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Previous to the arrival of an additional number of buffalo and elk for the local Buffalo Park, Howard Douglas, Commissioner for Dominion Parks, was a visitor in town on Saturday last. While here the commissioner also made an inspection of the animals in their home, with most satisfactory results. Superintendent Ellis came in for words of commendation from Mr. Douglas, in that the buffalo were in fine shape and everything was in a most satisfactory state, in and around the park. Several improvements are planned this year, by the department, including the securing of a good crossing, west of town, and the grading of that road. Application has already been made to Mr. Chamberlain and it is expected that the desire of the commissioner will be complied with.
“At the present time,” stated Mr. Douglas, “there are very few buffalo left in Montana. The Pablo herd has practically all been shipped to this park. When those expected next week have arrived, there will be very few left on the Pablo Reservation. Pablo has experienced some difficulty rounding up the final bunch, and those coming will, in all probablitiy be all that will be shipped.”
Mr. Douglas stated that in addition to the buffalo expected next week from the Pablo herd, eight head of elk would also arrive, six of which were females. Ten or twelve more moose will be shipped also, making a total of twenty-three. The commissioner stated that a contract had been given for the shipment of twenty more antelope to arrive here sometime in the fall. “When those are added to the park,” said he, “we will then have a fine stock of animals in the park. At the present time, there are 825 buffalo there and more than one hundred calves to date this year. This is a great increase over the number last year and we expect that last year’s number will be easily doubled. Seven elk, eleven moose, six antelope and perhaps fifty or sixty wild deer, in addition to the buffalo, form a fine stock of animals.”
Jasper Park, west of Edmonton is now being surveyed and a small bunch of buffalo will no doubt be taken there, when arrangements are made for shipment. As time passes, the Wainwright Park will probably be a distributing point for minor parks, formed throughout the country.
Mr. Douglas was greatly amused over the names of the towns, adjoining the new park and stated that one, now being surveyed is called Fitzhugh. The first townsite, on entering the park is to be known as Shackell. These are a sample of the names given these sites by the engineers, who passed through and it is not at all improbable that some of the names will be changed.
It is very gratifying to see that Commissioner Douglas, on his arrival here, has found things so very satisfactory. The result of his inspection has shown that Superintedent Ellis is alive to his duties and supervises things in the right manner.