Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 03.djvu/706

BUFFALO. shorter, and spread sideways, with up-curved ends, from the forehead, where the bases nearly meet in a broadly flattened expanse, making a rough buckler of horn. They frequent marshes and rivers, wading about in the water most of the time and eating the aquatic vegetation. Formerly they gathered in large herds, but now are rarely seen except in small bands, and they have disappeared entirely from all the settled regions. Their scent is remarkably keen, and they are warned of the approach of a disturber by the birds (see ), which remain near them and are vigilant. They are justly regarded as exceedingly dangerous by sportsmen, since when wounded they will charge with extreme speed and ferocity. They are, however, overcome by lions and leopards, and sometimes pulled down by crocodiles or chased to exhaustion by packs of wild dogs. This animal has not been tamed or domesticated; but its hide is much valued for its thickness and strength.

The West African species is smaller, has shorter and less massive horns, and is ruddy brown in color, its habits seem to be similar to those of the more southern species, and it is widely distributed in Central Africa. The zamouse of Sierra Leone is typical of this species. The small wild ox of the Celebes is a near relative of the buffaloes. See ; ; ; ;  BUFFALO (named from Buffalo Creek). The county-seat of Erie County, N. Y., one of the most important commercial ports of the Great Lakes, and, next to New York, the largest city in the State (Map:, B 3). It is at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River, 20 miles above Niagara Falls, 540 miles east of Chicago, 297 miles west of Albany, and 410 miles by rail northwest of New York.

The city occupies an area of 42 square miles. It is situated on ground rising gradually from the lake to an extended plain at an elevation of 50 feet (altitude 600 feet above sea-level). The streets generally are broad and cross each other at right angles, are beautifully shaded and well paved, considerably more than half (356 miles) of the total street mileage being paved, and about two-thirds of this distance (233 miles) with asphalt. Main Street, the principal business thoroughfare, runs northerly from the lake-front. Near Lafayette Square, Niagara Street, the main road to Tonawanda, starts from Main Street on a diagonal line. This is the centre of the business district. Here are the large office buildings, including many tall, steel-framed structures. The residential sections of Buffalo are marked by the large proportion of detached houses owned by the occupants. In the fashionable district the principal avenues are Delaware Avenue and North Street: here the houses are surrounded by ample lawns and trees and shrubs, which give this section of the city the picturesque appearance of a suburb. The same features of domestic architecture are carried out in the newly developed sections of the North Side. Many handsome buildings adorn the city; among these mention may be made of the new United States Government Building, which cost about $2,000,000; the city and county hall, of granite, with a tower 245 feet high; the State Armory and Arsenal; Music

Hall; Merchants' Exchange; Masonic Temple; Y. M. C. A. Building; Fitch Institute; General Hospital; State Insane Asylum; the Erie County Penitentiary; Buffalo Library; Grosvenor Library; the Roman Catholic and Protestant Episcopal cathedrals; Board of Trade Building; the Erie County Savings Bank; Buffalo Savings Bank; Mutual Life and Prudential buildings; the D. S. Morgan Building; and Ellicott Square, the last named covering an entire block, and said to be the largest office building in the world.

The Buffalo street railways were among the first to adopt electric traction and the system of free transfers. Numerous lines, the entire system covering 185 miles, furnish transit to all sections of the city, and also to neighboring towns. An abundant water-supply is derived from the lake, and the sewerage system, comprising 416 miles of mains (140 paved with brick and 276 with tile), not only covers the whole city, but has a large outfall sewer discharging into the swift current of Niagara River.

The park system of Buffalo includes over 1000 acres, and consists of a chain of parks and parkways nearly encircling the city. The principal plots are the Front, of 45 acres, where the waters of the lake form themselves into the Niagara, and north of which is Fort Porter, a small military post; the Delaware Park, of 365 acres, adjoining which are the State Insane Hospital grounds, of 200 acres, and Forest Lawn Cemetery, of 230 acres; Humboldt Park, including about 56 acres, and three large parks in the south: Stony Point, on the lake shore; South Park; and Cazenovia Park. Besides these, and the connecting park boulevards and circles, there are minor spaces scattered about the town aggregating about 60 acres. The principal public monuments are the Soldiers and Sailors', in Lafayette Square, and those to Red Jacket and President Fillmore, in Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Besides its many churches of all denominations, and a large variety of charitable institutions, Buffalo is noted as the home of the first Charity Organization Society in the country (founded in 1877). Its home in the Fitch Institute is the headquarters for a large amount of philanthropic work, prominent among which is the crêche, or day nursery for children whose mothers are at work, with its kindergarten and training school for nursery maids. Among other philanthropic institutions may be mentioned the Orphan Asylum, Home for the Friendless, Saint Vincent's and Saint Joseph's (Roman Catholic) orphanages, State Insane Asylum, Buffalo General Hospital, Church Home for Aged Women, Saint John's Orphan Home, Saint Mary's Asylum for Widows and Foundlings, Saint Mary's Institution for Deaf Mutes, and Ingleside Home for Erring Women.

Educational institutions are numerous and efficient, one-fifth of the annual tax levy being allotted to the educational department of the city. In addition to the public schools, which include three high schools, a training school for teachers, and many kindergartens, there are a State Normal School, the University of Buffalo, Saint Joseph's and Canisius's colleges (Roman Catholic), the German Martin Luther Seminary (Evangelical Lutheran), Academy of the Sacred Heart, Holy Angels' Academy, etc. Two municipal libraries, aggregating about 235,000 