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Minutes of a me a.ting of the Executive Committee, held at the Players Club, Gramercy Park, Hew York, January 7th, 1902.
PresentMessrs. Wadsworth, Morris, Rogers, Grant and La Earge, and by invitation, Messrs.
Alden Sampson, D. M. Barringer and rrini hrop Chanler . Mr. Wadsworth in the Chair.
The minutes of the last' two meetings were read and ap pr o ve d.
The Secretary having proposed that amendments to the Constitution be recommended to the Club at its next annual meeting, separating the ofiices of Secretary and Treasurer, and prescribing that the Constitution may only
changed at the annual meetings, and upon due notice, on motion, duly seconded, it was
R E S 0 L V E D that the proposed amendments to
.
the Constitution be referred to the President and Secretaryj,
and that notices of them be sent out with the notices of
t he annu al me et ing •
* I
On motion, duly seconded, it' was
■
R E S 0 L v E L that the next annual meeting and
dinner be held in Washington, J). 0., and that' the matter of
the annual dinner be referred to the President and Secretary, with jjower , but' the date not to be earlier than the 25th instant.
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
On motion, duly seconded, it v/as R E S 0 1 V E R that the Chair appoint' a Committee of one to report to the Annual Meezting as to recornmendations for legislation to protect Alaskan game.
The Chair appointed Mr. Madison Grant.
Mr. Alden Sampson, Chairman of the sub-committee on national Game Refuges read a very thorough and interesting report of the work of his Committee, and on motion, duly seconded, it was
RESOLVED that the report of the Committee on Game Refuges be received with thanks, and that that. sub-Cornrnitfee: be continued, with power to take such steps as may be necessary to further the objects set forth in their report.
Adj ourned.
Seer a
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
To the Executive Committee of the Boone & Crockett Club.
REPORT of COMMITTEE on GAME REFUGES.
In the study of the problem of the creation of Game
Refuges, your committee soon arrived at the conclusion that it
*1
would for the present be advisable to confine on*r energies to the introduction of game refuges to the Government Timber Reserves, to take advantage of the Government’s co-operation in this matter, and to defer, until some future time, if we then feel so inclined, the creation, independently of the United States Government, of Game Refuges in the East, by state aid, by individual generosity, or by general subscription.
The Timber Reserves of the United States now amount to some 50,000,000 acres, distributed mainly through the Rocky Mountains, as shown by the accompanying map. To give an idea of the total extent of this tract, it may be said that collectively these 50,000,000 acres are equivalent to ^8,125 square miles, which, if put together, would form a tract 400 miles long by 195 miles wide, or as large as the state of Nebrasks
A*-/ <?>
The extant of these Timber Reserves will, in all probability, rapidly increase. We have only to glance at the history of their creation to be sure of this fact. The Timber Reserves of the United States were first established by the law of March 3d, 1891. From humble appropriations at the beginning they have reached their present colossal magnitude and fortunate popularity. At the time of their first creation, they excited great opposition throughout the country where they are situated, since the settlers
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
thereabout regarded any control of the government timber lands as an infringement of their hereditary and inalienable rights to cut timber in these lands, for domestic and incidentally for commercial purposes. (When my typewritten copy was returned to me I found that this read "incidentally for criminal purposes**, an inspired emendation which I am tempted to let stand.)
Since that time the local sentiment has totally changed, and the settlers now realise that the enlightened control of the timber lands by the Bureau of Forestry is for the advantage of the community as we11 as of the nation* Doubtless if uame Refuges a* ft created in these tracts, there will be a similar experience.
There will be opposition at the start, but when it is found that the scheme works out to the economic advantage of the region and of the individual settlers, the community will become reconciled to the idea, and we nay eventually count upon the support of the vsrv men who in the first olaoe offer the most violent opposition.
. .* j v
Your committee having concentrated their attention upon the creation of Refuges, turned over in their minds the problem of how to go to work. It seemed to them that the first thing was to collect for their own instruction as large a mass of trustworthy information as possible, in regard to the state of game in these timber reserves . To the accomplishment of this w*ans
tix, \:i
BaS^inger, Whitney and Sampson wrote letters to men in the vicinity of the great reserves who are familiar with the condition of ibime in those sections. ^he replies to those letters are attached to this report as an appendix. Also to this end they agreed to ask for definite reports from the various wardens
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
of the Reserves, and we bound ourselves to pay, when necessary, for these reports, and to ask the Club to pay for them if it saw fit. A request sent by Mr. Grinnell to our fellow member, Mr. Gifford Pinchot, the head of the United States Porestry Bureau, was promptly honored by him, and a. Bulletin was sent to the wardens of the various Reserves asking for the information desired. One of these is at hand,- a description of the Black Mesa Forest Reserve of Arizona and its Availability as a Game Reserve, by F. W. Nelson. I affix it as an appendix to this report, since it is almost an ideal example, for the consideration of members, of what such a x>aner should be. The first idea of the committee was to explain our purpose, and the advantages to be derived from it, to members of Congress in Washington, for the purpose of getting such bill or bills introduced in Congress as would accomplish the desired end,- perhaps at the start asking for the creation of Refuges in one or two of these Forest Reserves, and being guided by the way in which the establishment and working of these was received, before venturing to ask for more.
After further consideration, it was thought best to get a bill introduced providing for the creation of Game Refuges in all of the Timber Reserves, by which means it was hoped that we should accomplish our purpose before the community was alarmed and opposition was aroused and organized, or in other words, this beirsg a good work in itself, it was thought politic to give the world the benefit of it at the earliest possible moment.
Having reached this point we found that by the creation of a new "Bureau of Forestry" under the Agricultural Department, with
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
three Divisions to take the place of the former Division of
erf
Forestrv, the scope of all kindred matters was to he considerably
/V
enlarged, and that by a hill, about to he introduced in Congress, it is expected that the Forest Reserves will he transferred bodily from the care of the Secretary of the Interior, who now has their control, to the new Bureau of Forestry, under t.he Department of Agriculture, with Finchot at its head. In the bill providing for said transfer, it will he unostentalively ^ set forth that the care of the forests, and of the ferae naturae therein, shall he absolutely under the control of this Bureau, which shall have power to create such regulations as may he necessary for their protection, and for the punishment of any violations of these regulations. This vrutId make it possible for the Department to punish poachers and all who in any way interfere^ with the game on the Timber Reserves. At present the ownership of these lands by the United States is exactly the same as that by a private individual. The United States ownes the lands, hut it was decided, in the- case of the United States vs. Biasingame, by Judge Wellborn of the District Court of Southern California, that these lands are subject to the laws of the state in which they are situated, and that the United States has only the power to put a trespasser off their property, or to institute suit against him in the state courts. This was exactly the situation in the Yellowstone Park previous to the Law of May 1394. When I was there in 1893, Captain Anderson was at his wits1 end to devise means of punishing the men who were killing the buffalo. \11 that he could do was to put the offenders off the Reservation
-4- Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
with a caution and futile warning not to come hack, His final attempt at a solution of the problem was tc leave the offender in the guard house for a month •'awaiting trial* " by which* at any rate, the latter got a part of his desserts. This was disa.grae- able for the poacher but by no means serious. The most notorious offender was a certain Howell (affectionately spoken of by his neighbors as "Kd" Howell) who lived just west of Cinnabar. I saw him there in 1894* at which time he was running a smal3, livery stable, and openly made it his boast that he would kill and deliver any buffalo head and hide selected from those within the park, to anyone- who would pay him his price. Then the law of 1894 came to the relief of the situation* and the government acquired power to punish offenders. By the proposed bill the power to deal with offenders will vest in the Chief Bore star* and he will have funds to surround himself with a competent body of Rangers who will patrol the •'Reserve Refuges" end bring an offender to justice.
Doubtless, as I said, this scheme will meet with opposition in the west, from the men whose hunting in these tracts will be interfered with. In this connection I shall read you later various letters\from men there) #iieh carry weight and are entitled to care Ail consideration. Upon the whole, they consider the scheme a feasible one. Mr. T. S. VanDyke of Los Angeles, in particular, has sent us an admirable contribution in this regard.
The club is to be congratulated uxjon several circumstances which will greatly facilitate the accomplishment of its purpose.
Imprimis: Our well beloved fellow member* auctor
-5- Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
iliufitrlaslmus, Theodore Roosevelt, President of these United States, is v/ith us heart and soul. You all have read v/hat he
s tid in his message 4* this / regard. You will pardon me if I
\
refresh your recolLection by quoting the passage which especially touches our interests:
11 Certain of the forest reserves should also bo made preserves for toe wild forest creatures* AxX of the reserves should bo better protected from fires. Yany of them need special protection because of the great injury done by live stock, above all by 3heep. The increase in deer, elk, and otrier animals in the Yellowstone Park shows what may be expected when other mountain forests are properly protected by law and properly guarded. Some of these areas have been so denuded of surface vegetation by overgrazing that the ground-breeding birds, including grouse and quail,and many mammals, including deer, have been exterminated or driven away. At the same time the water- storing capacity of the surface has been decreased or destroyed, thus promoting floods in times of rain, and diminishing the flow of streams between rains.
”In cases vhe**e natural conditions have been restored for a farw years, vegetation has again carpeted the ground, birds and deer are coming back and hundreds of persons, especially from the immediate neighborhood, come each summer to enjoy the privilege of camping. Some at least of the forest reserves should afford perpetual protection for the native fauna and flora, safe havens of refuge to our rapidly diminishing wild animals of the larger kinds, and free camping-grounds for the ever increasing numbers
-6- Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
of men and women who have larned to find r*st, health, and recreation in the sxjlendid forests and flower-clad meadows of our mountains."
This, it seems to me, was admirably stated. Neither too much nor too little. Nothing therein to excite antagonism, yet a just and intelligent statement of exactly those conditions which we wish to see ultimately realized. To do whatever might be done in the way of the performance of that duty, delegated to this committee by the executive committee, Messrs. (rrinnell and Sampson recently called upon the President in Washington. We had no specific request to make. Our purpose was chiefly to ask his advice and to express to him the special interest which the club takes in this matter at this time, and to be guided by his judgment in the consideration of measures looking toward its accomplishment. If is needless to say that his reception was cordial. Pinohot was with us. We were for a moment the objects of innocent mirth when, with a characteristic waging of his hand, he expressed the regret that he should keep waiting "those three wild woode yonder.n Naturally people looked around
A
to see where our buckskin coats were. The President assured us
clX
that he would do ,/ha?/as in his power to pul the matter through, and that whatever we decided upon, he would "back us up" in its accomplishment.
