248 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[April 19, 1888. 



THE YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. 



Mr. Plumb — I have heretofore presented some 

 petitions headed "The Protection of the Yellowstone 

 National Park." They have evidently heen gotten up by 

 some central authority and circulated for signatures. I 

 have now a letter from a gentleman living in Kansas, 

 written at the foot of one of these petitions, which I will 

 take the liberty of reading in order that the matter may 

 be understood. 



OhAntjte, Kan., April 7, 1888.— Hob. P. B. Plumb: Above re- 

 ceived from some unknown source. 1 do not know the provisions 

 of Senate bill 233 referred to, but by a sojourn in the Park last 

 summer a different state of affairs presented itself than repre- 

 sented above as to the unprotected condition of the Park, and the 

 dangers to its forests, game and natural wonders. The strict 

 rules of the Interior Department for the protection of the Park 

 and game, appear to be rigidly adhered to, a conspicuous por- 

 tion of the United States Army being suggestive of the advisabil- 

 ity of doing so, if nothing else. As to danger to visitors from 

 "lawless criminal acts," such a fear would scarcely occur to tbe 

 most timid. Yours truly, L. L. Baii/bt. 



The gentleman is entirely respectable and highly in- 

 telligent. I have no doubt that this movement for elab- 

 orate laws to regulate the Yellowstone National Park has 

 ha 1 its foundation in some personal purpose. I ask that 

 the petition which I present be referred. 



The President pro tempore — The bill having been 

 parsed, the petition will lie on the table. 



Mr. Vest — I wish to say a word in answer to the Sena- 

 tor from Kansas. He is mistaken. I was in the Yellow- 

 stone National Park, as were other Senators, last sum- 

 mer, and the bill which has passed the Senate simply 

 meets a great necessity. It simply meets a condition of 

 affairs which is anomalous, and found nowhere else in 

 this country. 



Mr. Chace — We cannot hear the Senator from Mis- 

 souri on this side. I am very desirous of hearing what 

 he says. 



Mr. Vest — I say the bill which passed the Senate was 

 simply intended to meet a great necessity, a necessity 

 growing out of an anomalous condition of affairs in the 

 Yellowstone National Park at this time. 



There is one conpany of troops stationed in the Park, 

 sent there by the Secretary of War upon the request, of 

 the Secretary of the Interior. I was myself opposed to 

 any military government in the Park, and resisted it to 

 the full extent of my influence and power; but Congress 

 deemed it proper not to adopt my view of the case, and 

 the result has been the sending of a company of soldiers 

 there to preserve peace and order. 



I am happy to Fay here in the most public manner, as 

 I have stated to the authorities before by written commu- 

 nication, that I was most agreeably disappointed to rind 

 that the Park was in admirable condition so far as police 

 regulation was concerned, growing in a large degree out 

 of the fact that the present officer in command, Captain 

 Harris, is singularly adapted to the duties of his position, 

 and is a gentleman of intelligence and justice and high 

 character. 



But while the military are there for the purpose of pre- 

 serving order, there is no civil law whatever administered 

 in the Park. It is not under the jurisdiction of Wyoming. 

 There are no laws of the United States which protect 

 property or life there. Murders have been committed in 

 the Park, criminals arrested and placed in the jails of 

 Wyoming and Montana, but under habeas corpus they 

 were turned loose by the courts because there could be no 

 punishment for such crimes. 



The bill which has passed the Senate simply provides 

 for the appointment of a commissioner whose duty it 

 shall be, when information of crime having been com- 

 mitted is lodged with him, to act as an examining officer, 

 while at the same time he has a small jurisdiction over 

 misdemeanors, violations of the rules of the Secretary, 

 and offenses of that class. Where a felony is committed, 

 his only duty is to examine, and if he find probable cause, 

 as in the case of other examinations of that character, he 

 sends the criminal on for trial to the courts of Wyoming 

 Territory. 



I do not know where the petition came from to which 

 the Senator from Kansas refers. I do not know from 

 what source it emanates, but I want distinctly to affirm, 

 of my personal knowledge, that the bill which passed the 

 Senate, and which I drew myself, but which was reported 

 from the Committee on Territories of which I am not a 

 member, had no personal object, and could not possibly 

 have had any. 



Mr. Plumb — It was not necessary for the Senator from 

 Missouri to disclaim any personal purpose in drawing the 

 bill, although I did not know at the moment that he was 

 the author of it. I heard the authorship ascribed to the 

 late Chief Justice of the United States. 



Mr. Vest— Oh, no; he had nothing to do with it. I 

 wrote every line of it. 



