The capacity of spring is now about 40 barrels a day, though after a long period of excessively dry weather it has run as low as 4 barrels a day, the least it has been known to produce since its discovery. Having repaired the old tank, which holds 350 barrels, and connected same to new system, we now have storage for about 800 barrels of water, which, with the varying capacity of the spring, assures the park ample for all needs and a reasonable degree of protection from fire for the buildings.

ROADS AND BRIDGES.

There is but one main road through the park, extending from the north to the south, about through the center and passing headquarters. From the regions south and east this is the route to all of the Black Hills country and to much country in Wyoming and Montana. This road is of dirt and was before the heavy rains in June the best stretch of road between Custer and Hot Springs, but is at present in need of repair, which is now being done. The road both north and south of park limits has recently been greatly improved for a distance of 20 miles either way, and the increase of automobile travel as a result is very marked. The traffic is mostly by automobile and is increasing rapidly. Many parties that go through are bound for the many places of interest in the mountain regions to the north and have camp equipage packed in their cars.

In addition to this through automobile traffic, visitors to the cave are brought to the park from Hot Springs principally by automobile. Owners of cars desiring to bring visitors to the cave are required to take out a license for that purpose. At present nine automobiles are in use for that purpose.

The spring and summer season has been so cold and the weather so excessively rainy that so far this year there has been a much lighter attendance to the cave and the Hot Springs resort than usual.

VISITORS.

For the year ended June 30, 1915, the total number of registered visitors to the cave was 2,817. Of these 2,060 came during the three summer months-July and August of 1914 and June of 1915. It is the custom for an authorized guide (or guides) to conduct these visitors through the cave during these summer months, and as a trip therein requires about three hours but two trips each day are undertaken. The established time for entrance to the cave is at 9 o'clock in the morning and 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Each visitor pays a fee of 50 cents for entrance, and these fees are remitted to the department, the guides being upon a salary basis during the months of most attendance.

Many camping parties pass through the park with team and wagon, but on account of the lack of running water and scarcity of dead wood these people stop along the northern boundary and are not strictly within the park. It has been the custom not to encourage this class of traffic to stay longer than necessary, on account of the danger of fires. There is no record of campers who have stayed

within the park over 24 hours. The ordinary summer season is hot and dry, with much wind, and the danger from disastrous fires is very great.

MOVEMENT OF LIVE STOCK.

The movement of loose stock along the main road is not great. During the past year there has been but a few odd head of cattle taken through the park on the road. This stock belonged to local ranchmen who were changing their cattle from one range to another. Considerable stock is driven about the park, but on crosscountry trips, without regard to the road.

TIMBER.

The western half of the park is covered with pine timber. The ordinary longleaf pine predominates, with some lodgepole pine interspersed. Some of this timber is approaching a size to be of commercial value. The timbered area of the park will stand for some forestry application and is worthy of more than passing notice.

STREAMS.

There is a running stream which skirts the northern boundary of the park for a distance of about a half mile, but in very dry seasons it ceases to flow. There is no other running stream within the park.

NATIONAL GAME PRESERVE.

A national game preserve has been established in the Wind Cave National Park under the provisions of "An act making appropriations for the Department of Agriculture for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1913," approved August 10, 1912 (37 Stat., 293), as follows:

For the establishment of a national game preserve, to be known as the Wind Cave National Game Preserve, upon the land embraced within the boundaries of the Wind Cave National Park, in the State of South Dakota, for a permanent national range for a herd of buffalo to be presented to the United States by the American Bison Society, and for such other native American game animals as may be placed therein. The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to acquire by purchase or condemnation such adjacent lands as may be necessary for the purpose of assuring an adequate, permanent water supply, and to enclose the said game preserve with a good and substantial fence and to erect thereon all necessary sheds and buildings for the proper care and maintenance of the said animals, $26,000, to be available until expended.

The establishment on this preserve of herds of bison, elk, and antelope has resulted in an added interest by the public in this park. It is particularly adapted to this purpose and the animals are doing well. The inclosure is about the western portion of the park and creates a pasture of about 4,000 acres.

Since it is impossible at times for the general public to obtain a glimpse of the game animals within this large pasture, there is a clamor for a smaller inclosure alongside the road, near the park headquarters, where some of the animals may be kept so visitors to the park can see them. The herds at present number 16 buffalo, 16 elk, and 11 antelope.

As a natural game reserve there is but the one animal, the white tail deer, that has come under the protection of the park. These are present in small numbers throughout the season, with more in the autumn season on account of the hunting to the northward, which drives them to the park for refuge.

The prairie sharp-tailed grouse and the bobwhite are present within the park in small numbers, and both are increasing and doing well. With the proper protection of these birds, which they are now getting, their rapid increase is assured.

The magpie, a most beautiful bird itself, is by far the worst enemy to bird propagation within the park. The magpie is migratory and is with us from late winter till July or until their young can fly well. While here they prey upon the young and eggs of other birds. This nuisance should be exterminated.

Coyotes and bobcats are common and an occasional gray wolf has been seen.

The worst local enemy to pine timber is the otherwise inoffensive porcupine, whose destructive work is evident here and there in the wooded area of the park.

CONCESSIONERS.

