The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-06
Am I Right !?
II. MoULToNs suggestion that. the

/ !. d55 r
q H. MoULToN's suggestion that the
~ German system sof game preserva-
ton be adopted in America, has called
| forth a protest from several residents of
this section; Two communications, printed
in another column of to-day's j o u I n a !,
indicate that the plan would meet with
great opposition from the farming ele-
hunters of moderate means, who could
not afford to join a syndicate for the pur-
pose of buying UP a hunting district and
| who would find the S. gun tax a hard
ship.
! The German scheme, while it is de-
scribed as Democratic is likely to offend
| a large class Of Americans because 1t
savors of aristocracy-an aristocracy of
| wealth. Hunting is not as called by Mr..
Moulton, sport particularly for the more
| ell-to-do, so far as the northwest is
concerned. There are hundreds of farm
ers and residents Of the smaller towns in
Minnesota and the Dakotas, men Of small
means, who being close to good hunting
| grounds, are able to get a lot Of sport In
| the open season at a comparatively small
expense. These men would be deprived of
the privilege Of hunting under the Ger
man plan, because they would be unable
| to join syndicate for the purpose of
bidding for the hunting preserve. 1t is
suggested that farmers would be per-
mitted to reserve their own lands, but it
Is also admitted that In the working out
| Of the scheme. the landowner is nearly
| always coerced in one way or another,
| into letting his property be made part
Of one Of the districts. Judging from Mr..
| Moulton's article, the plan practically
amounts to conhscation Of the hunting
! privileges.
II HE German, accustomed to seeing the
idea Of personal independence sub
| ordnated to the communistic idea, may
| be satisfied with the plan. Americans,
| however, are extremely Jealous Of their
present privileges, and the idea of prac-
tically forcing a landowner or tenant to
surrender the right, to hunt over his own
land will be repugnant to large percen-
tage Of the residents of the northwest.
There is still another objection to the
plan The damage done to the farmer S
crops by rabbits, prair chickens and
game of various sorts is often consid-
cradle. Under the German plan, as de-
scribed by Mr.. Moulton, hunting districts
are leased for terms of seven years, and
usually the land is not hunted over for
the first three years Of the term. 1t can
be seen that often the game might null
tiply to such an extent that the farmer
| would suffer considerable loss, yet he
would be unable to apply himself to the
simple remedy Of killing off the game. and
would be compelled to suffer the damage
until the ,lessees Of the district found it
expedient to begin hunting again.
49, Gai!.o-, -44-sSs .>ixas4 arfa
The elimination ~ OWLS ( vermin and
other natural enemies Of the game might
!, be accomplished under the German plan,
but 1t is difficult to see why it could not
be accomplished just as well under the
present system. True, the expense would
be heavy, vet if the preservation of the
met.
| A good argument against the German
plan is made in one of the communications
in to-day's Journal in the fact that
| it would mean the disarmament Of the
great mass of the citizens. The efficiency
of the American citizen soldier Is recog-
nized everywhere, and it is universally ad-
mittcd that the common use of the shot
gun and rifle in time of peace has much to
do with this efficiency. Can we afford a
step which would tend to decrease this?
HE Brownlow bill, introduced in the
- house by Representative Brownlow,
and in the senate by Senator CALM
ger recently, is a measure which promises
to provide the novel; spectacle Of the
farmer and the city sportsman working
together for common cause. The bill, as
is we'll known, provides for federal ap-
preparation of $24, 100000 for roadbuilding
and improvement. This sum IS to be
available at the rate Of $S,000,000 a year
for three years, and is to be apportioned
among the states according to population,
each state to appropriate an amount equal
to it's apportionment. Minnesota's allot-
!
amount from the state, would make avail
able $1.o16,OOo fer improving the roads in
Minnesota
! The bill will, Of course, meet with the
Endorsement: of the agricultural classes,
but it. will find even heartier Endorsement
at the hands Of automobilists, a class
which at present constitutes a very small
part of the population, but which is rap
idly growing. The country roads in the
United States, and especially in the west
have long been a byword. In Europe, and
especially in France, the farmer or the
chauffeur may travel for hundreds OF
miles over roads as smooth and level as a
I billiard table. In the United States a We
hicle may be mired to the hubs Of the
wheels in mud or sink deep in sand.
The first widespread agitation for the
improvement Of roads began with the ad-
vent of the bicycle. The influence of the
automobilists promises to do much more
to improve the condition Of roads in this
country, thereby benefting the great agri-
cultural population, as well as the wealthy
residents of the larger towns. Automo-