Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1902-07-25
The park oass.

court the recent decision Of the SUI
perior court in the case Of Common.
wealth vs.. Hazen, which really iu-
volved the constitutionality Of the
act incorporating the Blooming
Grove park association, settles the
rights Of that corporation to protect
its lands from those who would
trespass on them at will for the pur-
pose of hunting or fishing.
The PREss has always contended
that owners of lards in this county
should have equal protection with
the park. There seems no reason
why a man owning unimproved
lands should not have the right to
say who might and who might not
hunt or fish over it. AS the law
now stands such owner is practical.
| ly helpless to protect himself. He
must stand and look on while those
who choose, probably not owning a
foot of land in the state or paying
any taxes, roam over his property
and shoot the game or take the fish
thereon. The opponents Of this idea
claim that to exclude them is to de-
prive them of their natural rights,
which are, to shoot and fish wher-
ever they please. That is, that
while a man pays taxes on land,
and has for years, yet if he wants to
exercise any other control over it,
as saying who may or may not
share its benefits, he becomes a sell
fish monopolist and infringes the
rights of those who without leave
or license wish to occupy it in com
mon with him. The argument is
used that game and fish are not sub
iect to property rights, are fera
naturae, and belong to whoever can
get them, regardless of the fact that
in order to Ito so the hunter or fish
erman becomes a trespasser.
Had farmers and land owners the
right to prevent trespassing by
stringent laws their lands might be
leased to those who are willing to
pay for the privilege of shooting or
fishing over them and they would
thereby derive substantial benefit
and be aided in paying their taxes.
Our co nty is naturally adapted
to game The Blooming Grove park
association breeds it largely ard pro-
tects it, but it cannot prevent it's
game and fish from escape and the
moment it Gro 7ses its lines it be-
comes common property. Now if
the adjoining owners could protect
their lands and designate who, if
any one, should enter on them they
would be largely benefited by the
efforts of the park people to propa-
gate game and fish. Other associa-
tions in the county would become
interested in protecting and breed
ing game and fish and Noon our
county would become in fact and
not in name merely paradise for
sportsmen.
These men spend their money
freely. They pay well for their
privileges and pay cheerfully if
they can have tue sport Should
they not be encouraged to come
here? Is not their presence
with their well filled
pocketbooks of far more value to our
people than the theory of an inher-
ept right to trespass? The Bloom
ing Grove park association has its
charter rights established, call it an
absolute monarchy or whatever you
please its lands are protected, its
members may enjoy them exclusive
ly. Now extend the same privilege
to the citizens Of the county and
others owning lands. Let them
have just as exclusive control of
what they own. Our member of
the legislature can engage in no
more worthy occupation in tile next
session than in an endeavor to give
his constituents the same rights to
control their property as are enjoy
ed by outsiders.