Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-08

THIS Zee slHlcui'tS 10 @iV',u'os eiio N''i'-
led with the non resident license ices.
takes care of the game interests, and
removes the burden OF 50 doing, from
the people who do not indulge in hunt
ing. In fact il is the only remedy that
any state has. to provide protection
for game. and the only way it can be
preserved for the present and future
sporting interests.
Our small game, especially needs that
protection, and if not done soon, must
be utterly destroyed. In fact, the con-
sensus Of opinion from all the states,
is that with all the protection Given 1t
it is hardly holding it's own. In this
state, the small game IS doomed to
destruction, if something is not speed
ily done to preserve it. | can but be-
Iieve that the hunters in Maine, by
large majority will favor such law.
The fee need only be nominal. as sug-
gested, which is no hardship on anyone.
Outside of the hunter. no one need OBJ
ject, as it costs such nothing, and 1t
should be approved by those who do
not hunt, tor it removes from them
any expense Of caring for the game Of
the State If the State would provide
by sufficient appropriation to care for
glad, but there is no probability that
it will, and hence the hunting class,
must, if they want it to be preserved.
pay for having it done.
That the permitting of the carrying
Of firearms into the forest or wild
lands of the State during CLOSE time"
and the forbidding by law. the right
TO hunt and kill any game, during that
he mo
tanned, except it is shown to be needed
for ones protection. To say that it is
needed, seems childish, when it is
known that not an animal exists in
Maine. that ieopardiZes the injury OF
man. The amount of game killed in
"cIcse time" would furnish a years
hunting every year. There is no great
amount of game now killed By those
that take advantage of the states
liberality, that hundreds of sportsmen.
who would come during "open season.,
will not come for their annual hunt
ing. 1t has been painfully evident.
this season, that in the vicinity of
many sporting camps. where deer
abounded during the spring and early
summer, no decent shooting was to be
had when "open season." began. Ten
on our game, cannot be overcome by
any warden service.
/ respectfully recommend that these
question be referred to your Committee
on legislation.
It will be remembered that in my
report to the association in 1903,
called especial attention to the need OF
something being done to preserve our
forests l then stated that 1.-The for
ests are disappearing, disappearing
steadily and surely, and how Jealous
the care taken by the managers OF the
numbering and pulp interests may be
for the continuance Of their business,
the fact still is apparent that the for
ests must eventually give way to and
be eaten up by these industries. l
have always believed that the State
should purchase all wild lands when it
can be done at nominal price.
Had the State commenced to have
bought wiid lands that had been cut
over even five years ago, it might now
hold possession Of large tracts, which
| it is at this time impossible to pur-
| chase. The association has done much
for forest preservation, for it was in
strumental in getting the guide IL
cense law" which made some 20o0
guides fire wardens," but may we not
now further this protection by aiding
in devlsing some plan whereby our for
ests may be preserved to the State?
| There is a greater danger than ever,
| 1 fear, for the demand for an increase
| of valuation and consequent taxation,
unless most carefully provided and ad-
ministered, will lead to increased des-
! t:uction, for the owners of timber
| lands will be induced to cut off the
timber to save taxation. 1t is no use
t. argue that they should not do 1t,
that these lands ought to bear pro-
| portionally their part of the burden of
| taxa ton, the situation Will not be
| changed, for human nature is human
| nature and must be dealt with as
such. Every town assessor knows
from actual experience how difficult II
has been, and is to so regulate the
valuation of timber lands. that the
owners Will! not cut the timber OFF.
They know also, that the rule now
adopted, is to cut everything in sight.
practically destroying the lands for
timber growing purposes Timber
now brings high prices and the average
owner, like most mankind. will do
what he believes to be for his own per-
sonai advantage.
No one can or ought to deny the
right or business of taxing all property
at its fair value. and equally too, with
other property. but if town assessors
should tax timber lands at value
equally with farm lands. in Il short
| time. if their town is a timber growing
town, their valuation would show a
| large decrease.
The demand now, is vehement and
| frenZicd from some sources. for in
| creased taxation of the wild lands.
| These demands are from men honest in
/ their convictions. desiring only what is