Marking boundaries.-There still remains about 59 miles of the park boundary along the north and west that should be marked. It is very important that this should be done, in the interest of protection and to prevent trespasses of other kinds. It frequently happens when hunters are arrested by the scouts within what is understood to be the park lines, the contention is made by them that they were not in the park. It is necessary to testify under oath as to the matter before the commissioner, and when there is any doubt about it of course these witnesses can not so testify, and while it is reasonably certain that the regulations of the park have been violated, the guilty ones escape. As poaching is usually done near the border, this question is liable to come up at any time. PROJECTED IMPROVEMENTS. The following estimates for improvements have been prepared by Captain Chittenden and included in his report to the Chief of Engineers. $10,000 15,000 New road in Gardiner Canyon, including three steel bridges. Completion of 8 miles of road near Fountain Hotel Raising 3 miles of road in Gibbon Canyon and cutting out 1 mile of dangerous grades, also opening 4 miles of new road down the Gibbon to connect with western approach 16,000 8,000 Completion of southern approach along Snake River, 20 miles.. Surfacing new road from Lake Hotel to Grand Canyon, 15 miles. New road from West Thumb to Natural Bridge, cutting out present line around lake shore, 8 miles 20,000 16,000 New bridge across the Yellowstone near the falls.. 15,000 New road down right bank of Grand Canyon, 3 miles. 20,000 New road near Grand Canyon, to cut out dangerous hills. 6,000 New road, Canyon to Norris, 10 miles... 5,000 New bridge over Yellowstone near Tower Falls.. New road, Grand Canyon, via Tower Falls, to Mammoth Hot Springs, 36 miles. 20,000 72,000 New bridge over Lamar River... 10,000 Completion of east approach, 15 miles.. 5,000 New plant 15,000 New office and other buildings 5,000 5,000 Current repairs and maintenance for season of 1900. 10,000 New bridges at various points (six needed at once) 12,000 Office, transportation, and miscellaneous expenses.. There should also be added for clearing out and rendering more easily passable the numerous trails throughout the park, which are essential to its proper police and protection 10,000 5,000 Total for completion of project in a single season. $300,000 I have gone over these estimates very carefully with Captain Chittenden and fully approve of them. This work will have to be done at some time, and Captain Chittenden estimates that it would cost about one-half to have one appropriation cover the whole. The amount appears large when compared with the usual annual appropriation, but in the end it would be a measure of economy for the Government to appropriate all at once, so that a systematic plan of work might be adopted and carried out. The result would be to make travel easy and safe, and bring almost every point of interest of the park in the line of tourist travel. After this work is completed the cost of maintenance would probably not amount to more than half of the present annual appropriation, and a part of this could be used for macadamizing a few miles of road each year. Whether the total amount required for this work is obtained or not, there are certain items for which the Department should make every effort to get appropriations. The more important are as follows: Fifteen thousand dollars for new steel bridge in Golden Gate Canyon. This is absolutely necessary for safety. I do not consider the present bridge safe for another season's travel, and if upon careful examination in the spring it is not found to be so I shall have to prohibit any passage across it. This would stop all travel in the park as there is no other way of getting through. This bridge is of wood, fastened to the side of a precipitous cliff with wooden supports below, and has been in use several years. Sixteen thousand dollars for road in Gardiner Canyon. This road runs at the base of a mountain, the side of which, next to the road, is composed of loose earth and an easily disintegrated stone that from time to time break away and fall into the road making travel along it at certain seasons dangerous. This change should be made in the interest of safety. Twenty thousand dollars for new road from Grand Canyon to Norris. This road should be changed to avoid an extremely steep declivity with an abrupt turn at the foot which makes it dangerous. Five thousand dollars for bridge over Lamar River. The old bridge here washes out every spring, cutting off the Soda Butte Station and isolating an important part of the park. Twenty thousand dollars for new bridge across the Yellowstone near the upper falls. This bridge should be built both as a means of protection and for the opening up of the east side of the river to tourists. The means of getting to the other side, where much of the game ranges, is to cross on the ice in the winter and to ford it at shallow points in the summer. It is late in the winter before this can be done on the ice. During high water it is impossible to ford anywhere, and it is late in the summer and at only a few points where this can be done at all. The park is unquestionably fulfilling the purposes for which it was set aside by the Government. It has been visited by about 10,000 tourists this year from every part of the United States and from foreign countries. As its natural wonders and picturesque beauties become more widely known these numbers will undoubtedly increase. As a game preserve it is probably the greatest in the world, and as the game disappears from the country surrounding it and other points of the West its value will be conspicuous as the breeding ground and refuge of the wild fauna of our country. To