The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-11-02
GROUNDING PLACED
UNDER THE BAN
Illinois Has Bounty on Can
dlemas Day Animal.

It seems that the grounding is under
the ban in Illinois.
A bounty has been put upon the head Of
the animal that on Cafdlemas Day each
year tells us whether '~inster is to pass
or to Iinger Colonel Watterson, Of the
Louisville Courier-JDuTnal. comes to the
defense Of the grounding. He bespeaks
consideration for it in the name Of Ken
lucky. lie might bespeak consideration
for II in the name Of humanity.
The grounding of Illinois and the
West generally is the woOdchuck of the
Eastern States. 1t is charged against
him that in digging his home he throws
gravel up over the surface of the
ground 20 an extent that Injuries the
farmers prospects Of raising crops.
The grounding Is also accused OF being
a prowler in the vegeta Die garden, and
10 is said that the early cabbage that
should 20 20 farmers table IS sacrificed
10 the appetite of the unbidden guest
in the field.
but IL is pretty well known that nature
keeps the balance of things even Not
many years ago the Pennsylvania Leg
islature passed a law giving a bounty
TO every man who killed a hawk. The
thought of the legislators was that If
the hawks were killed the poultry in
dustry of the State would thrive three
fold. The price put on the head Of the
red-shouldered, the red-tailed, and the
broad-Winged hawks resulted in a thin
ming of the ranks Of the predatory bird
family and In the depletion OF the
treasures of most Of the counties Of the
keystone State.
After Pennsylvania had spent $4,000 in
payment for hawk scalps the farmers of
the state suddenly found out that the
rats and the squirrels were eating up
their crops unchecked. They tried 10
stem the tide OF destruction, but failed,
= nd then thew called the a lras-
TO make life possible again for the
hawks. The red-shouldered, the red
tailed and the hTOad-WinEed birds had
lived mainly on the animals that were
preying on the crops of the agriculturist
The farmer found Il out little late, but
he found IL out in time TO save the hawk
family in Pennsylvania from extinction.
Out IN Kansas a few years ago the
Western red-tailed hawk was abundant.
About once every six months the Ted-tail
owl would pick up a chicken, and the act
aroused the owner Of the chicken to an
ger. The lawmakers Of Kansas deClaT red
the red-tall an outlaw and put a price
on his head. There were so many red
tailed hawks killed that the count was
lost. COincident with the killing Of the
birds the plague Of prairie dogs in
creased and menaced the very means OF
livelihood OF the majority OF the Kansas
jewellers. They called on the biological
survey of Washington TO help them out
Of their trouble The scientists sent this
prescription. Repeal the law placing a
bounty on hawks This was done, and
since that time nature has kept the bal
ance even.
An THIS perhaps has comparatively lit
tie 70 do with the grounding of Illinois,
but 10 may be said that the Legislators
who would pass laws intended to inter
fere with the workings OF Mother Ma
ture are taking great chances. Confess
edly 20 is not known Just what place the
grounding or the WoOdchuCk, as you
will, holds in natures system Of econ
nfIT that II holds a nlTrn is well
assured. u is more than possible that
the propaganda for the preservation of
the natural resources Of the country in
Cludes the grounding.