Mr. Plumb — I do not know that the Chief-Justice him- 

 self, if he were alive, would care to make any pretension 

 upon that subject; but what I referred to was the fact 

 that printed petitions were sent all over the country, 

 printed by somebody, and presumably by somebody who 

 had sufficient personal interest in it to warrant the ex- 

 penditure of money, and I wanted to put opposite to and 

 in contradistinction to those petitions, which I myself 

 have presented when they have been sent to me, the 

 statement of a thoroughly reliable and intelligent man in 

 regard to the condition of things existing in the Park. 



I myself was not in favor of the legislation passed by 

 the Senate, but I did not care to oppose it, because the 

 disposition to get on to every subject about which we can 

 legislate is too overwhelming; and to have a little princi- 

 pality up there which can only get its laws from the 

 Federal Government, and whose every official must be 

 appointed by the President of the United States, possesses 

 undoubtedly very attractive features. They are not at- 

 tractive to me, but I am speaking of the average legis- 

 lator. We are seeking all the while, as I think, to get 

 hold of objects of legislation of that kind, and I look upon 

 this as substantially one of them. 



I, of course, impute motives to nobody, but I have 

 brought this matter to the attention of the Senate simply 

 to say that there was somewhere in this country an in- 

 terest sufficiently powerful to induce people to spend 

 money and to print petitions and send them all over the 

 country about a matter which I supposed was, and which 

 ought to be, a public matter. 



Mr. Vest — The Senator will permit me to make one 

 observation and I am done as to a discussion of the matter 

 of legislation. At any time in which that could occur, I 

 have always been ready to discuss it with the Senator 

 from Kansas or any one else, here or anywhere, but I 



want to say in regard to these petitions that I have no 

 doubt they come from the most disinterested motives, 

 from gun clubs and other sources of that sort throughout 

 the country. I have received letters from persons whom 

 I do not know at all, in which they express great interest 

 in the Park, and I think that any gentleman who has 

 ever visited it will not be surprised that that interest 

 exists. 



Mr. Dawes — I should like to ask if the Senator from 

 Kansas pref ers or proposes to surrender that Park to the 

 public domain. If he does, that is a fair question and an 

 issue which has been already decided arid disposed of. 

 If not, does he propose to keep it up and preserve it; and 

 if he proposes to preserve it does he propose to adopt 

 such measures as will bring about that result? Two or 

 three such questions as that answered will settle this 

 question. So far as these petitions are concerned, I have 

 a number of them in my committee-room from the towns 

 of Massachusetts, and I am glad to know that all over 

 this country there is an interest being awakened and 

 preserved that will keep its eye upon this National Park. 

 For one, I am in favor of its preservation; I am in favor 

 of all such proper means and measures as will secure its 

 preservation. 



Mr. Plumb — I did not know that my opinion was of 

 any great importance, but the Senator from Massachusetts 

 seems to think that the existence and maintenance of that 

 Park may depend upon my opinion on the subject. 

 Therefore I am perfectly willing to say in this most 

 solemn manner, befitting the solemn character of the in- 

 terrogatories which have been propounded to me, that I 

 am in favor of maintaining the Park. This statement 

 ought to settle that point at all events. 



The President pro tempore— The petition will lie on 

 the table. — Congressional Record, April 11. 



Jefferson, April 1— Editor Forest and Stream: While 

 the number of signers is not large, their character and 

 standing will carry weight, and they fully and fairlv 

 represent the sense of this community. Most of them 

 are personally known to both Senator Allison and Con- 

 gressman Holmes and will, I believe, have greater in- 

 fluence with them than a larger number of promiscuous 

 names. Sincerely hoping that your efforts in the matter 

 may receive a suitable reward in the prompt passage of 

 the bill by Congress, I am, M. E. Hall. 



Cooperstown, N. Y., April 9.— Editor Forest and 

 Stream: For the first time in my life undertaking such 

 work, at 64 years of age, and in the midst of a pouring 

 rainstorm, I yesterday circulated the Yellowstone Park 

 petition, obtaining the names of all our principal citizens. 

 The original subscription is sent to Washington, with as 

 earnest words in its behalf as I am able to command. 

 Thanking you heartily for your public spirited endeavor, 

 and wishing it complete success. — Elihu Phinney. 



Marion, O., April 7.— Editor Forest and Stream: I 

 have had the papers signed by some of our most promi- 

 nent citizens and county officials and have sent them to 

 the Hon. W. C, Cooper, M.C., from this Congressional 

 District. I could have procured the names of several 

 hundred persons, and every one I spoke to seemed to be 

 interested in the matter, but I had not the time. — Will- 

 iam Fies, Capt. Marion Gun Club. 



