The Meeker herald., 1896-12-05
The People to Blame.

operate regardless Of all law, and the ef-
be hRs 5eea e9. hsaahsa su, ye. no.
sary under the existing statutes, but the
failure of the legal enactments to ac-
complIsh their purpose has long been 4
matter Of regret to those who have
shown the greatest interest in the pres
ervation of these natural attractions.
mistaken local sentiment has shield
ed wrongdoers. 1t is feeling Of d
minority OF tine people, however, for the
great majority wish to see fish and game
protected, both for home food supply
and for the money dropped in their
midst by visiting sportsmen.
IAN effort was made at the last ses-
sion of the legislature to improve the
laws relative to game protection, and
carefully prepared bill was introduced,
and passed the house through the efforts
OF Hon. John W. Lowell Of Routt
county, but the bill failed in the senate,
the Populist members of that body fail
Ing to realize that the measure was dis
tinctly in the interests of the dear peo-
pie for whom they profess such warm
affection.
when the members from the noun
tain districts realize that they are legis-
lating strictly in the interests of their
constituents in protecting fish and
game. and when the officials of noun
tain counties comprehend that in pro.
tecting fish and game they are working
for their home interests. then, and not
until then. will these natural resources
be properly fostered."
The above article comes as near to
the kernel of the matter under discus
sion as anything We have seen in print
lately. THE HERALD has argued on
the same lines for years, and we still
insist that both duty and self-interest
demands that the permanent settlers of
this and Routt counties take the mat
ter in hand and create public senti-
ment that will aid materially in pre-
serving the deer and elk remaining
within our boarders. Don't sit around
and wall over the rapid disappearance of
our large game, but do something to
save it. Aside from sentimental rea-
sons, the fostering Of our game interests
means thousands of dollars annually
in the pockets of the citizens of the
two counties. A healthy local senti.
ment will stimulate wardens to greater
efforts in the performance of their
duties.
Rev. j. II. Ecob, the noted Congrea-
tionalist minister of Denver, writes to
the Denver Republican and comments
on the destruction of Colorado's game
as follows:
What territory of equal size any
where on the face of the earth is so rich.
ly endowed with game as was this state
of Colorado Is or 70 years ago? Buf
falo, elk, deer, antelope, sheep. lion
bear. lynx. wolf the list is bewildering
To-day, however, the state is almos,
stript. One must take long Journey
at great expense OF money and time to
reach the hunting grounds only to find
them thronged with hunters, many OF
whom pay no regard to either the laws
of the state or the unwritten law of true
hunting. Vast regions of our state Which
can never be anything but mountain
wildernesses are completely depopulated
of game.
"If our people could be aroused to an
intelligent appreciation Of the case. and
adequate laws enforced these regions
could be 'restOcked, and prove a source
Of perpetual delight to naturalists, tour.
lists and hunters, besides yielding nc
mean revenue to the state.
"It is an astonishment to easterners
and foreigners to find this young state
so bare Of game. Nothing but the most
reckless and waSteful policy couId have
50 soon ended in this dreary result.
ut is not too late to repair the great
loss II all the people join intelligently
and seriously in applying the remedy.