He mentioned the fact that this part of his message had occasioned various pleasantries, owing to hie mention of the de- prs^fbtions of sheep in the forests, his critics taking the ground that, according to his statement, bears, and wolves, and the san-
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
quinary mountain 3.ion, the wild cat, the .lynx, and the oarcajou
-»y0>-q longer the marauders of the woods, hut the innocent sheep
and the termless^necessary goat. As your committee reminded
him, these woods, devastated and impoverished hy marauding sheep,
are hut- a type of what "organized im'oeoility" can accomplish.
c?econdly: Of those fortunate circumstances wnich * i 11
tend toward the accomplishment of what we wish, and one which is
of the utmost significance, is the new Bureau of forestry of
which I have spoken. Pinohot, who is United States Porester*
will do all in his power to make effective our desire, which is
a Is o his desire . 71 is ho pe d t hit C on gr ess wi 11 g iv e h im the
power to do this effectively. Our interests are identical with
his, in this respect that one of the great risks on the forest
lands is from fires lighted by careless hunters, and so long as
there are hunters on these lands, there will be "careless hunters",
the two things, I am sorry to say, are, in a vast number of cases,
synonymous. Van Dyke speaks of this. Therefore it becomes of
vital importance to the Department of forestry that hunters to a
certain degree should be kept out of the Reserves and game left
undisturbed. *'e are most fortunate in having this vast organized
Department with a man like Pinchot at its head, to combat the
1
inevitable opposition which this for a time will arouse. A Our ultimate hopes for the creation of Game Refuges in the Past are already in the way of realization. A bill is before Congress now for the creation of the Appalachian Park, a vast tract of 2,000,000 acres to be extended to 4,000,000 if Congress will permit, extending along the ridge of the Appalachian Chain, all the
-3- Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
way from virginia to Georgia. Congress is asked to appropriate ths sain of $5,000,000 for the purchase of these lands and later will be asked for another $5,000,000 in the House, ana $5,000,000 in the Senate. 7he important report incorporating a description
of the tract, with many vi e w s, is now in the hands of the public printer. If wi.l.l make a book of considerable, size and of great interest. Doubtless the creation of this Park will be but the rirst of many similar creations. It is desirable that each state which has wild and rugged lands not suitable for agriculture, should ha^e a tract where game suitable to the region might be introduced and remain unmolested. Hven the buffalo may be
restored in a measure and preserved fo *" pos verity. If will not ) )
be difficult to accomplish the creation of these Refuges, after it is once started. Jj»mds suitable for this purpose, in the Hast, are in private ownership. *ifhen if is once seen that the government has a fund available for the purchase of such tracts, which, commercially and industrially are practically worthless, or if not worthless, of slight value, the owners will be keen enougn to sell, and will importune their to the purchase
»eir congressmen zo urge - by the government of the is? particular lands^ Unless I am much
Z$A-w-v,
mistaken , so far as the ah• indance of ■>n ■ itre—-.> 11 ■ v 1 ah r.o- »1 ■ d-s
&, there will be an wftDaras de riche see, and another
^---------------------------------
generation will sea Game Refuges in the greater part of the states of the Union where rough and non-arable lands exist. Hew York state took the iniative in this matter, after California, which is, for a time, the Guardian of the Yosemite by the temporary cession by th? national government of the Yosenite ^alley State *
-Q- Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
*
ark to the f5tate of California.
'Tew York own r altogether nearly a million and a half acres of forest land, with game regulated and^pr oteotcfd therein. Pennsylvania owns a total of 400*000 acr3s and has recently made a large? appropriation for an accurate topographical map on a large scale, all in the way of enlightened management • These arc the two instances of state ownership of forest .lands of largest scale. Pesid.es these, Minnesota, owns 20,500 acres, mainly in the Itaska Park. This would ha^a been very much more extensive except for the interference of Minnesota Lumbermen. it was hoped at first to have no less than 8,000,000 ac^es set aside. This was defeated for the time by the lumber interest. Michigan owns r7f000 acres, and California 2,000 acres. Other states will doubtless follow their lead, and will eventually make these reserves, in whole or part, lame Refuges. The State of j La ina
/J'wt ,
particularly ought to have a Reserve embracing and the adjacent Lrsttrs-. ■
Thirdly: Of the circumstances which are favorable to the
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accomplishment of our purpose,^is the increasing interest in the Irrigation of the Arid Lands of the West, arid the measures which are being taken for its accomplishment.
A scheme is now before Congress advocating the creation of great storage reservoirs by means of which the rain that falls in the arid regions of tlnirtsen states and three territories west of the hundredth meridian shall ba stored and used, instead of flowing instantly from the surface of the ground into the Yivers, and so departing fruitlessly to the sea without having
-10- Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
rendered to agriculture any adequ&te service. This scheme in clone ly allied to thif* inters sis of scientific Pores try, since one of the main arguments for the cere and preservation of the woods is the intimate dependence rf the water supply upon such protection, by the aid of which the undergrowth, the noss and accumulated vegetable mould of the fcrest^are saved from destruction, and by the retention of moisture, keep the water in storaye.
By t)5» means the springs are Jept filled, and the water gradually
ceres, by the streams, to the service of the farmer. So far
the interests of Forestry and Irrigation are identical. Die
advocate of Tr igation must support the Department of Forestry;—' the interests of the latter ar • our interests, so it, is safe to say that we may count upon the assistance of those interested in
Irrigation. This scheme has the organized support of the repre- Z— /
sent-atives and senators from a section of this country which in its entire area is nearly as large as Europe, and is capable in the future of supporting a population approximating that of Europe.
The advocates of Irrigation have oarefull3r studied their problem. At one time and another in the last ten years they havs received fron Congress for surveys and investigation a million and a half dollars, expended through the department of Agriculture and the Oeologioal Department. Entirely to accomplish what they desire would cost a sum variously estimated as from two to four million of dollars. This would increase the value of the lands redeemed tenfold and would add to the nation’s possessions of arable lands a tract of f^om sixty five to
-11-
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
seventy five million acres,- rov ghly speaking, one-eighth of the whole rugged and non-agricultural lands of the RocJcy fountains and "Great American Desert." As yet there is not full
reconciliation between the different sections in Congress advocating different naans of accomplishing the same ends. There is
one party led by Representative Nawlands of Nevada which desiren
notional aid by diverting to the creation of reservoirs and high level canals all sums derived from the sal-, of government lands in the arid and semi-arid states vrest of the moth neridian, a s\m in the present fiscal year amounting to no less than ^4,000,000.
All of these states are in f?,vor of this measure. There is another body of Representatives which wishes it 'O be accomplished oy sr,ate aid if done at all. They would have the lands ceded
/}' Vfvvr-o : IV. U ’,/Ui iJi Mr F
themselves. A Senator Lodge, Representative Moody, of . lVg
others are opposed to the Government's having anything to do with it at all, owing to the great outlay involved, or which wav be ultimately involved. But the organized interest is there, and
so far us they accomplisn their end, they .are workinc for us.
Fourthly: It rill be demonstrated eventually to the
people of the country that it is for their benefit,- economic, financial, and purely seO.fish; that these vvfuges shall be established. Without them game will be exterminated. The buffalo has already gone, or all but gone\ there may be 200 left in the entire country. Enough to bv-ed from, it is true , and the buffalo might be recovered if adequate protection could be afforded in the Parks. The value of his head and hide makes this
-12- Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
'V' l ^ J 2 ' , , V-y .
#■■ r ' V> '* y \ * / f * 7 ' s M ao *Vv t # y>- r v r v * T<v y * y) yV yc l v . »t v ^ ^ ^ y
t ’. ' y p A v " y A 7 ' 9 v ^
v,;< g *■ > • < f v \ X y > r X * , . / - V ^
* Vu gA -v «~.. A p s r VA ^ ^ -r / y ^\ Vy y Vy s ' ^ . -. ”■ y y V y o f v- * ~ / f V * y \ < y , « y ■> 4 y •* U
lV .-' v y v y s < / J j
"* ^ / s ^ s ‘ * ’ '
d i f f i c u l t ; o f a c c o m p l i s h m e n t . So l o n g u s t h e s c a l p l a -/or t h
£ l o O f a n d t h a h i do ^ 1 0 0 ^ t o p r o t e c t t h e a n i m a l i t i s a l m o s t
n a o e a - ^ a r y t o c o u p l e a r a n k e r t o e v e r y " b u f f a l o . Ab t h e y h e c a r e
l e s s s c a r c e , t h e d i f f i c u l t y o f r o t a c t i o n w o u l d d h ^ n ^ B h . r,v.e
9(
£ **t3 Ajope .1 s n e a r i y e x t i n c t , b u t o a n e a s i 1 y h e r e « s to r e d i n a
m e a s u r e . Vhe m o u n t a i n s h e e p n e a r s e x t i r e l i o n , a n d i t 1b o n l y
/
a n a t t e r o f t i n e , u n l e s s s o m e t h i n g i s do n e* w h e n t h e e l k i i s -
a p p e u r a e x c e p t f r o n t h e f e w f a v o r e d l o c a l i t i e s , a s i n t h e r e g i o n
o f «;he v a s t h e r d o f t h e ’' e l l o w s t o n e N a t i o n a l P a r k .
By p r e s e r v i n g a n d r e s t o * in g t h e game i n ^ a r i o u B p a r t s
o f t h e c o u n t r y , fh»j h u n t i n g i s p r e s e r v e d i n t h e v i c i n i t y o f t h e
r e f u g e s , s u p p l i e d b y t h e o v e r f l o w , a s i s t h e c a s e e a s t and. s o u t h
o f t h v N a t i o n a l u a r k i n v Wyoming. T h i s w i l l bo a c o n s t a n t a n d
i n c r e a s i n g s o u r c e o f r e v e n u e t o t h o s e s e c t i o n s , a s , f o r e x a m p l e ,
b y vrlue gone . l e g i s l a t i o n , i n " p.i n s a v a s t sum i s b r o u g h t t h e n
a n n u a l l y . T h i s i s v a r i o u s l y e s t i m a t e d . A r e c e n t c o n t r i b u t o r
/ f a /
t o " f o r e s t a n d S t r e a m ” c o m p u t e 8 t h a t i n t h e s e a s o n o f b W k j—»
*
h u n t e r s f r o m w i t h o u t t h e s t a t e s p e n t t h e r e § 6 2 5 , 0 0 0 . I f t h e
f r o n t i e r r a n c h m e n a n d f a r m e r s p e r m i t t h e e x t e r m i n a t i o n o f g a m e ,
t h e y a r e k i l l i n g t h e g c s e t h a t l a y s t h e g o l d an e g g . T h e r e i s
l i t t l e d a n g e r o f A m e r i c a n s c o r - t i n n i n g i n d s f i n i t e l y t o c o m m it
t h a t e r r o r when i t i s c l e a r l y p l a c e d b e f o r e t h e m , a n d t h e r e a s o n s
f o r i t s a v o i d a n c e . Oiu* a r g u m e n t to t h e p u b l i c m u s t b e on p u r e l y
e c o n o m i c a n d u t i l i t a r i a n l i n e s , rub, t h e r e a l a n d i n t i m a t e , -
t h e v i t a l a n d e s o t e r i c r e a s o n w h i c h l i e s a t t h e b o t t o m o f o u r
i n t e r e s t i s t h a t we w i s h t o soft t h e game u n d i m i n i s h e d i n n u m b e r s ,
< tn d , a s f a r a s p r a c t i c a l , i n c r e a s e d . T h i s b r i n g s us t o t h e f i f t h
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
u„;r>c cir j o * rot {trees ^;::.ch s.r ? r"'v a ~-T'd An the future v/ili^
c A jiA r Ab• i;t e- A o n r s i <oc e bb .
