Show 1ELLOSTONE NATIONAL PARK PROPOSITION TO DOUBLE ITS PRESENT SIZE Takes In the South Half of Gallatin County Mont a Large Slice of Idaho and Part of Wyoming Washington Office of The Herald 1415 rr Street N W Washington D C Sept 25The commissioner of the land office in his annual report to Secretary Bliss will commit himself in favor of the expan sian of the Yellowstone national panIc to about twice its present size There has heretofore appeared in this con respondence an extended description and map of the proposed new bounda rica of this national preserve The enlarged en-larged park as favored by Commissioner Hermann takes in the south half of Gallatin county Mont and also absorbs ab-sorbs a tract in Idaho something smaller small-er than the District of Columbia But the principal additions to the park are in Wyoming where huge cantle outs to the east and south of the present park have been added to It During the preliminary discussion of this expansion project it appeared probable prob-able that there would be so much op pcsition to it on the part of senators from the states most interested that its defeat would be certaIn But there are many existing evidences of a change of heart on the part ot a mm her of the senators and members from the mountain states bordering on the park This is especially true of the Wyoming delegation which was bitterly bitter-ly hostile to the bill when It was first presented by Senator Hansbrough This change of opinion is said to be largely due to the influence of some leading politicians who live inside the limits of the extended park These men are do sirous of having the park extended because be-cause of the opportunities that wilt be presented for moneymaking as guides hotel and restaurant keepers and corn mon carriers As the proposition to consume con-sume mountain state territory in vast forest reserves of every description has always been popular among eastern senators and representatives It is easy to predict the passage of the park ex rianslon bill If Wyoming opposition collapses as there is a possibility It may The park now contains about 300 square miles and if the proposei addition ad-dition is made its size will be doubled It is the opInIon of Mr Hermann that the domain of the park can be increased in-creased with advantage as It would insure in-sure the close supervision of the United States army over the entire region as is the case with the park today Owing to the fact that here is what is called the continental divide and that the Missouri and other rivers have their origin here the preservation of the forests assume great importance The protection from fire and other dangers which menace the life of the trees would be it is thought more complete under the proposed conditions Then again the steadily dwindling herd of buffaloes in the park range beyond its bounds through this country coun-try and when the animals get optsido they can be shot without violation of law But if this territory is made apart a-part of the park then the roaming grounds of the buffalo would be protected pro-tected There are other reasons which influence the commissioner in making this recommendation and they will be lull set forth in hIs forthcoming annual an-nual report Mr Hermann expresses himself as being highly pleased with the manner in which the law In regard to forest reserves is being carried out The work was Inaugurated he said rather late owing to the fact that the appropnia tion did not become available until July of this year He believes however that the force of rangers now In charge of the various forest reserves will be able to do effective work In protecting the forests from the ravages of fire and from other dangers He says he has noticed a decided change in the public opinion in the west In regard to the forest reserve law and now that it Is understood the purpose of the law is to protect the water supply and not to Interfere with mining rights and the rights of the settlers the sentiment of the west is strongly in favor of the law and the setting apart of additional reserves |