Buffalo, N. Y.— Editor Forest and Stream: Many 

 thanks for the Park petition you sent me. And I now 

 inclose a copy of the signatures which I secured for it, 

 representing, as they do, some of our most prominent 

 men, who are aware of the fact that something should be 

 done at once for the protection of the Yellowstone Na- 

 tional Park.— Edwin L. French. 



Dillin gees ville , Pa. — Editor Forest and Stream: In- 

 closed please find list of signers. All whom I have asked 

 have signed willingly. Remember, most of these signers 

 are men who do no hunting, but consider the Park should 

 be protected and the petition signed by all the American 

 people. What large game and forests are left should be 

 protected.— L. W. Mazurie. 



Millview, Pa., April 9.— Editor Forest and Stream: 

 As I think the National Park ought to be preserved by 

 the United States of America, I will, if you will send me 

 one of your petitions for that purpose, get as many sub- 

 scribers as I can and then I will forward it to our repre- 

 sentative at Washington.— F. N. Molyneaux. 



Milwaukee, Wis., April 6.— Editor Forest and Stream: 

 If I had time to swing around the circle of my friendship, 

 I could send you a list almost as large as a city directory. 

 Everybody is in favor of protecting the Park and the 

 hunted game.— Julius Bleyer. 



YELLOWSTONE PARK ROADS. 



WHEN Capt. Dan Kingman, for several years the effi- 

 cient Engineer officer in charge of the Park, made 

 his estimates in 1886 of the sums required for continuing 

 his work on the roads and bridges, he asked for $150,000, 

 but only $20,000 was allowed him. Captain Sears, U. S. 

 Engineer, at present in charge of the improvement of the 

 Park, in his report dated July 20, 1887, renewed this esti- 

 mate, deducting from it, however, the sum already 

 granted, making $130,000 in all. He proposes with that 

 sum to accomplish the following improvements: 



To build a road from the Upper Geyser Basin over the 

 Continental Divide to tne mouth of the Yellowstone 



River, via the West Arm of the lake, 30 miles $40,000 



To improve and complete the present road from the lake 



along the river to the Grand Cafion, H miles 10,000 



To build a new road from the Grand Cafion to Yancey's, 



20 miles 30,000 



To improve and complete the present rough road from 



Yancey's to the Mammoth Hot Springs, 18 miles 20,000 



For general repairs of existing roads 20,000 



For portable steam saw mill 3,000 



For portable rock crusher 2,000 



Buildings, etc., for employees 5,000 



$130,000 



Captain Sears will, it is hoped, receive a more liberal 

 appropriation at this session of Congress than he did 

 from the last. 



SMALL RIFLES FOR DEER. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Apropos of Mr. Zimmerman's article in your paper some 

 weeks sin^e, I will give a bit of my experience with a 

 Winchester 32 cal. model of 73. I purchased this gun 

 with no intention of using it for anything but small game 

 shooting and practice. After some experiments, however, 

 I determined to try it on deer. 



On going to the mountains last fall, notwithstanding 

 the advice of my friends to take "something I could stop 

 a deer with,'' I took my .82, and with it killed seven deer, 

 and I came down from the mountains with the pleasant 

 reflection that I had sent no animal into the thicket to die 

 of wounds. Of course, I used some discretion as to dis- 

 tance and positions of game. I never opened on deer 

 running at two or three hundred yards, or even one hun- 

 dred, i killed two running deer while out, one at twenty- 

 five or thirty yards running at right angles, and one at 

 sixty yards running quartering. Both were killed out- 

 right with one shot, the other one running about one 

 thousand yards before I came up with it, to find it dead. 

 My longest shot was two hundred steps at a walking deer; 

 she went about fifty steps and laid down, when a bullet 

 through the head finished her. 



One deer that I shot high at 110 steps, was hit in the 

 spinal column over the shoulder. I was kneeling when 

 I shot, and the ball ranged upward through the right 

 shoulder blade in the thin part and crushed one section 

 of the backbone into small pieces. This ball did not pass 

 out, and was the only one which lodged in the body of 

 gftry animal shot. All but two of my deer were shot 

 through the shouldtr, the balls passing through both 

 blades when shot in the lungs, and through at least one 

 bone when shot in the heart or its region. Parties hunt- 

 ing with me who were using Winchester .44-cal. and 

 Marlin .45-10, were astonished at the Work of the little 

 cartridge. So was I, for I had so far deferred to the 

 opinions of hunters more experienced than myself as to 

 take a larger gun with me, but I never used it. I will 

 state that I still hunt exclusively, and though the field 

 where I hunted is within eighteen miles of this post and 

 is much frequented by hunters, so that the game was 

 reasonably wild, it will be seen from distances given 

 above that it is possible to approach wild game to within 

 distances from which it can be killed with a small bullet. 



