814 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



LDec. 15, 1883. 



"A STANDING MENACE. 



Cooke City vs. the National Park. 



WASHrNGTON, D, C, Nov. 28, 1892. 

 Editor Forest and Stream: 



I have read with intf rest the staterQent regarding rail- 

 roads in the Yellowstone Park. The views there ex- 

 pressed meet with my concurrence, and I am pleased to 

 see such a thorough exposition of the subject. I have 

 always believed that if Congress gave to one railroad 

 company the permission admitting it within the Park, 

 the stej) would entail the granting of similar privileges 

 to otber corporations and thus amount practically to the 

 abandonment of the original act, by which the Park 

 was dedicated for the benefit of the whole people and 

 set apart to be free from private appropriation. This 

 opinion is shared by all those who have had ofHcial re- 

 lations with the reservation, and by every orte who has 

 investigated the subject from a disinterested standpoint- 

 It seems to me that when Congress fully understands 

 the nature of the c=ise,'they will realize the importance 

 of preserving the Park free from corporate intrusion, 

 and I think the paper you publish especially valuable 

 as showing there is no necessity for making a sacrifice. 



Yours truly, W. Hallett Phillips. 



hold snow, and by allowing it to melt gradually it tends 

 to prevent freshets and subsequent periods of very low 

 water. Thus it is a direct benefit to agriculture and 

 navigation in the lower valley. If this region is de-for- 

 ested, as it undoubtedly will be in time if it is removed 

 from the Park and delivered to the railroad, the violence 

 of the freshets will certainly increase, and the whole val- 

 ley will suffer accordingly. 



No one who has ever visited Yellowstone Park can fail 

 to appreciate the wisdom that dedicated it to its present 

 uses, or can doubt that it is destined to a great and valu- 

 able future. 



It is not too much to say that if the Park can be pre- 

 served as it now is, subject only to such slight changes 

 as are necessary to secure good roads and trails through 

 it, and proper hotels to insure the comfort of its visitors, 

 it will in time become a health and pleasure resort uti- 

 equaled in the whole world. Its maintenance is of more 

 than national importance ; it is an object of direct per- 

 sonal interest, now and in time to come, to travelers and 

 scientists the world over. 



It is to be sincerely hoped that the disinterested care, 

 wisdom and patriotism, which has established and main- 

 tained thus far this truly national Park, will be adequate 

 to protect it in the future. Very truly yours, 



Dan C. Kingman, 

 Capt. of Engineers, U. S. A. 



Sile's big three-seated wagon, he proposing to drive 

 over to the old Homestead, his father's place, some three 

 miles back, where "rabbits were thicker than hairs on a 

 dog." We found Lot Howell ready for us. He is an old 

 grouse and rabbit shot of that neighborhood. Having 

 been brought up there of course he and Sile knew just 

 where every hare lived— that is, they would if there 

 hadn't been so many of them, I don"t know how old Lot 

 H. and his wife are, but they are mighty spry and 

 young looking to have the six-footer, Silas, as a son, and 

 more, I am told, of like kinds. Lot having let loose his 

 black and tan we were off up the sidehill, "We struck 

 nothing until we reached the top, which had been cleared 

 of the larger timber, and a growth of younger scions had 

 started. Here the music commenced. Whew! all the 

 dogs sounding, and five or six rabbits were on the jump 

 in as many different directions. First blood for Tucker, 

 to be soon followed by Lot; then one for Sopher; then 

 Jacobstaff, though somewhat blown coming up the steep 

 hillside, had a shot at a little fellow scudding off by him- 

 self on his side. 



The hounds up that way are what we used to call fox- 

 hounds when we were boys. They ran the little hares 

 too fast, and are apt to hole them a short distance from 

 where they are started. But there are so many of the 

 little fellows that though often more than one is started, 

 only one perhaps is followed ; and when it is holed in a 

 stump or stone heap the dogs train it and take a fresh 

 track. With an old beagle hound properly broken, we 

 believe that an old man, though rheumatic and somewhat 

 broken down, if he had the fever on, could renew his 

 age. Because it is a fact well known of these little fel- 

 lows that if pursued slowly by the hound they will do 

 considerable play as long as they are sure of keeping 

 ahead, and are certain to get around in time to the very 

 place they were started from. We have known the 

 larger Lepua arctieus— thai changes his coat when the 

 snow flies — to keep on his circle many times around un- 

 til killed. 



There were some comical episodes. Many misses and 

 some good shots, notably one by Fackert at a cock grouse 

 sailing through the tops" of the swamp trees. We think 

 he was as much astonished as the grouse when it tumbled. 