.: if thly: There exists far more than a quarter of a
century ago, Ainms asur abl v no^e than r. half eentarv ago a reverence
for life, similar, in a way, to the Hindoo's reverence for
life, But whe^ens the cultivated and high caste- Brahmin came
to 'lie 11 i t i tiiQf; or mind synthetically, finullv aoc e ] i A in *’'■ uo
th , dogmatic man date of ^fti.Afrion, wo come to 3 t ana i v H ^ s h v
"by A. i' A each i ngn of science, In our own lifetime we have seen
tii" teachings of .Oarmrin accepted pb incontroyertil.le tr*. th. the
dor »onr A • • hi on of our ioenti fy of origin ith oth^r mammals. ^acr’
w: tn h i?. v srv-brates, - with all living creature-8 , ’Viier i, >- -t «•
truth finds complete lodgment in any wise mind, the desire of
killing for the sake of killing has evaporated, that is, the
svwvge and uremlightsned, the strictly hrut.-J. Instinct dJ.ch V3
s> - ' r with out cousins the canciyars. The re s'ii.l re .-.ins man's
ripr‘A, as nn animal, to krill for food, and the sport8 —
man 3 r_> ght to ki.» 1, so long as it is incidentally for food, and
so to iy as •• * hills cleanly and skillfully an a gentleman should,
and o 10ny as he does r 0 A abuse hi3 priyilege. huA n0 man
of 11 re gula ted r in has any oa 11 ar o- th the » o-Hin* b e • ■ n^ v *• - ~ Li > * * w vi. j
not to go out 0 one 13 way for a superfine formula of character-k
v
v*A *Ok * \
v>
jh £YxU
v t f T v °
K y< t \:
The ferror in hi 3 Central Afrieu in one
> t i v H * y b*v \v\> f^a ^ ' -14- Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
f r on to !• 1 of /hifi , 6”"*? h^fids of* rc,To, big and 3 } 111 e .
His usual kill is 10,000 a yea?'. If this 1b not the "blood s4 t it bears a v,vyy cion'* resemblance to it. It is a
pass ion von thy of rugax t oe B .1 o o d th 1 rsi y • This is to gratif’r the savage Ins t of f.. ’.voIf or to satisfy th? impotent cravings { of tt hyena. Th-s sportsman ‘Till price himself upon the decency
v V
;\ of his record, upon the clean and scientific use of Mr rifle;
he will despise and. diacr.uraae the ,r<£uf f er" ard the conscienceless ^ advocate 02 fv’'hile each of us douhtless in his heart
V C v~ -v”"
(V ,v»“ , L -
(T pjv*
, .-.‘‘accepts t!3se conaiaeri-.1 ionv at V-ieir proper valuation, cur?
’ih W=t
Uu , - v .ii'us -: oo ofcserv-ni :: o giy-*** them too public expression. There j. V* & v
t*vV V &'*- y<od and un.uia-/enable r*u\sons for the preserv ti on of* ya
&'*- ♦••• -ort and unana- /enable reasons for the pr e a a r y tion of* pan
vA^ >*A.
, on strictly utilitarian grcuinds, and the casual and unenlightened
jth critic of ou-- a;;ituie, vould regard any view of pane influenced
^ >y
/ b. consider at ions taken from the standpoint of + bs hunted rather
than exclusively from that of .’..he hunter, as the dream of the v in ion a r y an d o f t he d o c t r i n a i r e .
I have stated the arguments which are of a negative nature against the excessive slaughter of game. There are X^or itive re as vrip which are equally conclusive of a utilitarian nr-.ti re, evident to ev -ry one upon a moment13 reflection. ?o- s i dea th is o o me s the ox t r ex r d in * ry Ir t • re st of f am 11 lari ty wi th animals and th ■ study of their ways and the identity of the many traits of mind and tern ierament *;hich they h&ve in common wj.th uh. Certainly no more engaging s tvdy can occupy any man1 s attention than, the demonstration to one * s own satisfaction of the similar ‘nature of motives which guide man and beast, their
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
f
retrying and ever approaching trro t*» of ulmrno trr * th-.i.lr niriilarity
of affections * their loyalty to th; ir friends* the tenacity with
>rh:'<ch they r^Hrnt injury* and the infinity of cirounntnncoB by
vrhich they betray an identical anofcstry.
by iri-s o re at ion of thrne dcMe Refuges* to vdi.ioh. and th$
boone and Crockett 0 lub, it is hoped* is about to bend its
energies, this h tudy 'fill be placed j.thin the reach of a ll.
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w -^o y r • / j A s f r / j t xjf
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r * , r y A * 1 -v > \ \ O v\f J / % A d vf J jo y / 4 / * y y v-, r -> y h y > a * > <r • r f *• y Xx , y
rr vy. y , a .. .•tf .y \ ^v y , yva v/ y „x^* _v * v jr <y -.■ -v \r y?> v> \j>
v avy . ® ,,. <v « av - y ,< . /^ . vv\" i v a a. v^\ 'f
xf* r v vf/ ^ y C,r r t ' y v/ \ / ~ xH ^ ^ y / f V / r f \ rs » V,<J I O
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' *■ a' r l'4i S j ? ^v ^ y, y7 ^ -i-
^ vitt y f v V y. sy
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
THE BLACK MESA FOREST RESERVE OP ARIZONA AND ITS AVAILABILITY AS A SAME RESERVE.*
By E. W. Nelson.
f
The Black Mesa Forest Reserve lies in central-eastern Arizona and contains 1,658,880 acres, is about 180 miles long in the northwesterly and southeasterly direction, and a direct continuation southeasterly from the San Francisco Mountain Forest Reserve. On the north it contains a part of the Mogollon Mesa, which is covered with a magnificent open forest of Arizona yellow pine. (Einus ppnderos^) in which there is an abundance of bunch grass, and here and there beautiful grassy Darks. To the southeast the Reserve covers a large part of the White Mountains, one of the largest areas of generally high elevation in Arizona. The yellow pine forest, similar iri character to that on the Mogollon Mesa, is found over a large part of the reserve between 7000 and 8500 feet altitude and its general character is shown in the accompanying view. -^Insert 1st view*)
The irregularity in outline of the Black Mesa Reserve is shown in detail on the map. There is a large compact area at each end .joined by a long narrow strip, very irregular in outline and less than a township broad at variou points. It lies along the southern border of the Great Colorado Plateau and covers the southern and western borders of the basin of the Little Colorado River. Taken as a whole this Reserve includes some of the wildest and most attractive mountain scenery in the West.
Owing to the wide separation of the two main areas of the Reserve and certain differences in physical character, they will be described separately, beginning with the northwestern and middle areas, which are similar in character.
* The views accompanying this paper were taken by Mt. Gifford Pinchot, Chief of the Bureau of Forestry, U. S. Deo't of Agriculture, and I am indebted to his courtesy in addition for the map showing the Forest Reserve.
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
W BQSXfiSBSXBBfi SS2II9B QE IBS BUSS ^S§S RgSSBYg.
With the exception of an area in the extreme western part, which drains into the Rio Verde, practically all of this portion of the Reserve lies along the upper border of the basin of the Little Colorado* It is a continuation of the general easy slope which begins at about 5.000 feet on the river and extends back so gradually at first that it is frequently almost imperceptible, but by degrees becomes more rolling and steeper until the summit is reached, at an altitude of from 6000 to 8 9000 feet.. The* reserve occupies the upper portion of this slope which has more the form of a mountainous plateua country, scored by deep and rugged canyons, than of a typical mountain range. Prom the summit of this elevated divide, with the exception of the district draining into the Rio Verde, the southern and western slope drops away abruptly several thousand feet into Tonto Creek basin.
The top of the huge escarpment thus formed faces south and west, and is known as the rim of Tonto basin, or, locally, nThe RimIT.
-IngeHr The accompanying view gives an excellent idea of this gigantic rocky
SiHrrmn declevity, from the summit of which is obtained an inspiring view of the
south, where range after range of mountains lie spread out to the distant horizon
t oward
The rolling plateua country sloping fcswxxx the Little Colorado is heavily scored with deep box canyons, often hundreds of feet deep and frequently inaccessible for long distances. Most of the permanent surface water is found irt these canyons and the general drainage is through them down to the lower plains bordering the river. The greater part of this portion of the Reserve is covered with yellow pine forests below which is a belt, varying greatly in width, of pinyons, cedars, and junipers, interspersed with a more or less abundant growth ot gramma grass. This belt of scrubby conifers contains many open grassy areas and nearer the river gives way to continuous broad grassy plain plains. Nowhere in this district, either among the yellow pines or in the lower country, is there much surface water, and a large share of the best watering places are occupied by sheep owners.
The wild and rugged slopes of Tonto basin, with their southerly ex-
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
posure, have a more arid character than the area »..just described. On these slopes yellow pines soon give way to pinyons, cedars, and .junipers, many scrubby oaks, and various species of hardy bushes. The watering places
are scarce until the bottom of the basin is approached. Tonto basin and its
sloDe are also occupied by numerous sheep herds, especially in winter.
There are several small settlements of farmers, sheet) and cattle growers within the limits of the narrow strip connecting the larger Darts of the Reserve, notably Show Low, Pinetop, and Linden. The wagon road from Holbrook on the Santa Fe Pacific Railroad, to the military post at Camp Apache, on the White Mountain Indian Reservation, passes through this strip by way of Show Low. The old trails through Sunset Pass to Camp Verde and across"The Rim" into Tonto Basin traverse the northern part of the Reserve and are used by stock- menmen and others at short intervals, except in the middle of winter.
The climate of this section of the Reserve is rather arid in summer, the rainfall being much more uncertain than in the more elevated areas about the San Francisco Mountains to the northwest and the White Mountains to the southeast. The summers are usually hot and dry, the temperature being modified, however, by the altitude. Rains sometimes occur during July and August, but are more common in the autumn, when they are followed by abundant snowfall. During some seasons snow falls to a depth of three or more feet on a level in t the yellow pine forests and remains until spring. During other seasons, however, the snowfall is insignificant and much of the ground remains bare during the winter, especially on southern exposures. As a matter of course the lower slope of the pinyon belt and the grassy plains of the Little Colorado, both of which lie outside of the Reserve, have less and less snow, according to the altitude, and it never remains for any very considerable time. On the southerly exposure facing Tonto basin the snow is still less permanent. The winter in the yellow pine belt extends from November to April.
L&33S Same in xjje E&BX.QE IBS BL&2K BS24 SSSSSYE-
Black-tailed deer, antelope, black and silver-tipped bears, and mountain lions are the large game animals whi«h frequent the yellow pine forests in
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
4*
summer. Wild turkeys are also common.
The black-tailed deer are still common and generally distributed.
In winter the heavy snow drives them to a lower range in the ninyon belt towards the Little Colorado, and also down the slope of Tonto basin, both of these areas lying outside the Reserve. <phe Arizona White-tailed deer is resident throughout the year in comparatively small numbecs on the brushy slopes of Tonto basin, and sometimes strays up in summer into the border of the pigirf pine forest. Antelope were once plentiful on the plains of the Little Colorado, and in summer ranged through the open yellow pine forest now included in the Reserve.
They still occur, in very limited numbers, in this forest during the summer and at the first snowfall descend to the lower border of the pinyon belt and adjacent grassy plains. Both species of bears occur throughout the pine forests in summer, often following sheep herds. As winter approached and the sheep are moved out of the higher ranges, many of the bears go over "The Rim” to the slopes of tonto basin where they find acorns, juniper berries, and other food, until cold weather causes them to hibernate. The mountain lions are always most numerous on the rugged slopes of Tonto basin, especially during win- terwhen sheep and game have left the elevated forest.
Prom the foregoing notes it is apparent that the northwestern and middle portions of the Black Mesa peserve are without proper range for
game within its limits, and that the conditions are otherwise unfavorable for their use as game preserves.
Xb8 S22thea§tern SsafciQC g£ its Slasfe
The southeastern portion of the Reserve remains to be considered.
The map shows this to be a rectangular area about thirty by fifty miles in extent, lying between the White Mountain Indian Reservation and the western border of New Mexico, and covering the adjacent parts of apache and Craham counties It includes the eastern part of the White Mountains which culminate in Ord and Thomas peaks, rising respectively to 10,266 feet and to 11,496 feet, on the White Mountain Indian Reservation just off the western border of the Forest Reserve. This section of the Reserve is strikingly more varied in physical conditions than the northern portion, as will be shown by the following descrip-
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
The northwestern part of this section, next to the peaks .just mentioned, is an elevated mountainous plateau country forming the watershed between the extreme headwaters of the Little Colorado on the north and the Black and San Francisco rivers, tributaries of the Cila, on the south. The divide between the heads of these streams is so low that in the midst of the undulating country where they rise, it is often difficult to determine at first sight to which drainage some of the small tributaries belong. This district is largely of volcanic formation and beds of lava cover large tracts, usually overlaid with soil on which the forest flourishes.