I use the Lyman sights, and for all light on both stand- 

 ing and moving game find them very satisfactory. I 

 shall, if I live, take the little gun into the mountains the 

 coming fall, feeling satisfied that with proper handling 

 it will answer every purpose, save for dangerous game. 

 I see no necessity for reducing the powder charge for 

 short distances or small game. I reload the Winchester 

 shell and find my ammunition cheap enough, and the gun 

 works well on small same with the 70grs. charge of 

 powder. I think it a better all round gun than the .44 

 Winchester, as the ammunition is lighter, and, so far as 

 my experience goes, just as efficient. I think, however, 

 if I were choosing a .32-cal. gun now, I would prefer the 

 Marlin .82-40-165, both because the cartridge is heavier 

 and the shell is more easily employed for a reduced pow- 

 der charge and being straight. J. A. P. 



Northern California. 



SMALL-BORE GUNS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I have devoted much time in past years in experiment- 

 ing with shotguns, and I am convinced of the superiority 

 of the small gauges, and use them for hi nting for all 

 game from wild turkey down, and for deer. A small 

 gauge, provided it is not chokebored and has long 

 enough barrels, shoots much stronger than a 10-bore. By 

 small gauge I mean 1G, 18 and 20gauges. The 16 gauge 

 shoots coarse shot better than shot as fine as No. 8 or 10. 

 The small bores, with their small charges of powder, de- 

 velop greater power than large charges in a 10 bore. I 

 have done much better shooting with a 16 gauge, SfjjTS. 

 of powder, than a 10-bore .with 5drs. powder. To choke 

 a small bore spoils it. Chokebores do not do well with 

 coarse shot. The larger the shot the poorer will the 

 chokebore shoot. I have for years, in trying guns, dis- 

 carded the regulation 40vds. and test all guns at 60yds. 

 It is at this distance, with No. 4 or No. 3 shot (or larger), 

 that the cylindrical- bored 16-gauge, with long barrels, 

 will bpat badly the fashionable 10-bore choke. But 

 2|drs. of powder must be used (at most 3drs.) in the 16- 

 bore. 



It takes more force to throw a handful of fine sand a 

 long distance, than it does a handful of coarse gravel, 

 and this is the reason the 10-bore needs the heavy charges 

 of powder to propel the fine No. 8 or 10 shot, and coarse 

 shot cannot be used to advantage with the large powder 

 charges necessary in a 10-bore gun. 36in. barrels are 

 better for a 16-gauge than 30in. With practice, as quick 

 shooting flying can be done as with shorter barrels, and 

 the patt rn and penetration out of a 36in., 16 or 20-gauge 

 cylinder bore gun at 60yds. would surprise those who are 

 only used to 10-gauge chokebores. I repeat it is a great 

 error to choke a small-gauge gun. The lollowing shows 

 well what choking does to a 16-gauge gun. The two 

 guns were both 16-gouges, one cylinder bore, the other 

 choked. Distance 60yds., target 6x4 inches, charge the 

 same in both guns, 2£drs. of powder, ljoz. of No. 4 shot : 

 Cylinder bore put 4 shot in target, chokebore 2. The pene- 

 trati:n of cylinder bore about 1 1 per cent, better than 

 choke. Chokebores shoot buckshot very badly, which is 

 another advantage for the cylinder bore. As I wrote to 

 the Forest and Stream several years ago, I knew a 

 deer to be killed dead at HOyds.with a 24-giuge muzzla- 

 loader, and a Rocky mountain wildcat at 6oyds., with a 

 20-gauge. 40in. barrels shoot even better than 86in., but 

 for shooting flying, most men would find from 34 to 3. in. 

 handier. 



I have often had wild turkey drop dead (flying from 

 the tops of high trees), at from 60 to 65 and once 70yds., 

 with a 16-gauge, loaded with BB. These distances were 

 measured each time. I wish Forest and Stream would 

 hold a trial of 10, 16 and 20 gauge?; it would take less 

 time and money than the celebrated rifle trajectory tests. 

 But to get the best results from the small bores, cylinder 

 bores must be used, coarse shot, and the longer the bar- 

 rels the better. I find No. 6 shot shoots close enough in 

 my gun for snipe, and I do not use smaller shot. Why 

 should I, when the gun, a cylinder bore, 16-gauge, puts 

 twenty-one No. 6 shot in a book 9x5in. at 40yds.? The 

 poor wing-shot does not like the small bore, as you have 

 to hold right oa the bird and can't trust to the scattering 



