The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 122, No. 1, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 5, 1997 Page: 30 of 66
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Page 20 "Back to Rath's Trail" Souvenir Section 1997
Bison, Not Buffalo
Roamed Great Plains
A bison is either of two existing spe-
cies of the wild cattle genus Bison. One,
commonly but incorrectly known as the
buffalo, is the American bjson. The other,
the .European species, is the wisent.
The hull of the American buffalo
(bison) ma\ weigh more than 2.(KK)
pounds and stand more than 6-feet high.
Fhe massive head and lorcquarters are
covered with long hair, and the body
slum .'down toward the hindquarters,
which arc covered with shorter hair.
Pile female of the species is somewhat
^mailer. Both sexes have horns, but
those of the male are more massive.
During the breeding season. July and
August, bulls leave their bachelor groups
and mingle with the cow-calf herds. A
single calf is bom after a gestation pe-
riod of nine months.
The bison was a principal resource of
the Plains Indians, furnishing them with
food. skins for shelter and boats, bones
tor tool sand utensils, and "buffalo chips"
dung) for fuel.
The great bison herds moved north-
afd in the spring and southward in late
tall. The migrations covered up to 400
miles, in a roughly circular route. Dur-
ing theirGreat Plains journeys the beasts
swam swift-flowing rivers and climbed
and slid down steep banks and cliffs.
Routes were the same year after year.
The southward movement was made
usually in single file. Bison trails in
some places were worn as much as 3 feet
deep. The northward movement began
in the spi ing, after the calves were strong
enough for travel. In this movement the
herds Were smaller. The bulls ranged in
an outer circle around the cows and
calves. When threatened, the herd
bunched, and the bulls faced outward
toward the danger. Ice weakened by the
spring sun would sometimes break un-
der the weight of a migrating herd, and
many of the animals would drown.
Few wild animals have undergone a
more devastating encounter with hu-
mans than the bison. The grasslands
from the Mississippi River to the Rocky
Mountains were the home of 30 million
prairie bison when white settlers first
arrived. These numbers were reduced
to about 500 near the end of the last
century, and then slowly increased to an
estimated 35 to 50 thousand on refuges
and ranches today.
It's Going to be
a Fun Time and
We're Glad
You're Here!
Lakey
Fertilizing
Ground application of
fertilizer ami pesticides
(915)576-3750 or
1-800-258-6051
welcome
See us for all your backhoe and
oilfie d construction needs
Chamber Hosting Kid's Korner
The Hamlin Chamber of Commerce
will host a Kid's Korner in conjunction
with the petting zoo which will be lo-
cated in the 400 block of South Central.
The kid's area will be open from 10a.m.
to 4 p.m. and will offer crafts and awards
for children up to age 12.
In addition, an air castle will be open
forchildren. A carnival will begin Thurs-
day and run through Sunday in the 2(H)
block of S. W. Ave. A.
While the kids are busy at the Kid's
Korner. parents may shop at the many
arts and crafts booths which will be open
from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The booths will
be located on South Central at the old
Fire Station and the old Albritton Motor
building.
Food booths will be open all day in
the 300 block of South Central.
Hie annual quilt show, featuring old
and new quilts, will be held in G&fi
Carpets, 335 South Central. Artifacts
dating back to the IXOO's will be on
display,in the lobby of Hamlin National
Bank throughout the day. Arrowheads,
gnns, and memorabilia from this area
will be on display.
Come See our New Look
and New Arrivals at
Back to Rath's Trail
Everything is Marked Down!
We will be open during
the motorcycle light parade
Open Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, June 7, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
224 South Central
576-3841
%
§
Hen your "IDapn" needs Repairs
Call Us-
We've been serving the auto body
and glass needs of the
Hamlin area since 1950
Now doing Windshield Repairs
Insurance will pay 100% of repair with no deductible
Hamlin Paint & Body
33 S. E.Ave. A ~ 576-2161
J
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Lucas, Donnie A. The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 122, No. 1, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 5, 1997, newspaper, June 5, 1997; Albany, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth414301/m1/30/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Old Jail Art Center.