Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-02-23
GREAT GAME PRESERVE.
Steps to Establish One In the
Southwest.
CONGRESS- FINANCIAL AID DESIRED

Proposed TO Have a National OrGan-
fxatfon. with subleagues In Each
state and Territory-Mcctinw 70 Ne
Soon Hcld--One suitable Tract Of
Land Found.
| Steadily the hunting grounds Of the
American sportsman are growing more
circumscribed and the game scarcer
While this Is especially true OF the
eastern gunner, even the western
sportsman is finding Il more and more
difficult to satisfy his desire. Fifteen
years ago the last Of the immense herds
Of buffalo which roamed the western
plains practically disappeared. Today
deer are becoming scarcer. noun
tain sheep have nearly disappeared. aud
only In remote localities can bears be
| found In numbers.
Such Is the condition that has led to
an effort to organize a great associa-
ton Of American sportsmen. Its ,pur-
poses. as proposed by It's projectors In
the west. are to secure the enactment
and enforcement Of laws to protect the
game animals from useless slaughter
In season and out and to provide for
the establishment of great preserve
where can be gathered and protected
from the pot hunter enough game
to furnish amusement for all true low
ers Of sport. writes the Pbenix ca. IT,
correspondent Of the New York Sun. To
that end meeting will be called at
Denver or Chicago early In the year.
| 1t is proposed to have n national or
ganization, with snbleagues In each
state and territory. The chief difficulty
will be In the establishment, stocking
and protection Of preserve. 1t Is
hoped by the promoters Of the plan
that the financial aid OF congress may
be secured. The selection OF the site of
the preserve will not be easy. Several
regions In the Rocky mountains offer
certain advantages for such a purpose.
but probably no tract large enough
could be found there. For several
months an investigation has been In
| progress, and only one suitable tract
OF land has been found. Along the
| lower end Of the Colorado river and
the upper part OF the gulf OF California
lies long and Wide strip of land. part
| ~ In Arizona and California. but large
| ly In Mexico, which Ii admirably suited
for the purpose.
Despite its proximity to well set
tied region. the land has only recently
been carefully explored. A party sent
out by the promoters Of the preserve
plan returned few days ago from a
trip through that country. They say
that for 200 miles down the coast, be-
tween the lower Colorado OH the
north and the settlements of Quiioyac.
strip that could easily be converted
into the finest game country In the
world. The land Is fairly well watered
and by comparatively inexpensive Ir-
rigation could be made productive OF
all the vegetation necessary to the sus.
tenance of great herds of game, while
the rough nature of parts OF the coun.
try would harbor mountain sheep and
goats as well as the bear species. Along
the Colorado they found large numbers
Of wild pigs. large type OF the pee
cary. many deer In the hills and on
the smaller streams and ponds enor-
nous flocks OF ducks and geese. while
grouse and quails are very plentiful.
Only the Indians. members of the
Serbs tribe. and few Mexican settlers
ever hunt there. while IN the higher
mountains across the Arizona line an
occasional party OF hunters seek the
mountain sheep. which are there 10 be
found In small numbers Much OF the
larger game has been driven south by
the encroachments OF the settlers
while the great hocks OF migratory
birds resort there ON their return froI
their northern haunts In the winter
According TO statements Of members
OF the party. there Is no other place 80
well adapted TO the propagation Of the
game animals and birds. and their as
sertions are corroborated by Professor
w. j. McGee of the Smithsonian in
stitution. who has just returned from
a trip along the coast in an investiga-
tion Of the Serbs Indians. The result
Of the investigation Of the game pre-
serve will be brought before the con-
vention and steps taken to obtain con-
cession from the Mexican government
for the use of the strip for term Of
years at a nominal rent. At present.
Mexico is endeayoring In every way
to put to use her millions Of acres OF
unoccupied land. She is Offering every
inducement for colonization and set
Element. and II Is believed that the de-
sired strip for the game preserve can
be obtained at reasonable terms.
Anniversary Of Pope's Election.
Rome. Feb. 81. The pope. who is In |
excellent health, yesterday received |
Cardinal Rampolla. papal secretary OF |
state, and other high functionaries.
who waited upon him to congratulate
him upon the anniversary of bis cleo