The entire northern side of this section is bordered by the sloping grassy plains of the Little Colorado, which, at their upper border, have an elevation of 6,500 to 7,500 feet, and are covered here and there with Dinyons, cedars, and .junipers, especially along the sides of the canyons and similar slopes. At the upper border of this belt the general slope becomes abruptly mountainous, and rises to 8,000 or 8,5.00 feet to a broad bencfe-like summit, from which extends back the elevated plateau country already mentioned. This outer slope of the plateau is covered with a fine belt of yellow pine forests, similar in character to that found in the northern part of the Reserve. Owing to the abrupt character of the northerly slope of this belt, and its greater humidity, the forest is more varied by firs and aspens, especially along the canyons, than is the case farther north Here and there along the upper trib- iase-rt- utaries of the Little Colorado, small valleys open out, which are fre-
9ti v ienr. quently wooded and contain beautiful mountain parks.
The summit of the elevated plateau country, about the headwaters of the Little Colorado and Black rivers ( which is known locally as the nBig Mesa"), is an extended area of rolling grassy plain, entirely surrounded by forests and varied irregularly by wooded ridges and points of timber. This open plain extends in a long sweep from a point a few miles south of Springer- ville, westward for zbout fifteen miles along the top of the divide to the bases of Ord and Thomas peaks. These elevated plains are separated from
those of the Little Colorado to the north by a belt of forests already des-
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
cribed as covering the abrupt northern wall of the plateau. On the other side ftf the "Big Mesa" an unbroken forest extends away over the undulating mountainous country as far as the eye can reach. The northerly slopes of •LaaeEjt the higher elevations in this section are covered with spruce forest, similar to that shown in the viee taken on the northeastern side of Thomas peak.
The most varied and beautiful part of the entire Black Mesa Reserve lies in the country extending southeasterly from Ord and Thomas peaks and immediately south of the "Big Mesa". This is the extreme upper part of the basin of Black river, which is formed by numerous little streams rising from springs and wet meadows at an elevation of from 8,5.00 to 9,500 feet. The I*sarb little meadows form attractive grassy openings in the forest, covered
SWr"View. in symmer with a multitude of wild flowers and surrounded by the varied foliage of different trees and shrubs. The little streams flow down gently sloping courses, which gradually deepen to form shallow side canyons leading into the main river. Black River is a clear, sparkling trout stream at the bottom of a deep rugged box canyon, cut through a lava bed and forming a series
fomwt of wildly picturesque views. The sides of Black River canyon and its
vkw. small tributaries aee well forested. On the cool northerly slope the forest is made up of a heavy growth of pines, firs, aspens, and alder bushes, which give way on the southerly slope, where th© full fore© of the «uu is felt, to a thin growth of pines, grass, and a little underbrush.
U t^he head of the Black River, between 8,000 and 9,000 feet, theee
Insert .are many nearly level or gently sloping areas, sometimes of con-
9th view. siderable extent. These are covered with open yellow pine forests
with many white barked aspens scattered here and there, and an abundance of grass and low bushes. This was once a favorite summer country for the elk, and I have seen there many bushed and small saplings which had been twisted and barked by bull elk while rubbing the velvet from their horns.
Immediately south and east of the Black river lies the Prieto plateau, a well wooded mountain mass rising steeply from Black river canyon to a broad summit about 9,000 feet in altitude. The northerly slopes of this plateau,
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
\
*
7.
facing the river, are heavily forested with pires, firs, aspens, and brushy insert undergrowth, and good elk country. The summit is oold and damp
8trh vIqhk with areas of spruce thickets and attractive wet meadows scattered here and there. Beyond the summit of the plateau, to the south and east, the country descends abruptly several thousand feet, in a series of rocky de- clevities and sharp spur-like ridges, to the canyon of Blue river, a tributary of the San Francisco river. This slope near the summit is overgrown with firs, aspens, and Dines, which give way, as the descent is made, to pinyons, cedars, an< and scrubby oak trees and a more or less abundant growth of chapparal. Small streams and springs are found in the larger canyons on this slope, while, far below, at an altitude of 5,000 feet, lies Blue River.
The country at the extreme head of Blue river forms a great mountain amphitheatre, with one side so near the upper course of Black River that one can traverse the distance tewfcsRB between the basins of the two streams in a short ride. The descent into the drainage of Blue River is very abrupt, and is known loaally as "The Brakes” of Elue River. The scenery of the "Brakes” nearly, if not quite, equals that on "The Rim" of Tonto basin in its magnificence. The vegetation on the "Brakes" shows at a glance the milder character of the climate, as compared withthat of the more elevated area about the head of the Black piver. In the midst of the shrubby growth on the "Brakes" there is a fine frowth of nutritious grasses, which forms excellent xxxsfc winter forage.
The entire southern part of the Reserve lying beyond the Prieto plateau is an excessively broken mountainous country, with abrupt changes in altitude from the hot canyons, where cotton woods flourish, to the high ridges where pines and firs abound.
The northeastern part of the section of the Reserve under consideration is cut off from the rest by the valley of Nutrioso Creek, a tributary of the Little Colorado, and by the headwaters of the San Francisco River. It is.a limited district, mainly occupied by Escudilla mountain*, rising to 10,69$ feet, and its foot hills. Escudilla mountain slopes abruptly to a long truncated summit and is heavily forested from, base to summit by pines, aspens, and
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
9.
spruces. On the south the foothills merge into the generally mountainous area. On the north, at an altitude of about 9,000 feet, they merge into the plains of the Little Colorado, varied by grassy prairies and irregular belts of pinyon timber.
The upper parts of the Little Colorado and Black Rivers, above 7,5.00 feet, are clear and cold and well stocked with a native species of small brook trout.
Owing to the generally elevated character of the southeastern section
of the Black Mesa Reserve, containing three mountain peaks rising above ten
thousand feet, the annual percipitat ion is decidedly greater than elsewhere on
the reserve. The summer rains are irregular in character, being abundant in
some seasons and very scanty in others, but there is always enough rainfall
about the extreme head of Black River to make grass, although there is always
wjnt6P
much hot, dry weather between May and October. The fall and wt**** storms are more certain than those of summer and the parts of the Reserve, lying about
8,000 feet, are usually buried in snow before spring,- frequently with several
feet of snow on a level. The amount of snow increases steadily with increase
of altitude. Some of the winter storms are severe and, on one occasion, while
living at an altitude of 7,500 feet, I witnessed a storm during which snow fee
fell continuously for nearly two days. The weather was perfectly calm at the
time, and after the first day the pine trees became so loaded that an almost
continual succession of reports were heard from the breaking of large branches.
At the close of the storm there was a measured depth of twenty-six inches of
snow on a level at an altitude of 7,5.00 feet. A thousand feet lower, on the
plains of the Little Colorado, a few miles to the north, only a foot of snow
fell, while at higher altitudes the amount was much greater than that measured.
The summer temperatures are never excessive in this section, and the winters are mild, although at times reaching from fifteen to twenty degrees below zero. Above 7,500 feet, except on sheltered south slopes, snow ordinarily remains on the ground from four to five months in sufficient quantity to practically close this area from winter grazing. Cattle, and the antelope which once frequented the "Big Mesa11 in considerable numbers, appeared to have premonitions of the coming of the first snow in fall* On one occasion, while
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
stopping at a ranch on the Dlains of the Little Colorado, just below the border of the "Big Mesa" county in November, I was surprised to see hundreds of cattle in an almost endless line coming down from the Mesa, intermingled with occasional bands of antelope. They were following one of the main trails leading from the mountain out on the Dlains of the Little Colorado. Although the sun was shining at the time there was a slight haziness in the atmosphere and the ranchmen assured me that this movement of the stock always foretold the approach of a snow storm. The following morning the plains around the ranch where I was stopping, weru vOVoroa with ai*. inches 01 enow, while over a foot of snow covered the mountains* Banda of half-wild horses ranging on the "Big Uesa" show more indifference to snow, as they can dig down to the grass, but the depth of snow sometimes increases so rapidly that the horses become "yarded" and their owners have much difficulty in extricating them.
The southerly slopes leading down from the divide to the lower altitudes along the Black River and the "Breaks" of the Blue river are sheltered
from the cold northerly winds of the Little Colorado valley, while the Greater natural situation aids in preventing any serious accumulation of
snow. As a result this entire portion of the Reserve forms an ideal winter game range, with an abundance of grass and edible bushes. The varied character of the country about the head of the Black river makes it anequally favorable summer range for game, and that this conjunction of summer and wintefc ranges is appreciated by the game animals is shown by the fact that this district is probably the best game country it all Arizona.
IS §outh§2§tern Par£ $f the Bl^ck Mesa Rg§§rve.
The large game found in this section of the Reserve includes the elk, black-tailed deer, Arizona white-tailed deer, black and silver-tipped bears, mountain lions, and wild cats, timber wolves and coyotes.
Elk were formerly found over most of the pine and fir forested parts of this section of the Reserve, but were already becoming rather scarce in 1885l although they were still found there o in 1897, it is now a question whether any survive or not. If they still survive they are restricted to a limited area about the head of the Black River from Ord peak to the Prieto
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
plateau. Black-tailed deer are still common and their summer range extends,
more or less, generally over all the forested oarts of this section above
7,5.00 feet. In winter only a few stray individuals remain within the Reserve on the Little Colorado side, but a number range out into the pinyon country on the plains of the Little Colorado. The country about the head of the Black River is a favorite summer range of this deer, but in winter they gradually retreat before the heavy snowfall, to the sheltered canyons along Black River and the "Brakes" of the Blue. In September and October the old males keep by themselves in parties of from four to ten, and range through the glades of the yellow pine forest.
The Arizona white-tailed deer is not found on the part of the Reserve drained by the Little Colorado River, but is abundant in the basin of the Blue River, and ranges in summer up into the lower part of the yellow pine forest along Black River. They retreat, before the early snows, to the "Breaks" of the Blue, where they are very numerous. During hunting trips into their haunts in October and November I have several times seen herds of thase deer numbering from thirty to forty, both before and after the first snowfall. Antelooe formerly ranged up iri summer from the plains of the Little Colorado over the grassy "Big Mesa" country and through the surrounding open pine forest, retreating to the plains in the wutuau, but they are now nearly or quite
exterminated in that section.
Bears of both species wander irregularly over most of the Reserve in summer, but are most numerous on the "Breaks" of the Blue River and about the head if the Black River. In autumn, previous to their hibernation, they descend along the canyon of Black River and among the "Breaks" of the Blue, where acorns and other food is abundant. Mountain lions also wander over all parts of the Reserve, but are common only in the rough country along the Blue. Wild-cats are rather common and widely distributed, but are far most numerous on the Black and the Blue Rivers. Timber-wolves were once rather common, but are now nearly extinct, owing to their persecution by owners of sheep and cattle. Coyotes occur in this district occasionally in summer. Wild turkeys are found more or less generally throughout this section of the Reserve, retreating in winter to the warmer country along the "Breaks" of the
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
\
*
11.
Blue and tbs canyon of the Black River, where they sometimes gather in very large flocks.
