Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 December 1895 — GAME IN THE BIG PARK. [ARTICLE]

GAME IN THE BIG PARK.

An Increase All Around Exceptln the Case of the Bnflalo. Superintendent Huntley, of the Yellowstone Park Company, says in reference to the tourist season which has just closed: “We had a fairly good season this year. It was much better than the last two years .but not as good as in 1800, 1891 and 1892. Last year we were handicapped by the strike on the Northern Pacific aud washouts, and in 1893 park business suffered from the panic. The business was simply ruined iu those two years. The people are each year appreciating more aud more this wonderful region. More residents of Montana visited the park this season than any previous year. There were ten times as many Montanians who visited the park this season as in any former year. "The weather in the park has been bettr this month than in September. There is no snow there, except, perhaps, high in the mountains, aud the roads are in tjne condition. The roads, iu fact, are in better shape than they, have ever been. “The road appropriation amounted to $30,000. Besides this was $20,000 remaining from last year. Every ceut of this has been expended. There are 175 miles of stage road iu the park, and the work of keeping them in order is a big undertaking. The appropriation of $30,000 is not large euough. Two hundred miles of new road art* needed. Congress should make an appropriation of SIOO,OOO a year for park roads. It would take even a greater sum than that to build the two hundred miles of highways needed. “All large game in the park, except, buffalo, is Increasing fast. There is still a small herd of buffalo in the park, but it is a constant temptation to the unprincipled hunter. A buffalo head is said to be worth from S3OO to SSOO. The troops give them all the protection they can. hut once in a while some daring pot hunter gets off with a hide and head. In no place in the country is fishing better than in the park. Seven years ago the government commenced stocking the streams of Wonderland, aud now all afford excellent sport with the rod. Three varieties of trout have been furnished from the government hatcheries—the rainbow, the Von Baer and Loch Leven. The latter is the gamiest trout in the world. The. Fire Hole river was stocked largely with that variety, ,and four-pounders have been taken from it this summer. Some of the small lakes were stocked with black bass, but bass fishing will not be allowed for a year or two longer.

"Next year is expected b> be a big one. We look for many from the section reached by the Burlington. The road opens a new section of country to Montana, and its benefits were felt in the park this year. The hotels were better kept this season than ever before. although the rates were reduced twenty-five per cent. It will not be many years before the Graud Canon, the geysers, springs and wonders of the Yellowstone Park will be visited and appreciated by tens of thousands of people yearly.”