 The day had been growing darker. The wind grew damp 

 and cutting. We started for the house, but the rain and 

 sleet got us before we reached it. "Jacobstaff" knew 

 what he was talking about. We tarried not at the Home- 

 stead when we were urged to stay to dinner, and only 

 were let off by the promise to come again and give the 

 old family farm a shake up. 



It takes all kinds of people, they say, to make up this 

 world's inhabitants. That follows good in Morris county. 

 We were crossing an orchard, when a hare jumped up 

 "forninst us:" we fired just as he reached a rail fence 

 built over a row of stones separating the orchard from 

 another orchard similar in size. We jumped over the 

 fence and were looking for blood or sign of a hit, when 

 we were aroused by what at first resembled the bellowing 

 of a wild bull. Upon looking up we discovered a big 

 red-faced and red-haired specimen of the male gender 

 with flashing eyes and huge fists doubled. "Get out of 

 this lot. Get over that fence. You have no right to 

 shoot here. I'll have the law. on you. Get out." We 

 tried to reason with the blonde maniac, saying we had 

 not shot on his grounds, that we did not mean to intrude, 

 etc., and much more in a pleasant manner; but the boor 

 wouldn't have it. "You are trespassing anyhow, an' I'll sue 

 you for that. Get over that fence this minute. We don't 

 like to be talked to that way, though we may have been 

 in the wrong, and we informed the infuriated land owner 

 that in order to arrest us for trespass he would have to 

 get a warrant from some judge or justice of the peace, 

 and by the time that was accomplished we proposed to 

 be in another county, perh^ips another State ; and as for 

 jumping right back over that fence at once, we could not 

 think of it. We thought at first that he was going to try 

 it on us vi et armis, but he seemed to think better of it; 

 but followed us along the whole length of his ground 

 filling the air with threats of what he would do. Bah ! 

 How different the treatment we received from the genial, 

 big-hearted Howells, at whose house we finally arrived 

 in a drenching rai.n, and where a big dinner of roast 

 chicken and other viands made us all right again. 



As it was necessary for Fackert to be home that even- 

 ing, and I had had enough, we asked Sile to drive us over 

 to Stanhope, while Sopher and Tucker stayed for another 

 day's sport. We had forgotten to say that we had been 

 joined that day by a Mr. John Spencer with his older 

 dog. John lives close by Howells and is a good shot, but 

 will be a better one when he gets a breechloader. 



When we were ready to start we proposed to eettle with 

 Mr, Silas for his trouble. He was indignant. We talked 

 to Mrs. H.,and she wouldn't have it. What kind of 

 people were these? Received us strangers with open 

 hearts and hands, gave us the very best they bad and 

 that good and in abundance, drove iis over the country 

 and then to our station out of the way, No use talking. 

 They said they were glad to see folks once in a while — 

 that they didn't keep a hotel, and it was not the time for 

 them to commence. 



We finally invited Sopber and Tucker and Spencer to 

 ride with us to Stanhope and see us off. We found on 

 arriving at the station that we had an hour to wait for a 

 train to Jersey City. Mr. George G. Boothney, proprie- 

 tor of the Mansion House, had a very promising beagle 

 hound that they were anxious we should see. We saw 

 it. Mr. B. is a shooter, also a good fellow. They were 

 all good fellows around Stanhope. We shook hands all 

 around several times. We got our train, but promised, 

 at least Fackert did, to Mrs. Howell's invitation to come 

 again. I think she was astonished as well as pleased to 

 see him appreciate those cakes. 

 Hare shooting in Morris county is not so bad. 



Jacobstaff. 



A New-Subscriber Offer. 



A bona fide new subscriber sending us $5 will receive for that 

 sum tlie FoKEST and Stream one year (price g4) aud a set of 

 Zimmerman's famous "Ducfeing Scenes" (advertised on another 

 page, price 85)— a $9 value for $5. 



This offei- is to neio subscribers only. ; it does not apply to 

 reneivals. 



For $3 a honaflde^ new subscriber for six mouths will receive the 

 Forest and Stream during that time and a copy of Dr. Van 

 leet's handsome works "Bifd J'ojfcraitQ fop tbe Yoijpg" (th© 



price of which is $3). 



U.S. Engineer Office, St. Paul, Minn,, Nov, 39, 1892, 

 Editor Forest and Stream: 



I have read your paper, "A Standing Menace," en- 

 closed with your letter of the 26 th, From a two years' 

 residence in the National Park, and a careful study of 

 the question discussed in this paper, I have no hesita- 

 tion in ."laying that its presentation of the case is sub- 

 stantially correct. There can be no doubt that the suc- 

 cess of either of the pending bills, or of any similar 

 measure, will work the ruin of the tourist routes in that 

 section of the Park, and the deptruction of the finest 

 game preserve in the world. Very truly yours, 

 Hiram M. (iiniTTEisbEN, 

 1st Lieut. Engineers, TJ. S, A. 