Notgs 22 §2$il$5J2BiS,-:BS333t 32d othSr MfcSCS*
The greater part of this section of the Black Mesa Reserve is unsettled, but the northeastern corner along Nutrioso Creek and the head of San Francisco River is traversed by a wagon road leading to Springerville. Within the limits of the Reservation on this road are two small farming villages of Nutrioso and Alpine. The owners of these small farms along the valleys of these streams also raise a limited number of cattle and horses on the surrounding hills. A few claims are also held at scattered points along the extreme northern edge of the Reserve, between Springer- iiile and Nutrioso. Between 1B88 and 1895 several herds of cattle were grazing on the head of Black River, and ranged in winter down on the "Breaks" of the Blue and canyons of the Black River; but I understand that these ranges have since been abandoned by the cattlemen. For some years the sheep men have grazed their flocks in summer over the "Big Mesa" country and through the surrounding open forest. In addition to the damage done by the grazing of the sheep, the carelessness of the herders in starting forest fires has resulted in some destruction of the timiber. Fortunately, the permanent settlers on this section of the Reserve are located in the northeastern corner, which is the least suitable portion of the tract for game. In addition to the wagon-road from Sprirgerville to Nutrioso, another road has been made from Springerville south across the "Big Mesa" to the head of Black river, Trails run from Nutrioso and Soringerville to the head of Blue River, and down it to Clinton, a cooper mining town, but they are little used. At various times scattered settlers have located along the Blue and cultivated small gar- gen patches. The first of these settlers were killed by the Apaches, and I am unable to sav whether these farms are now oecuoied or not. In any case the conditions along the upper Blue are entirely unsuited for successful farming.
Perhaps the most serious menace to the successful preservation of
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
V
10
game on this tract is its proximity to the White Mountain Indian Reservation, This Reservation not only takes in some of the finest game country immediately bordering the timber reserve, including Ord and Thomas peaks, but is often visited by hunting parties of Indians,
During spring and early summer all of the yellow pine and fir country in this section is subjected to a plague of tabano flies which are about the
size of a large horse fly. These flies swarm in great numbers and attack
stock and game so viciously that, as a consequence, the animals are frequently much reduced in flesh. The Apaches take advantage of this plague
aiju 6oi> tiro uo i»i to iOTobt, »uu iio iu wait t or wacco winch hats tatisn shelter in the smoke &o ria the&t&elves of the flies. In this way the Indians
kill large numbers of breeding deer, and at the same time destroy con- siderable areas of forest. While on a visit to this district in the summer of 1899, Mr. Pinchot saw the smoke of five forest fires at different places in the mountains, which had been set by hunting parties of Indians for their purpose. The only method by which not only the game, but the forest along the western side of this Reserve can be successfully protected, will be to have the western border of the Porest Reserve extended to take in a belt
eight or twelve miles wide of the Indian Reservatio n. This would include
Ord and Thomas peaks, and would serve efficiently to protect the country about
the headwaters of the rivers from these destructive inroads.
The northern border of this section of the Reserve is about one hundred miles by a wagon road from the nearest point on the Sants Fe Pacific
Railroad. Seven miles from its northern border is the town of Springervilie with a few hundred inhabitants in its vicinity engaged in farming, cattle and sheep growing. Prom Springervi1le north extends the plains of the Little Colorado to St, Johns, th9 country seat of Apache county, containing a few hundred people. To the south and east of the Reserve there are no towns for some distance, except a few small settlements along the course of the San Praneisco River in New Mexico, which are far removed from the part if the Reserve which is most suitable for game. The fact that deer continue abundant in the dis-
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
13
trict about the head of the Blaok River, although hunted at all seasons for many years; and the oontinuanoe there of elk for so lon<5, under the same conditions, is Sood evidence of the favorable conditions existing in that section for £ame.
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
U. S. DEPARTMENT 0? AGRICULTURE Biological Survey Washington, D. C.
Dec. 18, 1901.
Dr* Geo. Bird Grinnell,
Porest & Stream,
New York.
My dear Dr. Grinnell
I enclose some information in regard to x>resent conditions in the southern part of the Black Mesa Reserve which has just come to hand. The number of cattle and sheep rim there now as given in this information is much larger than when I was there last. The two or three pieces of patented land spoken of appear to he the only ones within the limits of the section I designated in my report as being admirably adapted as a game l)reserve. The letter also gives the important information that a few elk still remain there. The capability7" of that district to support game, both summer and winter, is shown by the number of cattle now on the tract which lies within the limits of the Reservation (Timber)•
Very sincerely yours,
(Sgd.) E. W. Nelson.
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
CONDITIONS OF THE SOUTHERN END OF THE BLACK MESA RESERVE (WHITE
MOUNTAIN SECTION) FALL OF 1901.
F. W. Nelson*Winslow,Arizona in letter of Dec.13,1901 to E.W.Nelson
"My man was down from the Springerville country yesterday, for the first tima, when I was in town, since you wrote. The following is all the information that I could get from him:-
On the mountains at the head of Black and Blue rivers there are hut two, or possibly three, patented tracts of land, one of 40 acres near the old Odem (OD) camp, which is occupied by the owner (one of Geo. Crosby’s sons) with a little trading store; one of 160 acres near the Big Lake and the third he thinks is simply a possessory right where stock is run; and the Bone Yard has a patented tract, unless same has been turned back to the government as reserve land.
Pete Slaughter is still at the same place on Black River running cattle. Scattered over the mountains are some 8000 to 10,000 head of cattle which run there mostly in the summer* though part of them winter in sections of it; these cattle are owned mostly by small stock raisers having from 100 to 500 head, there being but possibly three or four who have from 1000 up.
Some of the owners are known to us, namely, Banj. Brown, the Maxwell Brothers of Nutrioso, Crosby boys, Pete Slaughter, C. C. Bryant, Tobe Cosper (with about 2000) and Charley Thomas (with from 1000 to 1500). Slaughter winters on head of Black while Tnomas and Cosper winter on the Blue. In the summer, when allowed, there are Irom 50,000 to 50,000 nead of sheep grazed on the mountains in the Black and Blue River section; there are also quite a number of horses located there, estimated well up
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
* t
into the hundreds, owned principally by Benj. Brown, Wiltbanks of Springerville, and old man Wahl.
The past season has been a good one and the grass and range generally is in fine condition and all stock there is fat. We have been eating White Mt. bee?f for the past two to three months and it is fine.
The Indians have cleaned up all the antelope that were running on the mountains, but deer and turkey are plentiful all over the mountains, also plenty of bear and smaller game such as lynxes, coyotes, etc. Hulsey of Nutrioso was on the mountains this fall and reported that he found the trail of one. elk and followed it for two days but failed to come up to the animal. That one trail is all that he found on his .hunting trip. From the conversation which I had with the party (G. C. Bryant) I should judge that the mountains are about in the same condition now that they were the time you, Stanley, Swinburne and I went on our bunting trip in 1335.
He told me that the gras3 was finer right on our old ranch in Milligan Valley than I had ever seen it."
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
At n meetin ' of xocutive Co, itt-ee of the Boone and Cr&ckett
Club held at the house !r. Madison Grant, upon the evening of
" JUH i, 1901, V:.*; f^l3 0‘"i :g re'JOllltlOTl ' B SUOd-
TfR>,’80IiV T) that i Oo!. it tee of five ue a*- pointed by the fxooutive
Co 11,tee to for: mla te f-.n to provide for vaine refu ;e:s in s oh
parts of tiie country an ay no d jsirable, an 1 to report to the fxeeu- tlve Co.. it tee, rhiaft shall then call a general meeting of the Club
f -* the xi sen ■> ion of il l.. , 'it1' >1 TTi^,r to < ^ . v*e 1 t r‘v* action
by the Club at its 'ext a^unl moot In *. *f
fo3 ' , It • vinted: *s. Alden
A* ogers, fi* T . GrinnelJ , Caspar ^hit . irrir -• *ar.
At a meeting of the bxeeutive Cor i ttee hole a t the ?1 ;n.y •
Club, w.-* York, on if * ^yeninv ”t v jnri. i ron, .-,j o.vt of Con-
nit tee on one Refuges \/a s suV.; it ted.
The foilov/lT‘' resolution "as pas^ed-
" PEOOLVFD that tin. lo. -v, t of t. . Co nittee on care refuges ‘-e
received ■ th thanks, inri that the cofi-o tt.-.e be ooj tinv.ed, v'ith
povrer to ta3 ruoh iteps as may • m necessary to further the objects
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
To the Kxeeutive Com, ittre of the Boon a & crockett Club.
REPORT OF COM ITTJ U ON OAi£E RFFUGT3S.
In th< htudy of the profit > of the creation of Cano Refugee, you.:* committee soon river at the conclusion that :it /oul< for the present o« advisable to ocnfi)«.e our energies to the introduction of game refuses to the Government Tilther Reserves, to take advam tage O1 the Governwent• s co-op-/ration in thiia . iter > an-' to defer, until so: e tuture t:L « :■, if then fv . so incline'"’, t no orm-tion, independently of the Uni tea c t.qte > bovern.. r:t, of fane Refugee In the East, by state aid, 'ey indivibuai genercsity , or oy general subscription .
Th« Timber Reserves of the tjn.i tr I f? ta t<-jb no- amount to some 50, 000, ooo acres, distributed mainly through the Rocky Mountains, as sho n oy the aocorqanyin f a,. To give an idea of the total extent cbf this tract, it •/;./ be maid t; t coll actively these 50,000,000 acres arc equivalent to 73,1.05 square miles, which, if put. together, would fori: tract 400 il s Ion; liy 195 riles wide, or as largo
as the st *to of Neb: *a art or the hole of Ne.v England, ; lus tlie states of •'oar jersey anc mwo -are, or the entire area of England and Fa lea augmented by t /o-thirds of the area of Scotland. The extent of these Timber Reserves "’11L, in all robaMlity, rapidly in- oven ;e. e nave only to g 1 moo at the history of I heir .creation to a - su*e of this act. The Timber Reserves of the United States
wore first establish».*■; by the la.- of March ,v , 1891. From humble
1 firopriotio.ns at th-- begi rnin.they hav<- reached thoj • pr«••sent . ^ nitude and popularity . A t the ti- e of thcis* fir it creation,
ti• i-j excited f\.• .t O; ositj d - i.; v .v■ t {.hi: country ^here they
r e .-.i.tuHiitt'* , since tiie settlor > thep bou I r igarded my control o the government timber lanr.:s as an infringement or their hereditary and inaiio/v-.blo rights to out d h ni in these land/s, for domestic and incidentally for commercial purposes. (When the typewritten
copy was ?e turned it *) a a found that th i s read w Incidentally for criminal purpojos,” an inspired mieridntiun one is tempted to
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
lot stand.) Since that ti e th- loo 0 sent! ent has totally changed, a id the settler.- now realiso that the enlightened control of the timber lands f>y the Bureau of Forestry la for t**a advantage of the community as coll no of V - notion. oubtles . if Game Refuges are creat.-d In thos*. tr its, t vsre 0**111 he a air 1 lar experience.
't-ope vili bo opposition at the start, bvt when it is found that the oh erne orhs to th economic advantage o ' th*• region non of the individual .ettiers. t ie com unity 7ilj become .reconciled to the idea, and we raafc eventually count upon rhie support or r,h« vnvy -on who in the first pl ica offer the most vi -levt opposition.
