from Canyon Junction; and a log building 14 by 28 feet inside measurements, with shingled roof, at Madison Junction, 14 miles from the west boundary, at a cost of about $250. The engineer officer also kindly had this work done by his crews who were on the ground, thus saving considerable expense of moving special crews out long distances to those points. Additional checking stations were authorized, but were not found necessary during the short season for automobiles since August 1. The Engineer Department buildings at Beaver Lake, between Fort Yellowstone and Norris, and at De Lacy Creek, between the Upper Basin and Thumb, were also used as checking stations. With permission of the department, the Engineer Department built a short spur of railroad track into the park from the Oregon Short Line Railroad depot at Yellowstone, Mont., for the purpose of switching and unloading road oil into their storage tank at that point. The military authorities have torn down and destroyed the old barracks and stables originally known as Camp Sheridan, located close to the road opposite Jupiter Terrace, thereby greatly improving the appearance of the landscape at that point. NATURAL PHENOMENA. Few changes of any importance have been noted in the geysers, hot springs, etc., during the past year. An earthquake was noted at 7.55 a. m. on May 8. Three distinct shocks were noticed at Grand Canyon and Tower Falls, and one was noticed at Mammoth Hot Springs. No damage was done. CONCESSIONS. CONCESSIONERS HOLDING PRIVILEGES FOR A YEAR OR MORE IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK UNDER EXISTING CONTRACTS, WITH RENTALS AND OTHER TAXES EXACTED. Yellowstone Park Hotel Co.-Contracts (two) dated February 26, 1913, run for period of 20 years, and grant to company right to use certain land in the park and erect and maintain thereon hotels and necessary buildings connected therewith. Annual rental: Forty dollars per acre on 29.44 acres, $1,177.60. News-stand privilege at hotels and lunch stations, $750. Usage tax, 1915, 25 cents per capita on guests during 1915 season, $6,722. Yellowstone Park Transportation Co.-Contract dated February 26, 1913, runs for period of 20 years, and authorizes company to establish and maintain a stage and transportation line and agrees to lease necessary land at eight designated sites on which to construct and maintain buildings required for accommodation of stock, carriages, employees, etc. Annual rental: Forty dollars per acre on 27.16 acres, $1,086.40. Usage tax, 1915, 25 cents per capita on passengers carried during 1915 season, $1,655.25. Yellowstone Park Boat Co.-Contract dated February 7, 1913, runs for 10 years, and lease dated May 19, 1914, for 9 years from February 7, 1914, grants to company privilege of maintaining, operating, and conducting on Yellowstone Lake and such other park lakes as may be designated, motor boats and launches, motor vessels, rowboats, and dories for accommodation of tourists, with right to sell and rent fishing tackle and sell fruits, nuts, confectionery, books, periodicals, cigars, tobacco, and camping supplies, and lease or sell bathing suits. Contract agrees to lease lands on shores of Yellowstone Lake on which wharves and ways are constructed, and at other points to be agreed upon on which to erect buildings for storage of equipment, accommodation of employees, etc. Compensation for boat privilege, $100 per annum. at $40 per acre, $74.37. Annual rental on 1.8592 acres, Wylie Permanent Camping Co.-Contract of May 4, 1906, runs for 10 years from March 31, 1906, and grants transportation privilege in park, with sites for maintenance of permanent camps therein, and right to conduct lunch stations at points near Gibbon River and West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake. Annual rental: Ten dollars per wagon (not less than 50 to be used) on 158 wagons used during 1915 season, $1,580. News-stand privilege at permanent camps, $500. Usage tax, 1915, 50 cents per capita on passengers carried during 1914 season, $2,376.50. Shaw & Powell Camping Co-Special permanent camping license issued April 19, 1913, and running for a period of one year from May 1, 1913, or until such time as may be revoked, authorizes it to maintain, conduct, and carry on the business of transporting tourists in and through the park and provide for their accommodation at permanent camps to be established on sites at designated points in the reservation and to maintain a lunch station on Madison River between the present Wylie camp and the State line. Annual rental: Ten dollars on each wagon used (75 passenger and 10 freight wagons used 1915 season), $850. News-stand privilege at permanent camps, $100. Usage tax, 1915, 25 cents per capita on passengers carried during 1914 season, $606.25. Holm Transportation Co.-Contract entered into March 14, 1913, with company for the period of one year from and after March 31, 1913, authorizes the establishment and maintenance of a stage and transportation line in the park, with the right to use and occupy such parcels of land as may be necessary at or near designated points therein on which to construct and maintain suitable buildings and inclosures for accommodating stock, carriages, and employees. Supplemental agreement entered into with company on January 23, 1914, extending the contract further for a period of three years from March 14, 1914. Annual rental: Forty dollars per acre on approximately 1.915 acres, $76.60. Usage tax, 1915, 25 cents per capita on passengers carried during the 1915 park season, $36. George Whittaker.-Contract dated March 13, 1913, for period of 10 years, grants use on 24,000 square feet of land at or near Mammoth Hot Springs, with privilege of maintaining a dwelling, store, and post office. Annual charge, $100. Usage tax, 1914, $800 per annum. Total, $900. Yellowstone-Western Stage Co.