Return of the Buffalo

Return of the Buffalo By Frank C. Steele

The buffalo is coming back. They are increasing, under wise government protection, to such an extent that it is even suggested that they may have a future in supplying food to at least a part of the continent's population, for it has been shown that buffalo meat is palatable and sustaining. The passing of the buffalo is one of the tragedies of man's conquest of the New World. This noble American quadruped, the finest of our native animals, one time roamed in millions over this western country. Once common as far east as the state of New York, its chief ranges were on the western plains. It traveled as far north as Great Slave Lake, in Northern Canada, and as far south as Texas and northeastern Mexico. The Indians found herds of buffalo a source of food and clothing, and slaughtered them without thought of anything but their immediate needs and the savage joy of destruction. It remained for civilized men, however, to finish this wanton destruction. The white man took up buffalo-hunting with the purpose of moneymaking, thus sealing the doom of the creature. George Catlin, the eminent authority on the Western Indian tribes, in 1840, thought from the number of robes marketed, that the slaughter of buffalo must have been from two to three million a year. In 1866 the construction of the Union Pacific Railway, crossing the continent, brought in many additional hunters. This marked the division of the original herd into two. The southern herd, thought to have contained some three million animals, had practically ceased to exist in 1875. The northern herd survived until 1883. The last shipment of hides was made from North Dakota, in 1884. Never, says Dr. W. T. Hornaday, director of the New York Zoological Park, was the destruction of an animal so completely brought about. By 1889 there were left in the United States and in Canada, it was estimated, between 1500 and 1600 buffalo, some under government protection, and a few running wild in the northern part of western Canada. Both the governments of the United States and of Canada took steps to preserve these remnants. Had these safeguards not been made it is not unlikely that the monarch of the plains soon would have become an extinct race. In 1907 the Canadian

RETURN OF THE BUFFALO 253

government bought a private herd in the United States and had it removed to a 160-acre park in Wainwright, Alberta. The herd placed on this reserve numbered 700. In 1919 it had increased to 3,700. Last year substantial additional gains were made. In

the United States at the beginning of last year there were protected or wild some 3,100 head. Thus, it will be seen that the buffalo is returning. It is in its native territory; is hardy; and if there is a purpose to be served, the increase would be greater. Buffalo meat is wholesome, and in future years, it may form a regular article of diet on the American table. The future development and increase of the buffalo will be decided on economic considerations. Raymond, Alta, Canada

of the most remarkable organizations for boys in the world is One at known as the Whitney Boys' Chorus, managed and directed Seattle, every one an by Professor Whitney. The chorus consists of 1,000 boys, abstainer from tobacco. Some of them make anti-tobacco talks from time to time, frequently to adult audiences. It is the practically unanimous statement of police officers throughout the country that the arrest of a

Boy Scout, on any charge, is almost an unheard of thing. The Boy Scout who is true to his obligation does not smoke.— Will H. Brown, Oakland, Cal.