STour committee it y.i f; cone mt wit'*; their attention upon the creation of Refuges in the Timber Reserves, turne7 ov t in their minds the problem of hov' to y oC'Si; wlnt was to be the initial step? It seemed to the. that tnc first thing of importance was to collect ’or their own instruction as large a mass of trustwo thy inform t ion as possible, in r*v; ri to t)m it ite of ga e in these timber reserves. To the accomplish ant •" this feasrs. Barringer, 'hitnov and Sampson wrote let ter ft to men ir the dcinity of those tracts 'ho rr Tt: lili .r wit- the condition of 0;u.a there. The replies to those letters are attached to this report a- an *p- pendix. Also to tain, ant they agreed to ash for definite reports fror the various mrderiR of the R* «-*rvers, «n • hou.t 3 res to
pay, d recess ry, for th vn re crts, asK;) 1 th" Club to pay for them if it h.v-v .it. A request *eut by dr. Grinn ell to on ftfi.? ov/ member, dr. Oiffov'd Pinchct, tr -> v>v’ 0" the United a Forestry
Bureau, was romptly honored try hi , and -- Bulletin r s c*t u the wardens of the various Reserves ashing for the information desired. One of the • ■ • is at hand,- a description of the Pi oh ..a m ‘orest rte- ■ e-’ve of Arizona its ivailibiiit/ as a trr e Re servo, by ft, el son. It is affixed os an appenaix to this report, slice it is almost an id or 1 exam la, for th so >i tarnation of members, of vhat such a r'per •► >':;ouId ho. The first ,idea of tin) con ittoe '/as to explain their purpoee. arv tlio advantages to be derives from it, to members of Congress in Washington, for the purpose of getting such
' rr Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
bill or bills introducer lri congress as would aooaci. liah the rtasirect end, perhaps at the sta* t .vikl far th •; creation of Pefu• ;ey in one
or two,of these Forest Reserves, and beir. ; •■'■e icier* by the w-v in
which tin. sUVolisnm^nt ay- -'arkin;' of these v as ^ecei-vut , before venturing to ask for more .
After further cons id er at ion , it rrc* s thought best to pat a >111
introduced providin or th creation of Ck- R-jfuges 1* all of the
Timber Reserves, sy ?hlo k ><v wr.g it w ig hoped that we should accomplish our purpose before the cor unity s alarmed and op osltion war, aroiisen u.u o •^a,il>ua , or :in other -o , a si. ;eirv a mod
work in Itself > it -./ss thought olitio to fivo th ; wli. the benefit
of it at the e rliest possible moment.
Having reached thi * olnt m, found that by the ore. tion of a new "Bur eau o f For a try ” uno or t ht; Agrisu 1 tu ral Beran /o* t, w ith three Divisions to take the place of the former Division of Forestry, the scope O' this and o 11 ..in' rei m tt* r s srac to eonsi era bly enlarged, an th \t y u ill , J-v.t to • >e is t -o u: :ii o.egress ,
It is expected that the Forest feaerv<'-> *•■11; ’o transferror? bonily from tile care of :io ? mr stymy of 1. Interior, who non h ■ > their control, to the* ne 3u:*oau of Forestry, vn er the Department of Agriculture, 'ith Pirchot it its head. I th, rill provifin.; for said
transfer, it ■■/ill be . c start t.1 or ti.y oi forth t * th*-: core of tiie j or Oi {tn , a i ox <-•! * * , *.•?’.»*.-4t tu * ‘‘f* o t o 1 r* . shf 11 be a V**; o 1 v t ely
• i/Atj eoi 1 .(’0.1 0- *< i.L ^ furehu , dor * or 1.1 jviv t o or to o * * te
3i*ch regulation * as •,*ay b<- ru-<-. ■ asn.ry fo.* t’v-ir «.r otectio:. •mi for the punishment of any viola tl• -*r; o in „* .s rep- 1st loan. T- i> ill make it possible for the Depart] .nt to punish poo. ;hors and all vho in any way 1 ter fere 1th t*s* pi e on the timber Reserves. At present the ownership of these lands by the United states is exactly the same as that by a private indi /idual. The United states owns the lands, but it ->s decided, ir the case of the united States vs.
Bla,.>ing n. le, by Judge soli bom m th - Pi s trie t Court •.> font hen* Cali—
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
f ornla, that these lands ere subject to the lavs of the state in which they are situated., and that the Unit eh. States has only the power to put a trespasser off their property, or to institute juit gai nst hi ; Lo th- at to cor •• ta. Thi - "f,n » exactly the situation in the folio / a to tv; Park i?*ev:i on • t" the T.^ of May 1394. In the year 139.'5, Captain Anderson as at hi a wits* end to ritivi.se means of punishim; the mm ho v us? Vrilling t o anTalo. All that ho could do vas to nut the o. 'end err* oij the iwsorvation vi th a caution and futile wning not to come hoc/ . His final attempt hi a solution of the orohlei vyas to leave the oj’fender in the guard house for a month *f aval tiiip; trial, ” by hie/-, at any rate, the latter got a part of hie deserts. This was disagreeable for the poacher b. t by no leans serious. The most naicv-rlou ; offender vs •? certain Koveli (affectionately spoken of by his r i f hors as ,,Kdw Ho- ell ) who live i just vest of Cinnabar. In 1394 he was running i sr all livery table, and openly unde it his boast th;,t he rould Xill rid. ieliv-r any bui alo head an hide sel ;cted from those within the park , to anyone who would pay him his price. Then the law of that year came to the relief of 1 a situation arc V e government. acquired nower to punish offenders. By th prc *3 113 pow^or to deal rlth offenders
will vest in th a Chief forester, and he v/ill have fun s to su round li ■ ’•'.sol' ’ v j th -'‘om'petent ' .vfy c ° far> ^ers ";ho will patrol the ,fPe~ sorve i\i J e” : na hri np an of ron her to ju stio e.
Doud11 ais th:i ; scheme -r-.H meet v-ith opposition in the .est, frcr. the r.er *houe h?n,i;n/ ip the -Hie tr v-tr ill bo interfered with.
In this connection you p • 11 hear later fror a or there various letters which carry v7ei>;ht ana are entitled to careful consideration. Upon the whole, they cons id or the scheme a feasible one. «u‘. V. 9.
' uibyh ~ o bos Angelos, in particulor, has sent us «n admirable contribution on this theme.
Th'• clul . « to be o< n ;pa tulat eh. upon several o iroum stances
v/jiio/1 rill ry a tly facilitate the iccomi 11shnent of its purpose.
Imjrir Is: Our Uwll-belove- folio.’ member, quo tor et fur via tor
illusrri sinus, Theodore Roosevelt, Fr .-sident of these United. States,
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
is with us heart and soul. * ou. all hav« road wh<»t ho said in his message about this. You will pardon us if we refresh your recoilec- tion by quoting the passage which esxocially touches our interests: ’♦Certain of the forest reserves should, also be made preserves •r\r' tqe rj.id forest )T astvres. Ail of the reserves should be better protected fro i fire *. fany o.r the- n« *ri . coi- 1 yTOtcotion because of t : gr-at in/jury ’one by live -toef., a >ove ’1.1 by slioci. The jn- •vrease in dee^, elk, •nd oth or nrirolc in th-•• m.lowsto le Par* shows whs i, may be expected when ot,v ■ ■ mount o n : or .-sts ore suoiorly pro-' toetos by la > anu pr operly qiardxi. fom of those? oreas have been so denude*’ of sm*face vegetation by overgrazing that the ground- breedin.•:*I'irds, including vow^ -tv* qua 1, any n-s . als, in-
eluding deer, have been exterminated or driven away. At the same ti <- th>- ater-storing capacity of the surface has been decreased or destroyed., thus promoting floods in tir e of rrhr., a b uininishing the flow of streams between rains.
"In cases 'here natural conditions have been restored for a few years, vegetation hn^ again oar eteu th ; -coun t, birds an-{ deer are co ing back and hundreds of persons, especially from the ivmediate neighborhood. come each summer to enjoy the privilege of camping, feme at least of the forest reserves should, afford perpetual protection for the native faun- aio ‘lora, rife havens of refuge to our rapl ly aii-il.nl sh .i *"• '' i I<» a - ivtdls of r,b< larger kinds, .and free
campin.-'—grounds r‘o? th- ever incrensir ; numbers of mo a nnfl omen •who have learned to h iv rest, V-.- 11 i, rid recreation an the splendid forests and flo arr-cl.-u i-aoo's of ovr nountaim . ”
This rrvn admirably . t 1v~:. f,;1 t sr u r : vc.a n.v t.a little,
othing therein to oxcito antagonism, y t < ju it and in tel 11 gent statement of exactly thoee and It ion /liic a na .1 -h to see ultimately realized. To do whatever mi ht he done in , v 'ay of r/j . performance of that duty, delegated to th i • air i it ter Vy the executive committee, Messrs. orinnel 1 an- lampoon recently called upon the President in Washington. They had no specific request to make. Their purpose was chiefly to ask his advice and to express to him the special in-
-5- Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
t e r s s t which th e olvio t ojr.ee In t h i s m a tte r »«t t h i s t i ! *, *.r,d t o b e
g u id e d by h i e judgment i n the c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f m easures lo o k in g
toward i t s a cc o m p li «hi-torn* • I t i s ne*a l l e s s t o say t h a t thej • r .oe»~
t i o n was c o r d i a l . P in o h o t was : o t h the.a. They -’'ere fo r i -oment
tlie o b j e c t s o f i- /.ocera m ir t h , hen, w ith * c h a r a c t e r i r t i c "T'any
of* h i - Vu.ii*: , ) i < e x i r s s s e u t n e r e g r e t th t he should keep -aitlap:
* t h o s e t h r o e i l ' wood B r e a y o n d e r . tt i t u ;m 11 y p e o p l e X * '* *'f . t o p no
t o s e — ’*j noro tii'/i . ’ cX axin cos. t .> »vfii' e * • e P jx?ehn *••*> j (, .? s ■ • -
t h a t In-? /oul<i d o a l l t h a t w a s i n h i s owe- t o p u t t h e n- l 1 ■ t h r o u g h ,
and th a t whatever the oluh decided ui ; , would >ao *iPt * 11
A
a c c o T ip 3. i a hi ne n t .
TIc m e n t i o n e d t h e f a c t t h a t t h i s p a r t o f h i s m , v - - bo oo~
c a s i o n e d v a r i o u s p l e a s a n t r i e s , ov!i % t o hi < - n t i o n o f *: 'c^ p* -
t i o n s o f s h e e p i n t h e f o r e s t s , h i s c r i t i c s t a k I t* • t h e , '" o n ■ ' t t ,
a c c o r d i n g t o h i s s t a t e m e n t , r e a r s * &nc w o l v e s , and t h e a r i ■ vy
m o u n t a i n l i o n , t h e -ni:u c o t , t h e l y n x , nn. t h e c - r c o i o v n ■ c- n
l o n g e r t h e m a r a u d e r s o f t h e w o a 4 , 'o u t t h e i n r o c e n r s h e e p v t .e
h a r m l e s s , n e c e s s a r y ' got t . As y o u r c o j t t o * r e m i n d e d In , t h e s e woo*-*
d e v a s t a t e , a n d i r p ' o v e r i s h e b by ''?.p *u,;i ' f (}'' . e r , ” v.- i o r o f
s h a t no r g a n i z e d i r u o i l i t y " o n n o e o m « X i s h . Anrt i t i * j u t s< ■-
s a r y i n v i e w o f t h e o p p o s i t i o n t h a t s c may e n c o u n t e r , arm i s i ' r e p
o r t i o n t o o u r r e l a t i v e i m p o r t a n c e . t h a t t r- - o r a - '• ’••o- tm : t u n
s h o u l d n e a r this- i n r-iinct, a s f o r t h e P r e s i d e n t o f t b s U n i t e r r t - t e a
t ) do s o .
