PROTECT THE GAME IN YELLOWSTONE PARK. 427 



AMATEUR PHOTO BY L R. FREEMAr. 



RESTING AFTER A LONG RUN. 



needs increase its gains by cutting hay and 

 pasturing its horses in the 2 or 3 large val- 

 leys that are best adapted for feeding 

 grounds for the game. When called to ac- 

 count by the acting superintendent the 

 Company has calmly sought refuge behind 

 the political influence of certain of its 

 members in Washington, and dared the 

 Park authorities to do their worst. When 

 the time for the annual appropriation comes 

 around the wheels are again set to work ; 

 and with what result? An appropriation 

 of $113,000 for roads, to be maintained 

 by the government and used for the profit 

 of the Transportation Company, and $5,000 

 to protect the game. This $5,000 has to 

 provide for the salaries of 2 scouts and 



the clerk of the Interior Department; for 

 any hay that may be bought for animals 

 in captivity; and for contingencies aris- 

 ing that can in any way be laid at the door 

 of protection. Last year the expense of 

 fighting a large fire near Shoshone lake 

 would have caused a deficit had not the 

 constructing engineer, Captain Chittenden, 

 generously come to the aid of the fighters 

 with a force of men from the road gang, 

 thus saving the expense of hiring men from 

 a distance to assist in the work. 



Still, not satisfied with driving the game 

 from the valleys and turning legislation to 

 its own ends, the Transportation Company 

 has used its Washington influence to set 

 aside any and all who may oppose it, and 

 for the last 5 years has accomplished the 

 transferment of every acting superintendent 

 who did his duty and tried to check the 

 rapacity of the grasping corporation. To 

 the honor of Captains Anderson, Brown 

 and Goode be it said that with the certain- 

 ty of removal from one of the pleasantest 

 posts in America staring them in the face, 

 they unflinchingly enforced the laws where 

 they could, without fear or favor, and to 

 their persistent effort for protection, in the 

 face of insidious opposition, it is due, more 

 than to any other cause, that the wild ani- 

 mals of the Yellowstone are to-day, with 

 few exceptions, thriving and increasing. 

 Let us hope that in the near future our 

 Government, which has ever had the repu- 

 tation of rewarding its servants who do 

 their duty, may awaken to a realization of 

 the true situation and aid, rather than 

 retard, the enforcement of its own laws. 



The most serious effect of the hay cut- 

 ting is the driving of the buffalo from 

 their old home in Hayden valley. The last 

 winter's count of the buffalo gave only 8 

 cows, 5 bulls and 5 calves, with traces of 

 but 2 or 3 more. 



The bison is the only species of game 

 that is on the decrease ; and this decrease, 

 it is confidently expected, will be checked 



AMATEUR PHOTO BY E R. FISHCl, 



A GOODLY BUNCH OF MULE DEER. 