United States Civil Service Commission, ) 

 Washington, Dec. 5, 1892. f 

 Editor Forest and Stream: 



1 have just read the article "A Standing Menace." 

 printed in the Forest and Stream, in reference to the 

 attempts made to destroy the National Park in the inter- 

 ests of Cooke City. I heartily agree with this article. It 

 is of the utmost importance that the Park shall be kept 

 in its present form as a great forestry preserve and a 

 National pleasure ground, the like of which is not to be 

 found on any other continent than ours: and all public- 

 spirited Americans should join with Forest and Stream 

 in the effort to prevent the greed of a little group of spec- 

 ulators, careless of everything save their own selfish in- 

 terests, from doing the damage they threaten to the 

 whole people of the United States, by wrecking the Yel- 

 lowstone National Park. So far from having this Park 

 cut down it should be extended, and legislation adopted 

 which would enable the military authorities who now 

 have charge of it to administer it solely in the interests 

 of the whole public, and to punish in the most rigorous 

 way people who trespass upon it. The Yellowstone Park 

 is a park for the people, and the representatives of the 

 people should see that it is molested in no way. Very 

 truly yours, Theodore Roosevelt. 



Department of the Interior, 

 office of 



Sdperintendent Yellowstone National Park, 

 Mammoth Hot Sprinds, Wyo., Bo.o. 4, 1893. 

 Editor Forest and Stream: 



I have seen your article "Cooke City vs. The National 

 Park," and I heartily indorse every word of it. You have 

 clearly and unmistakably stated the facts in the case, 

 and nothing but the facts. It is very refreshing to think 

 that there are still left some friends of the Park to fisht 

 its battles. ^ 



It is right to emphasize the fact that it is Livingston 

 that wants the railroad to Cooke City. Cooke City would 

 be satisfied with a railroad connection in any direction, 

 but only the route through the Park suits Livingston. A 

 branch to Stillwater, to Red Lodge, or to some point on 

 the Burlington would give Cooke City better facilities: 

 but in that case Livingston would never handle a cent of 

 Cooke City trade, hence the lobby. 



Thanking you for the interest you have taken in the 

 matter, I am, very truly yours, 



Geo. S. Anderson, 

 Capt. 6th Cav., Acting Supt. Y. N. P. 



U, S. Engineer Office, Oswego, N. Y., Dec. 2, 1893 

 Editor Forest and SU'cum: 



I have read with great interest the article you sent me 

 entitled " A Standing Menace," and I heartily endorse all 

 that it contains. 



As you know, I was for four years in charge of the 

 construction of roads and bridges in the Yellowstone 

 Park, and was the first engineer engaged upon this work- 

 As such I prepared plans for the improvement of the 

 Park which were approved by the proper authorities, and 

 carried into execution by my successors. 



While engaged upon this work I carefully considered 

 all possible means of transportation in the Park and came 

 to the conclusion that the construction and operation of 

 railroads there, upon any pretext or for any purpose 

 could not fail to be a detriment and an injury to it. 



The alternative plan proposed of cutting off that por- 

 tion of the Park north of the Yellowstone River, is even 

 more objectionable than the railroad. The present 

 boundaries of the Park have been fixed and established 

 by law for more than twenty years. This alone ought to 

 make them forever permanent, and to change them now, 

 because they happen to interfere with somebody's selfish 

 plana would be a woefully bad precedent, and might 

 almost be said to interfere with the vested rights of the 

 people. ° 



The hundred and fifty thousand acres of land, in round 

 numbers which it is proposed to take from the Park for 

 the benefit of a few individuals, is almost valueless for 

 the purpose of grazmg or agriculture. But it lies upon 

 mountain sides, and forms a valuable and necessary part 

 o± the watershed of the Yellowstone River. Being high 

 and y^ell timbered, jt admirably adapted to catlh and I 



RABBIT SHOOTING IN MORRIS COUNTY. 



Having passed the milestone of more than three-score 

 years, many of them in the woods and fields of different 

 States, I thought I had put away my breechloader for a 

 younger "Jacobstaff" to handle, or to be taken out per- 

 sonally only for a place behind the blinds for the webf eet 

 or bay bii-ds. My last trip for grouse over the mountains 

 of Pocono only a season ago had settled the matter. My 

 grouse days were done. But when I was advised of a 

 pressing invitation from jolly George A. Sopher, a former 

 popular resident of Jersey City (now of Madison, N, ,J.), 

 to Mr. E. E. Fackert, the rotund and rollicking commo- 

 dore of the Dolphin Fishing Club, of Jersey City, to come 

 and bring ".Jacobstaff" for a day among the Mollie Cot- 

 tontails, how could I resist? 