ApTO; >oh o * * t h e de;.ro« < a t ion. t of s 1c-ep , th. a Y i. so) ii«"f t <» t ■ y
h e wrou ■ ;* th< i i a i t t h i n g . T h e y a r e d o u b t l e s s t<
k e p t , - d n o e s o . I a n d m u t t o n a r e g o o d t i l i n g s U u t h e y m o u l - b e
b a n i s h e d , f r o m t h e p u b l i c d o m a i n s o f t h e U n i t e s s t a t o * f - . t i c ' o _
l a n d o r p r a i r i e . I n t h e f o r m e r t h e y d e s t r o y t h e s < ; e d l i n g e s o ■ «—
v e n t v - l l y i f f e d t h e r e f o r a a u f b i e i a n t l y l o n g p e rio < o f t i m e 'O u lu
l e a v e t h e m o u n t a i n s d e n u d e d o f t r e e s , a s t h e c ,o a $ hn l e f t d r c o
b a r e o f f o r e s t s , a nakedt pardhed, s t e r i l e , and exhausted land, t h a t
w a s o n c e c l a d i n r o o d s , ^ e i ; i - w a t e r e d , a n d f e r t i l e , vTo t o n l y do t h e y
p r e v e n t t h e y r o w t h o f y o u n g t r e e s , w h i c h a r e t h e f o r e s t o f t h e f u t u r e
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collec—tio Cns.— Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
lU t t: gTO CSOS tk ST' are O X teri rtin S t OCl t/T! * OH g il t heir AnstrUmen
tality. Vrhen in tli : 'lexra Nevada Mountains of California, bear hunting, in i860, the writer saw exactly tl .< tbi' j k'■ cering ar der his c7tiri. Our hunting -round was all up in the Mountains, at as elevation of fro*' 10,ooe to lh,000 feet. It a'as the open spruce forest abounding in grass ana -v\u> the f vo'^ to sa; j" range J>or seep of the* Sart .To ,ehf Valley rs i.e-i ,-ntally t • favorite -talkin' ground of bears niic: live upon those.- saner. The latter were
brought here gradually after starving during tv.bruary nd .larch on the ho: vj ranch or vs..? king h scanty livid,* fin ' t -• ; stalKS .•« /. ;iorerecl leaves of needs, too sortbless and unpalatable to be eaten until everything better had been exhausted. Their fir at rest ana fa "r aliment on this igration was in the foothills. They gradually c jcended the range as the season progressed and the* snows receded. The flock followed the advancing sui \ icr devour »•1 to tho roots, vhile they vvo'a in • >\v’ an! flo/ep, the sweet gras <;s of the forest and glades, and thus, upon their upward and downward journeys prevented those grasses from ever eomin to seed. Ths result was that in a brief period, of ti e, measured >y the life o ' the individual pi nt, the fild Tirothy, nd othe?* masses equally desirable, were all but exterminated. Their seel was never ILo.ea to be sown at all. lone of too trees ev;-r attained a ■•'•ester hei ;ht than o com Is of inches
I ; ipp • t Jd. Tha threat of the toi n pen or irus
to tlf • i ries p 3 li 12 " 1 fir u si n-
f-;Ct yourselves ts ny wi li , I ri.il render y sur land r: bare or- or cos as the Ur of y near; i • of .air,’’ omosin at the m e ti' e a >-.r- fectly bald pate. It is no monler* thr t President Roosevelt in the y hunting Tri • > of a Rarohmr, " speaks of r? < < as ^^colly inlets."
They are systematical ly, by mar ’s permission , i.o thereby becomes a icessory before the fact to their criminal folly and lack of foresight , d*r t'-'oyin : their own r-earis of cubsi-itonoo, and «re at the
same tine fet. lari '; t] j fn^r-st minhabitabl* to its nitunl denizens, the deer, rhose wse of tender herbs suffers annihilation,- the mountain cheep, so far an they frequent the forest, and. the elk. The
-7- Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
grouse also is driven away, am in great tracts has practically lisa pi eared.
The grievance of the cattlemen is no less real than that of the forester* the hunter and protector oj gains, one has nut to
visit Colorado and Wyoi ass'urs himself of this* Sheep ruin
11 grazing 1 nds by ourring \iy the ground with their sharj feet, and still more, and rith complete effectiveness, by their presence. Tile O'or of -a ieep i; hateful to cattle, an • tbo latter rill not feed
after the , ill al r .l starve father th i gr ov.jv iana *ro
they have recently foe. For two reason • the pasture is nvj,h: *n?
•Vr e : .1 t; .' r*f.r : have been over it. In the fir at ■ t
sheep graze so closely that r*r •> otic ally nothing is left for the cattle to eat; secondly, the scent or the sheep is ao,hateft 1 to cattle that the* have no stomach for the, meagre remnant of food.
As if they had not done sufficient harm to grazing land:- and forest, in eating up everything in <i t ■ nr pci ?oniny i< c-^ tingor t
rei.V'ind.er, they ran*11 ne e'-; .» i to the * 1 -?ery of a bad a;} tr tion by
introducing among the wild sheep ant!-.rax, nfcab, ad possibly other diseases.
ly: 0: tho fo: f nat * ciroum s t&noos whio will
toward the acerr pliathment of 'fv:t v;e wish, and one which i • of the utmost significance, is the now fur can of Forestry Raich has boeii rontioned, Pincf-ot, ho is Unled ftates rhvo -tor, Til i do ’11 in his lov er to mice ef? ective out* desire, which is also his \
lb is hoped that Con ; res o 'ill -dye him the ] ov/er to do this effec- .r©1.v. Our interests are identical with his , in this respect that on*-; of the great rirt\s on the- forest lands is fror Tires lighted by careless hunters, ana so ion;; as there are hunters on these lar is, there will fa w car el ass hunters,w the two things nre,ir a vast nuxnl or of canes, synonymous. VanDyke speaks of this. Therefore 1.t bee ones of vital import anew to the Department of Forestry that huntoi to a certain degree should be kept out 0*° thd Reserves and. gave left undisturbef. . ; e are mo:-,* fortunate in hr:ving th.i : vast organized
Department with p man like Finchot at its head, to combat the inevi-
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
table opposition ^hich this for a Lino will arouse.
out ultimate hopes for the creation of haro Refuses in the .Blast are already in the ray of realisation. c fill is * re congress no '; for the creation oA' th<*- Aprnlaohiar. m-rk, a vast tr ct or' 2,000,000 acres to be ex ten neb to 4,000 ,c00 if Confess •••ill icr- rait, extending along the rirVp, of the at. al-tohii n Oho in, \13 the •/ay from Vi • gin la. to Ooorgin, Congress - - taked to ah‘r>opri *U< the ouni of ,000,00 for the purchase of these lands ami later ‘/ill be asked for another 5, 000 , 0< ■ 0 in t; Kcu so .nd *, ooc ,000 1" the Senate. Thw important report in a err i or*t in - a description of tin, tract, //itil many views, in no. in th« hand -; of the public printer.
It will make a book of oonsidrable size a (i 01 j a;; 11 i nt or o e t. Doubtless the creation of this Park will be out the first of many similar creations. It is desirable that each tate vhich has /ild and rugged. lands not suitable for* agriculture, should have a tract where game suitable to th region might be intro :,ucod and remain unmolested.. Even the bufi aio may be restored in measure and nr. served for posterity. It srj 11 not be difficult to coonplinh the creation of these Refuges, if ter It la once started. I. nib Suitable for this purpose, in th© East, are in private ownership. hen it is once seen that the government '*Ms a f n 1 available '-'o-- the purchase of such tracts, which, con 0? oislly and in fa: tri lly, are practically worthless, or, if not worthless, of slight value, the owners will be keen enough to ae.l », and pin i.uo^tune f:eir avi-
pressmen to urge the purchase by the government of the; mi fcieul*r
Unless
lamb; which they happen to on. fo are rruch rii-talfai, so r :c as tl:e abundance of land offered for s* le is concerned, there -ill be ern- barnas do rjohosje, -s.. another generation Till (-•- r; . .«- pef i.p->; in tii ■} grep;wtxr part of the states of th^ Union ‘1. p*s roue; . and non- arable lands exist. New York state took the Initiative in this natter. California, it is true, has been for a lorn.or t:i - fir himdian Of the YoSemite tinough the tewijorary cession by tl>; imllonal government, of the Yosemite Valley Park to the state of California.
New York owns altogether nearly e. million and a half acres of
-9-
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
*
forest land, with game regulated and Intelligently protected therein.
Pennsy17 -<nin o «A tot<l L 1 *(a' ,000 ‘iCPO; *Ti i o-i Tv«O0)ltlv • le '
large a propriation for an -.ecu rate topographical rnap on a large scale, all In the way of enlightened manage eat. These are the two instances of state o ’nor vbiii of format 1 nds of largest scale. Besides these, Minnesota o n •> h0,! 00 acres, rr Inly in t. e Itashn Park. This vould have been very r;iuor non extensive eaaeat nr r the interfere ace of Minnesota Luj bermen. It 'v,! hoped at flyr? t to h* vo no leas than 3.000, 0CG terras wt aside. ’nh. ; v, u:> aefea:;o; i . . , time by the lu b r ii it. iehigan ow is 57 , 000 acres, ■
fornia ;, b 0u tcres. 01: or a t a t ; 11i <■ ten ’ tles n fo 11 ow t ho 1;- p. * a ,
and will eventually itiaKo there res .,mv-jr>, in fholo or part, ■\n «.-> Refuges. The I'tate of >>Iaine partioiul rly on fat to have a Ren;-- ve
embracing Katahdin m , the n< jaeer.t forest.
Thirdly: Of the cirou stances rhi f re favorable to the ■«-
oomplishirent of our purpose, la the increas-ing int r ?st j Irrigation of the Aril Lands of t he rest. ri 111 * * ' ensures which are
being taken for its aecomplishne t.
A scheme >s now before Congress advocating the creation o; great storage reservoir s y i ;; rv o "* hi.eh the rain that fulls In the ari 1 regions of thirteen *tatos a nd thr ee territories -'est f the hundredth rnafldian shall be store*! and used, instead of flo nnv instantly fro. ih * Mf'face i ■ 1. •; '-yr nd h to tv,, rivers, antj.
charting fruitlessly to Lu e. *it;n*i-t Living rendered so a Tien -
turn any adequate nil* vice. This schone in clo ely allied to tic interests of scientific ~oro try, elroe o?n' of the main >yv"xn .u nte for the core and projservution vi the ;ood:; 1" ti e intlr ite d* * vendonce of the water supply upon si cl. prottion, by the -f of . i fa:
. r< th, the o is accumulated veget i >1 » mould of are saved from destruc uion, n• by the retention o" moisture, keep the ’• ater in storage. By thin t ..an - the springe are Kent fill«>-: , an •
the water gradually , e os, / the strea s, to the service oi t::o
farmer. So far the interests el Forestry a nd 7>ri gation r identical. The advocate of Irrigation must support the Department of
-10-
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
>XrihK* Vcx^O Ak 5^ycAy^ #f /JZ.1/1 l4sCsi~«. -«*■ ' '-A - * >Jk^.A , /A-^vU^u^ •jhryx.^tA-l i~. /j£z \£r-yi~tA C*— J *A c* ixj ^*-J tj ^
Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University • •
Forestry,- the interests of tho lotto* ;-re our interests, ‘ > it i.-j safe to say that we may count upon the assistance of those interested in Irrigation. This scheme has the organised aui ] ort of the representstives t*j sen tors fro}, r section of this country hioh in its entire area is nearly 3.arge a a Furore, an * i •» • . abl-; i n lh futi rir v>j support ing a population :■ i roxxj kl*. t in# that of . urope.
