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Edmonton Bulletin:—Not since the great buffalo herds roamed the prairie a few decades ago has there been such a grand rally of the monarchs of the plains as there will be at the new buffalo park at Waiwnright when the arrangements which have been made for this year have been completed.
Howard Douglas, commissioner of Dominion parks is in Edmonton on his spring tour of inspection to the buffalo reserves at Elk Island Park and in the vicinity of Wainwright. On Thursday Mr. Douglas and Sheriff Van Wart, who came up from Calgary for the express purpose of viewing the buffalo, left Edmonton for Fort Saskatchewan and from there drove the sixteen miles to Elk Island Park where they saw the magnificent sight of 400 buffalo in one herd munching hay. Mr Douglas and the sheriff returned to Edmonton Thursday evening, and when seen by a Bulletin representatvie, were enthusiastic over the splendid way in which the animals have stood the winter.
"They will not be there much longer," said Mr. Douglas, as he began to unfold the arrangements which have been decided on for the increasing of the buffalo herd. "About the first of May, 350 of them will be captured and transferred to the great park at Wainwright which is to become the headquarters of buffalodom. The surplus of the herd at Banff, where there are 95 in the reserve, wil also be moved to Wainwright, leaving about 45 head at Banff and 50 head at Elk Island."
"Will the remainder of the Pablo herd be delivered this year?" Mr. Douglas was asked.
"The contract made with the Dominion government;" replied Mr. Douglas, "calls for the delivery of 300 head of buffalo at the park early in May. The first installment was to have been delivered last fall, but when all were thought to be safely in the corral, ready for shipment, the barriers gave way and the great herd broke away. This is the second installment which is hoped will be safely delivered. These will not come through Edmonton, but will be shipped into the park via Saskatoon and Wainwright, where the unloading platform is within one-half mile of the town.
"The delivery of the remaining 300 of the herd purchased by the Canadian government from Michael Pablo, will be under his personal supervision, and he will be assited in corralling the herd and in transporting them by Mexican cowboys. Specially constructed cars with separate stalls for each animal and with trap doors in the roof to enable the animal to be easily fed have been provided to diminish the inconvenience of the journey as much as possible."
When all told the buffalo, which will roam the great stamping ground near Wainwright will number about 800. The park has been found to be almost ideal for the shaggy beasts and it is expected that they wil thrive there without any knowledge of their captivity. An area of 110,000 acres with a circumference of 75 miles is not calculated to give any cause for repining.
"A new development will be found this year in stocking of the parks with animals," continued Mr. Douglas. "As soon as the buffalo are rounded up safely at Waiwnright park I shall see to getting moose and cariboo for Elk Island Park near Lamont. E. Carey, of Andrew, north of Lamont, has undertaken to let me have a dozen moose and Allie Brick, M. L. A., has said that he will supply me with what I want. It will be the aim of the department of the interior to stock this park with all animals natural to the country."
Mr. Douglas spoke of the attention which the department of interior has given to park reserves in the west. There are now six in all; Viz; Banff; Yoho Glacier; Elk Island; Buffalo, and Jasper. Four of them are in Alberta and two in British Columbia. The Jasper Park, which has only recently been aquired in the Yellowhead pass, is 5,400 square miles in area. The natural conditions are said by surveyors to be superior to those at Banff. In August Mr. Douglas expects to visit the park and will take in fire rangers to prevent any outbreak of fire and squatters taking up holding. In 1910 special appropriations will likely be made for extensive improvements.