken from buffaloes hilled in summer, are what 

 the writer refers to. It was not until 1881, when the end was very near, that hunting 

 buffalo in summer as well as winter became a wholesale business. What hunting 

 can be more disgraceful tban the slaughter of females and young in summer, when 

 skins are almost worthless. 