-Contract dated January 26, 1915, anuthorizing, for the term from January 1, 1914, to December 31, 1915, establishment and maintenance of a stage and transportation line, and permitting the use of certain parcels of land in connection with such privilege, aggregating 13 acres, together with use of buildings located thereon, approximately 47 in number, for accommodating stock, carriages, and employees. Rental for period of contract: Forty dollars per acre on 13 acres, $520. For use of buildings, $2,500; 25 cents per capita tax on passengers carried during 1915 park season, $4,934.25. Pryor & Trischman.-Contract dated August 26, 1908, running for period of eight years, from April 3, 1908, issued to George R. and Anna K. Pryor, interest of former transferred to Elizabeth Trischman through assignment approved by Department of the Interior October 29, 1912, grants use of tract of land near Mammoth Hot Springs in park, containing 13,800 square feet, on which to maintain dwelling, store, and soda fountain. Annual rental, $50; usage tax of $115 per annum. Total, $165. C. A. Hamilton.-Contract dated November 23, 1914, running for a period of three years, from August 13, 1914, issued to Mary R. Klamer, widow of Henry E. Klamer, and by her transferred through assignment approved by Department of the Interior June 25, 1915, authorizes use of 2-acre tract of land at or near Upper Geyser Basin, with privilege of maintaining thereon building or buildings for use as dwelling and conduct of a general store. Annual rental, $100; usage tax, $1,200 per annum. Total, $1,300. F. Jay Haynes.-Contract of May 25, 1914, for period of three years from April 1, 1914, authorizes use of 0.64 acre of land at Mammoth Hot Springs and 1 acre at or near Upper Geyser Basin, with privilege of maintaining buildings thereon for the preparation and sale of photographic views. Contract also agrees to lease not to exceed 1 acre of land at or near Grand Canyon for buildings for photographic purposes. Annual rental: Forty dollars per acre on 2.64 acres, $105.60. For privileges accorded, $1,000 at Mammoth Hot Springs, $1,000 at Upper Basin, and $500 at Grand Canyon. Total, $2,605.60. Henry J. Brothers.-Contract of July 1, 1914, for a period of 10 years from same date authorizes use of approximately 21 acres of land, at $40 per acre, $100, to be leased to him at Upper Geyser Basin, with privilege of maintaining bathhouse and bathing pools. Compensation for bathhouse privilege, $200 per annum. Annual rental, $40 per acre for land leased; also $200 for privilege. Payments to begin one year from time bathhouses opened to public July 1, 1915. Personally conducted camping party and special licenses issued in the Yellowstone National Park during the season of 1915. ENTERING AT NORTHERN ENTRANCE. Usage tax (25 cents Amount paid, Number Number wagons, of at $10 each. of horses, at $2 each. Total paid. per capita on car each). 1 Roseborough and Grant had special permission to erect a permanent storage camp at Apollinaris Spring, but did not avail themselves of it. 2 W. N. and O. M. Hefferlin had special authority for season 1915 for four permanent camps for their patrons, which they erected and operated. Personally conducted camping party and special licenses issued in the Yellowstone National Park during the season of 1915-Continued. That it be decided for a definite period of time by the department maintaining the military force and that controlling the national park if the park shall continue to be policed by United States troops or if they shall in the near future be replaced by a civilian organization. A fixed policy in this regard is essential to a stable and progressive administration. Very respectfully, LLOYD M. BRETT, Colonel of Cavalry, Acting Superintendent. The SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. APPENDIX. RULES AND REGULATIONS. Regulations of October 24, 1915, governing the distribution of animals from the Yellowstone National Park during the fiscal years 1914-15. 1. General. Distribution of all animals will be limited to applications from Federal, State, county, and municipal authorities. None will be given to private parties. Allotments will be made in the order of receipt of applications, but preference will be given to shipments intended for National reservations and to those States not having theretofore received animals. Before elk will be allotted evidence must be furnished that the laws of the State where they are intended to be transported afford them complete protection during the close as well as the open season. In the case of all animals assurance must be given that they will be humanely and properly cared for. 2. Expense. No charge will be made for animals, but applicants will be required to bear all expense of capture, crating, and hauling to Gardiner, Mont., the shipping point, and to arrange for payment of transportation charges from that place to point of destination. Provision should be made for an attendant to accompany elk shipped by freight in carload lots. Small consignments of elk or other animals should be forwarded by express, and arrangements should be made for suitable crates in which to transfer animals from car to place of destination. 3. Elk. During the present fiscal year the total number of elk to be distributed will not exceed 1,000, and not more than 50 head will be allowed to any one State. In view of the existence of several peculiar forms of elk on the Pacific coast, and the importance of keeping these elk distinct from the Rocky Mountain species, requests for elk intended for the Cascades, Sierra Nevada, or points west of these ranges will not receive approval. In shipping elk by carload the number of head in any one car shall not exceed 30. This number will be permitted only in the case of yearlings shipped in a 36-foot car; in all other cases the number of elk shall not exceed 25 head per car. When cattle cars are used for the shipment of elk the lower part of the car must be covered with burlap, canvas, or some similar material to screen the animals from view and prevent them from being disturbed at stations en route. When box cars are used the doors should be left partly open for ventilation. Before shipping the elk all cars must be padded inside to a height equal to the shoulders of the animals. Ample arrangements must be made to provide food and water when cars are likely to be more than 12 hours en route. When |