The advocates o’ Irrir tio-i have car*ef\illy ntu*li o i th:.• r; - lei'. S\ t one tto* and. another in th w last ten yen:rs they hav© - ■- ooivxl from Congress ‘or surveys and investimation a mill i.•?. a half df doll <r.s, expanded throu *■h tiis e? irtno it or //rleuloarc and the Geological Department. :-rtire • y t< nccomp: is’ what tbuy . ■> vi t, would cost a sum variously estimated as from two to our In.rfivu llllone of dollars. This would increase tho value of th« redeemed, tenfold and would add to th? nation* « o; c . r • ). 1 •
lands a tract of from sixty five to seventy five million orc.,- roiighly apeaking f one-ei #ith i© who]
lands of the Rocky Mountains and "Great American haaert.1 As there is not full reconciliation between the difT'erent sections In
Congress advocating different er • of - noor li hiiv, th*. ■■■- : . m •
There is one party led by Repretentative I owlane 3 o. VevrriH ■ i • desires national ail oy Advert in •: to the creation of reservoir * and
t
high level canals al I anv -rive fr r,h< - i . ° yov t
n the arid and uevra-nr a -)int< > eat of the. 100 th ir ypininr, » m
in the present fiscal yenr -Mountlag to no les s than vl>,0»'0,(K'd).
All of these states are in favor of thia measure. The- * 1 * .p er
body of Representatives ditch ■> iohes it to be acooMi-liahe ■. j l •: * aid if dona at all# They would have the lands oeded States and. let the for ’ r manage the irrigation thei solves, i ies« iAm«,* Represei tative Moody, 01 Mass.
X »cV\
a 'd others rrre opposed to t ie Government1 s having anythin.•; to do ,/ith it at al j,, owl-f\g to th* great, ou tlay involved, or v/nioh may no u.i~
73-pr/ A-
timately involved. Hut the organized intere st is thero, mo as they accomplish their -*nd, they arm worhiifi for us.
Fourthly: Iz will tn; demonstrated eventually to on,: people of
-11- Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
the country that i t is i\r their ra J'n^ sco.ir. ,:i- . ;’:i a. re t , • , >nd purely Ifimi, trmt the >© refuges shall established. vithout game will b© extenminatcrt• The buffalo has already gone, or all but gone; it if* estimated thst t • n- re 500 1 at L ntire
•:.io tap. fnou :h tc Or- ee fro , it :L . true, and th- •• j • -ho ii 'v~ be recovered if ydemmte protection could be afforded in tie Parka. Tko v, lue of his V.evm end hide ; - fes thin difficult of iccor; 1 rudiment So long j the scalp i*•• ;o: th " 1.50 .end the hide 100, to protect trm uvlw.l it i: almost nsoosmry to cot: it; s ranger to every buffalo. As they bee a mo Ion:; .scarce, th.* as fourty o' pvot. t: o voulrt :!:! Ini el . The antelope is nearly extinct, but can easily re r - iOGPed in a measure. The mour it a in sheep nears extinction, and it is only \ matter of ti, e, unless something in dont , when th*; ;lk 5 i oa: ] ear.-, except fro: trie few favored local it io., , as in the region of the vaot her a of the Yell owe tone Fat ional Park.
By preserving and restoring the gam© in various parte of the country, tlu luii.oj.n* j pro nerved in the vicinity of the refuge 3, supplied by the overfle w s -? is’ th cane cant nnd couth of the
• This »onstant and incre• sing
a our co oi revenue c,o c o » ections, us, for jx . „ L©, f hamt ,
’here by vise game legi lation, a vast mi: i brought annually,
Thi is variously ©Btirutes. A recent contributor to "Forest and "trcai " computes th.- t in l ■ sensor. of is 1, hunters from sithout the :• tate spent ‘b?b,0as, s-my thousands of riser were killed,
L ■ , % rich h trvest to th* it it©. t)i@ s© he ©stli . too
t iocs© • u • tlon t. , tofooo, .:
* only , or—
rive« was a ooncii?erabl© on©. If the frentier Taui*}! :er. j: f* rrj.crs
pern it the est<..,*mii.:ttioii. o :f'ja , t; ' y av,e h illin , Unc ,; ar'-J that lays tne olden egg, There is little clanger of Americans continuing indefinite «w to commit tu t error :hen it is clearly planed before them an : the reason;, for it a *oiuaAo©. Our n~~is, ent to the _ ublio must be on purely economic am utilitarian lines, but the real and intimate, the vital arm erotcdD reason which lies at the bottom of
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
out' i n t e r e s t i s t h a t we vial. to see th e a *.Tie iin l l r iTii • •" oci in number a ,
I, a s f a r a s p r a c t i c a l , in c re a s e d # This b r i n g s u f t h
o f th o s e eireurj:> trinees hiofyare no-7 c o n t r i b u t i n g and in the f u t u r e
wil.l c o n t r i b u t e to our sue..esc.
F i f t h l y : *© @xl a r e than a quarter o f a oentury
• g o , irr ee rar-ibl/ no re t i m k e l : o e , aujy ago, v reverercu i r r
l i f e , s i m il a r , in a "r to v • Hie * 1 s < m -eree fen* i l 1 •. ut
.‘jiCrera th e c u ltiv a te d . * n* 1 ’ ' •;)> o. • t « ••‘hi .in r-s' a to M ' I t , iturlo
of r-inn ynth jticu l .l y , fin. a lly a c c e p t ! * •• i t as the c u v 'v tte ;r,te
o f r e l i g i o n , wo oo © to i t n a l y t i o a l l y , ■>>:/ the te ch in of* -d o n e e .
In our own l i f e t i i e vro have reor th • teach in gs of 7>r-'in uceep te< •
**s i n c o n t r o v e r t i b l e t r u t h , th e d am o no t r a t ion of our i d e i t i + y of o r i gin
w ith o t h e r map mr« ■. *, / i t h a l l v e r t e b r a t e s w i t h a l l livb c r e a t
u r e s . When t h i s t r u t h f i n d s cor-vie t e lodgment i n mi -»
the d.estre of K i l l i n g i'o:r t h e ; 'he of k i l l i n g has evai>oratod, t b i t
i s , th e savage and u n e n l i g h t e n e d , t h e s t r i c t l y brut* 1 ir. ti iot *hicb
re sh are w ith our c o u s in s the c a r n i v o r a . There s t i l l -ir-- a 1;,
ri.- f a t, a s an omnivorous jiiu .v l, to k i l l i.'oor* food, a nd t ie ;* oat ; r n 1 a
r i g h t t o k i l l , so long us i t i s 1 a r iant. > l l y for for- , r • ?» ■;
a s he k i l l s c l e a n l y and. s k i l l f u l l y as a gontlemn.n 'should, a .
I o n i a s h e d o e s n o t a b u s e hi -> p r i v i l o e . But no man o f e l l r d i l a t e d
inintl h a s any e a t i e .ee w i t h th e ” -S: n b o , ; , " and «’< n who v - ' re J. /
v i o l a t e * ' t h e d e c e n c i e s o f s p o r t , l i k e 'ordon Tun i n ; a , >c •>u- tod
i r h i s H u n t e r *8 L i f e i n A f r i c a * . t h e . • m arl d e d r e y . , a r e
n o t e n t i t l e d t o f i» - 3* os' ec* t ,»f .sp^rl m ori., P h d r nor i eve vot.* •70
to& lo n g t e c e i v e d • k i i r s t i o ; . ‘f , • . o n r o *n i l l y d r •
upon a c e r t a i n day " I dad. t h e 4 i t i s f a c i t i o n o f - d : i g up ; y ba • to
a h u n rire d :nd f i v e r e l« x jt e l 01.- ra n ts K i l l e d i n Bout a A f r i c a * ( I f . , do)
Pi e v i o u s l y i n r e c o r d i n g t h e d* ■■th o f hi:? f i f t i e t h n u l l h e 1. < ’t r i e d
t h a t t h i v ,.v « j t h e a c t u a l rr i it) or o r ought t o b a g , " n o t t o r o n t i o n
numbera l o s t 1* ( I I . , I 0 4 ) . Th© c a r e f u l r e a d e r r i l l noon co> e lo the
c o n c l u s i o n t h a t tlie "m in b a rs l o o t n e x c e e d < th--*se h i l 1 7 r :a
c o v e r e d , on a n o t h e r o c c a s i o n k i s h u n t i n -; hi; . o p o tru .ii, n l t d t h e s e
I was u n l u c k y . I wounded s i x o r s e v e n , b u t d i d n o t evg o n e ” { I I . , 1 1 1 )
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special- Co1llec3tio-ns. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
Re «a err- to have hr > no hove i j of r.t.Toy for t' rov.nded a no or i: Pled, gai-ift left miserably to parish. *'e Xill so repeatedly jolely for
th • sake of killin . ind tl in I . • 1 y r±t i sftau ter.
/lb j or tjioarl ■< e :fr*. tii-a (j 1 eri tlenta i no s rcoor^ ^ i t „\3 -.tat , fro*: 1867 to of 816,699 heodc of game, My anr lit ole,
0r coiey-'e including birds. ills- usual Ui1 is 10, coo a year. If tills Is not ti; . ,r oloo- eroae,w i t hear:, s very close rest* .ab lance ■ . L13 irj mlf ; the decency
record, upon the clean end scientific i e of hie rifle; ho mill despise nr « diocotrage tlit «. v f fe2’” * v ti '0::~oi> • *e.v- ... cnvooate
t ao
these oon.-.dderations at their proper valuation, rare ■ ust, be oo- .-■-i erven a a to yivln. ; tie ioo • ublic exxTession. There are yood and cable reasons for the . vatton of krloily v-
t111t rian grounds, and the casual and uneiili .]■ • ten< •. critic of our iU/iti. f, oulb. regard view 01 gane, influ'-aice'' oy ion: id- rations tahon from the otrtivip -int of the hunted r tbr • exclusively that
of the hunter, a i the drear! o. the vision.nry and o ' the doctrinaire, e have a to. ted the rgu,*:- ent .iiio h arc of : ney .tive nature
aga . t tlie axoo i si . ter r re : si klv ;• reasons
fniar. ire equally oonelajivo of a -till.n nature, vicient to
1 * ■ , ■ - _ traor-i; / :int ^ ,;t c" fufl.it;/ v?5 t i -o l:\alo, • • ; th<.• s-v,ii'U f
t h <■- i :r ■' ua y a an d t - x f u -t 11 i t / of t: * - : r» > ly tr - it*.; * n i n i *na t :r rr a -
! • V 1 ■ . i rj n -
•• 1 ’ • t ’ I
o] f so tiofaction o;» tae : .ii i.l y* t\ ■ tu;• *e of :.i fives f;lo, >‘u't■ e an
:At y their varying an^ ever-appro ;.chinr traits * a ir ote^,
tit ;ir ill tty of . .* ; ui,>.. , taeir loy If t > t -:lr v ■ i •, th *
tenacity -/hioh t,iuy resent injury, yrd tf ■ *J a f i: it y of eir-
by
w
cuuotance-A hi-;f i th >y octroy an i <er. tic a moeotry.
fy th j creation d Uou o deluges, to o, id o th foone '.nd Croc he tt dlco, it as eox o. *, ;xn;t to oe/ ' its e no ;;i-r;, tl.is
-14-
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
#
study uill toe ol
-Mtnxn
r<
ai
c
4
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
Boone and Crockett Club Records