List of yearly permits authorized for transportation of passengers by automobile, Jan. 1, 1915, to Dec. 31, 1915, in the Wind Cave National Park,

Permits issued for the grazing of horses and cattle, using such of the park lands as are designated by the superintcnednt thereof.

Number grazed.

Permit

No.

Name of permittee and rate exacted per head on horses and cattle.

Horses. Cattle.

12341780

5

Geo. F. Clark, 56 cents per head on horses.

6

T. B. Quigley, 56 cents per head on horses.

Clark Bacon, 45 cents per head on cattle.

8 T. B. Quigley, 45 cents per head on cattle and 56 cents per head on horses..

9

Smith Bros.,31 cents per head on cattle..

REVENUES.

The revenues for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1915, less transmission fees, aggregate $2,277.87, and were derived from the follow

ing sources:

Grazing permits..

Transportation licenses

Entrance fees (visitors to cave)---.

$344.82

608 95 1, 324. 10

Total from all sources..

2,277.87

RECOMMENDATIONS.

I submit for your consideration the following recommendations: Charging of a license fee for the transportation of passengers to the cave should be abolished, as I think it would net a gain to the park revenues, reduce the expense to visitors, and be much more satisfactory to the public in general.

Almost without exception visitors to the cave assert that it ought to be lighted by electricity throughout, and many rail at our primitive system of lighting parties through. I recommend that $3,000 be provided for the installation of electric lights throughout the interior of the cave.

Two miles of game fence, inclosing about 300 acres from within present buffalo pasture and adjoining park headquarters, enabling visitors to the cave to see specimens of the game inclosed therein, should be built. This would also contain park spring, water supply, and storage tanks, and be amply large to maintain 25 animals the year round. I estimate the cost of such fence to be $1,500.

I recommend the building of 1 mile of permanent road within the park and properly shaping and macadamizing same for a width of 12 feet; other road and bridge work, lowering grades, and repair and upkeep of park roads in general. The former I estimate at $1,000, the latter at $700.

Lowering of pipe from spring to reservoir to insure against freezing and bursting; extension of pipe line from hydrant in road to barn-the two to cost about $300.

Constructing neat fence on north and south sides of yard, connecting game fence at rear to stone fence in front of house; requiring 22 rods, estimated cost $75.

Covering part of yard with coat of fertile soil 3 inches deep, to make possible a lawn; cost for labor about $100.

Partitioning and finishing of upstairs portion of park residence, making into three rooms and bathroom, toilet, and lavatory; estimated cost about $460.

Repair and improvement in the cave, putting in new stairs, bridges, ladders, and safeguards as old ones decay; about $150.

General repairs to buildings and grounds that unforeseen necessities for expenditure arise from require $100.

Repairing the pasture fence, rebuilding 13 miles of fence, requiring 450 new posts (using all old wire), $125.

Painting the barn, $35; telephone service for supervisor's office, $40; fuel for supervisor's office and public building, amounting to $50 for cutting and hauling wood for both stoves.

The supervisor's salary is insufficient for maintenance and should be adjusted to $1,500. There should be an allowance of $1 per day to the supervisor for expense of keeping horse for range service, $365.

I recommend the employment of one park ranger for guide and general service, July 1 to September 15 and May 1 to June 30, at $90 a month, and a second ranger from July 1 to September 15 and during the last half of June (three months), at $75 a month. First ranger's total salary, $405; second's, $225.

This park's share of expenses, salaries, etc., department representatives, general superintendent of national parks and his assistant, as established, $300. T. W. BRAZELL,

Respectfully,

The SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.

RULES AND REGULATIONS.

Supervisor.

GENERAL REGULATIONS OF MARCH 30, 1912.

Pursuant to authority conferred by the act of Congress approved January 9, 1903, the following rules and regulations for the government of the Wind Cave National Park, in South Dakota, are hereby established and made public:

1. It is forbidden to remove or injure the specimens or formations in and around the Wind Cave, or to deface the same by written inscription or otherwise, or to injure or disturb in any manner or carry off any of the mineral deposits, specimens, natural curiosities, or wonders on the Government lands within the park.

2. No person shall be permitted to enter the cave unless accompanied by the supervisor or other park employee, or by competent guides.

3. It is forbidden to cut or injure any timber growing on the park lands, or to deface or injure any Government property. Camping parties will be allowed to use dead or fallen timber for fuel.

4. Fires should be lighted only when necessary and completely extinguished when not longer required. The utmost care must be exercised at all times to avoid setting fire to the timber and grass.

5. Hunting or killing, wounding or capturing any bird or wild animal on the park lands, except dangerous animals when necessary to prevent them from destroying life or inflicting an injury, is prohibited. The outfits, including guns, traps, teams, horses, or means of transportation used by persons engaged in hunting, killing, trapping, ensnaring, or capturing such birds or wild animals, or in possession of game killed on the park lands under other circumstances than prescribed above, will be taken up by the supervisor and held subject to the order of the Secretary of the Interior, except in cases where it is shown by satisfactory evidence that the outfit is not the property of the person or persons violating this regulation and the actual owner thereof was not a party to such violation. Firearms will only be permitted in the park on written permission from the supervisor thereof.