REPORT OP THE SECRETARY. 31 



I do not expect to be able to get an accurate estimate of their number 

 before the latter part of January. I hope there are enough remaining 

 for a source of supply for your park, and if they can be inclosed the 

 cost of maintenance will be very small. 



The reports made through the newspapers of the slaughter of the 

 bison recently are, of course, much exaggerated, but unfortunately 

 several have been killed. I feel pretty certain that ten were killed 

 within the past four months. I have now in custody in the guard- 

 house a man who was captured in possession of the scalps of five. 



I made a pretty thorough tour of their range in October last, and saw 

 very few signs. I am sure that I have heretofore overestimated their 

 numbers. I doubt if there are over fifty remaining, and these will not 

 all winter in the Hayden Valley. They increase but slowly under the 

 best conditions, and here, where they are being constantly pursued and 

 where the winters are very severe, but small increase can be looked for. 

 Of course, the stockade recently erected will be a great assistance in 

 their protection, if they can be secured within it. 



All of the animals in the park are protected properly and are increas- 

 ing, toith the exception of the bison, and of these it is difficult to predict 

 as yet. 



There are now but seven of these animals in the National Park here, 

 and even these are a relatively considerable part of the extremely small 

 pure-blooded stock which represents the vanished herds which once 

 covered this continent. An illustration of the head of one of them is 

 given herewith. The present value of such animals being over $1,000, 

 the value of these remaining 50 buffaloes in the "Yellowstone is then over 

 $50,000. If so much national property can be saved by the appropri- 

 ation of one-tenth of that amount, should not this be done on the 

 ground of economy alone; and if, by spending on their transportation 

 little more than the expense of shipping a few carloads of beef cattle, 

 these bison may be saved from extinction, is it not worth while 1 ? 



The threatened decrease of the collection of animals in the park is 

 a constant source of anxiety. As under the existing appropriations 

 no purchases can be made, recourse is naturally had to the preserves 

 in the Yellowstone Park, from which a number of valuable animals 

 have already been obtained. 



The number of persons that avail themselves of the advantages of the 

 park increases year by year, and it seems proper that more adequate 

 provision should be made for the collection than now exists. New 

 buildings suitable for special classes of animals are especially desirable. 

 A suitable elephant house should be built without delay, also an aviary 

 for the accommodation of both native and foreign birds. The property 

 yard, in which are included a blacksmith's and a carpenter's shop, should 

 be removed from the site it now occupies to some less conspicuous 

 location. The following appropriation was made in the District act of 

 August 7, 1894: 



For continuing the construction of the Eock Creek intercepting sewer, 

 twenty thousand dollars : Provided, That the Commissioners of the 

 District of Columbia are authorized to enter into contract for said work 