properly protect this extensive area and enforce compliance with the many regulations for its government requires more troops than the number now stationed here, but it is well understood that under the present conditions no more are available for this duty. The majority of the men of the command were newly enlisted and had hardly passed the recruit stage at the time they were sent out to the different stations. It is but just to them to state that the important duties they were charged with have been performed with commendable prudence and efficiency, and it is believed that the care and condition of the park this season will compare favorably with those at any period of its history. The work of the civilian scouts for the past season, as shown by the diaries kept by them and on file in my office, is a story of a vast amount of difficult country traversed under all conditions of weather, involving much labor and in some cases actual hardship. Their services have been most valuable in the protection of game. Very respectfully, OSCAR J. BROWN, East: To Nez Perce Creek and scout foothills of Marys Mountain. Southwest: Around Twin Buttes and Fairy Falls. North: To Gibbon Falls, meeting scouts from Norris. South: By the way of Upper Geyser Basin to Shoshone Lake by the way of Lone Star Geyser. RIVERSIDE STATION. North: Along west boundary as far as Grayling Creek; up Grayling Creek to the vicinity of Three River Peaks; along foothills by White Peaks; down Maple Creek and Duck Creek to Cougar Creek, thence to station. South: Over Madison Plateau for a distance of 10 or 12 miles, thence back to station. Patrol up the Madison River to forks of Gibbon and Madison. SNAKE RIVER STATION. West: To Fall River Meadows; to Boundary Creek Cabin, taking in cabins at Proposition Creek and Bartlett Cabin. East: As far as Snowshoe Cabin, on Coulter Creek; thence north to Heart Lake; around through Heart Lake Geyser Basin to Lewis River Cabin; thence south to home station. LAKE STATION. East: Across the Yellowstone to Astringent Creek Cabin; thence south by Turbid Lake, along east side of lake to Snowshoe Cabin, at Park Point on the lake; along southeast arm of lake to cabin on Trappers Creek, scouting Upper Yellowstone country from this point to boundary. CANYON STATION. South: To Mud Geyser; thence west to Marys Lake and to Trout Creek Cabin, returning by Alum Creek. East: Across Yellowstone River, through the Sour Creek country to Fern and White lakes and the country about the hot springs near these lakes; thence to Astringent Creek Cabin, and along Pelican Creek to Lake Station; thence to home station. SODA BUTTE STATION. North: Soda Butte Creek and Pebble Creek to park boundary. South: Up Lamar River to Willow Creek Cabin, scouting up Miller and Cache creeks to east boundary of park. Mirror Plateau to December 1. Northwest: Slough Creek and Buffalo Fork of Slough Creek to boundary line, thence west along northern boundary to Hellroaring Creek Cabin. This is an outline of the territory to be covered by the detachments at the respective stations, but whenever necessary these limits may be extended. Scouting parties will avoid the regular trails as far as possible; will not habitually go in the same direction, and will vary this work as much as the character of the country will allow. OSCAR J. BROWN, Captain, First Cavalry, Acting Superintendent. STATEMENT OF CASES BROUGHT BEFORE HON. JOHN W. MELDRUM, UNITED STATES COMMISSIONER, SINCE THE 1ST DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 1898. September 29.-United States v. Horace Stockwell. Charge: Violation of the provisions of the act of Congress approved May 7, 1894, "to protect the birds and animals in Yellowstone National Park, and to punish crimes in said park, and for other purposes." Defendant ordered to pay costs. December 2.-United States v. Alexander Stewart. provisions of the act of Congress approved May 7, 1894. fine of $10. Charge: Violation of the December 13.-United States v. Henry Jenkins and Charles Steed. Charge: Violation of the provisions of the act of Congress approved May 7, 1894. The original warrant herein was returned on the 17th day of January, 1899, "not served." Defendants not found within the district of Wyoming. The papers in the case have been transmitted to the United States attorney for the district of Idaho, with request that he cause such action to be taken as will place the defendants within the jurisdiction of the authorities of the district of Wyoming. No report of arrest has yet been received from the authorities of the district of Idaho. February 1.-United States v. A. K. Crawford. of the act of Congress approved May 7, 1894. $50 and costs. Charge: Violation of the provisions The complaint in this case was entered on the 12th day of July, 1898, and original warrant returned "not served." Defendant was subsequently arrested within the district of Montana, and was brought before the commissioner, by virtue of an order of removal issued by the Hon. Hiram Knowles, United States judge for said district. June 7.-United tates v. Margaret Gleason Trischman. Charge: Murder. Defendant held to United States district court for the district of Wyoming. July 12.-United States v. John Jacobson. Charge: Violation of the provisions of the act of Congress approved May 7, 1894. Defendant ordered to pay a fine of $10. July 13.-United States v. Thomas Murchie. Charge: Violation of the provisions of the act of Congress approved May 7, 1894. Defendant committed to post guardhouse, Fort Yellowstone, Wyo., for the period of twenty days. August 26.-United States v. Washington Jones. visions of the act of Congress approved May 7, 1894. September 25.-United States v. G. P. Hitchcock. visions of the act of Congress approved May 7, 1894. Charge: Violation of the pro- |