We were promptly met at the station by George with 

 bis carryall. A drive of three miles brought us to the 

 residence of E. A. Tucker, a local shooter of the neigh- 

 borhood, who added not a little to the pleasure of the 

 trips. His mother— one^of those good old mothers we 

 read of, and all know— was ready for us and soon set 

 before us an appreciated breakfast. Then a drive of a 

 few hours through a diversified country brought us to 

 our destination, the domicile of Mr. Silas Howell, a well- 

 to-do farmer of Morris county, an ardent sportman and 

 a good shot. We were welcomed heartily by Mrs. H., 

 his wife, not to fail to mention the coming shooter, 

 Johnny H., a chip of the old tree, a bright little fellow, 

 and destined to wipe his father's eye some of these days. 

 Mrs. H., the good housewife, had matters ready for us 

 in shape of a hearty country dinner, but the boys were 

 impatient for sport, A hasty bite or two of bread and 

 butter with cold spare rib, a quaff of sweet cider fresh 

 from the mill, and then the hounds were let loosn and 

 we were off for the swale and hillside but a stone's throw 

 from the house. We crossed the cow lot back of the 

 barn, and the dogs had but just entered the outlying 

 copse, when with a whirr ! whirr ! whirr ! three of the 

 gamest birds in the world disappeared towards the hillside. 



Of course we were not looking for anything of that 

 kind there and then (often the case, you know), and were 

 too far behind for a shot anyway. Soon one of the dogs 

 gave tongue, joined in almost immediately by the other, 

 a pup that will show his stock and breeding one of these 

 days, and the woods were full of music. We separated, 

 scattering along near the outskirts of the thicket. Soon 

 a shot was heard, then another. "Ah, ha! Sopher, I 

 wiped your eye that time," A clean kill for Tucker after 

 George's hurried shot. Hold hard, here comes another, 

 to be neatly bowled over by Fackert. There goes another. 

 The woods are full of them. There is one for Sile. 

 another for Sopher, In the meantime, having proposed 

 to take things easy, I was up a stump, or rather on it. 

 Casting my eye down a wood road through the bushes, 

 I espied an old settler, a patriarch, we reckoned (as he 

 turned out by far the biggest killed in all the 

 time), leisurely hopping toward me, now and then 

 stopping and changing the position of his ears to 

 catch the fainter echoes of the hounds, then a 

 quarter of a mile up the hillside. To knock him over, 

 light my pipe and get back to my said stump was the 

 work of but a moment. Not very scientific nor sports- 

 manlike, some of our ardent young shooters may say. 

 Though we have not outspanned in Southern Africa and 

 potted elephants, nor followed the spoor of the giraffe and 

 others of the big ones in that region, we have had our 

 share among the. deer and with the bear of Wisconsin, 

 the grouse of the prairie and the thicket, the quail in the 

 copses and the snipe in the marshes. But those days are 

 passed. And as next best, we now in our sere and yellow 

 leaf enjoy the distant bay of the hound in the covert, 

 and as he turns our way the delicate patter of Lejms syl- 

 vaticus or areticns strikes our ear, and at the crack of our 

 gun he turns a somerset in the air, a little of the same 

 old thrill comes over us. Why not? 



A few more shots and more of the heavy fellows added 

 to the shooters' pockets, then the horn was sounded, and 

 as the sun was slowly sinking behind the stone barn we 

 wended our way to the house, all somewhat tired except 

 the writer; he could have maintained his position on that 

 stump another day if they would drive the game to him. 



After our ample supper, stories were told, pipes and 

 cider mugs emptied and we were off for bed. 



We were up betimes in the morning, and having been 

 informed by our worthy host that yesterday's page was 

 only a preface as it were to the main work, we built big 

 hopes for the coming bags. But, alas for human hopes. 

 Upon glancing out of the window eastward we saw that 

 old Sol was just trying to show his face, but it was in 

 clouds of red and gold. "Jacobstaff" is too old a traveler 

 not to know what that means. "You can shoot until 

 about noon, boys, but look out for rain or snow there- 

 after. Had those crimson and yellow streaks been a 

 legacy to us as the sun went down all would be bright 

 for the following day, but always remember that 'a gray 

 sky proclaims a hunting morning.'" "Pooh!" they all 

 ««>id, "no rain to-day." 



Breakfast wg-s soon disposed of and we were pi?Ott in 



