The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-09-22
BALANCE OF NATURE.
Destruction Of Certain Animals Is Soon
Repented.

1t seems that the grounding is under
| the ban in Illinois. A bounty has been put
upon the head of the animal that Oh Can
diemas Day each year tells us whether
winter is to pass or to linger. COL Waiter
son of the Louisville Courier-Journal comes
to the defense OF the grounding. He be-
speaks consideration for it in the name ot
Kentucky. He might bespeak considera
ton for it in the name of humanity.
The grounding of Illinois and the wesi
generally is the woodchuck Of the eastern
States. 1t is charged against him that In
digging his home he throws gravel uI
over teh surface of the ground to an extent
that Injuries the farmers prospects Of rails.
ing crops. the grounding is also accused
of being powler in the vegetable garden,
and it is said that the early cabbage that
should go to farmers table is sacrificed to
the appetite Of the unbidden guest in the
| field.
We hold no brief for the grounding but
it Is pretty well known that nature keeps
the balance Of things even. Not many
years ago the Pennsylvania Legislature
passed law giving a bunty to every man
who killed q hawk The thought of the
legislators was that if the hawks we're killed
the poultry industry 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
thinning 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 $50,0O0 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 to stem the
tide OF destruction but failed, and then
they called on the lawmakers to make life
possible again for the hawks. The red
shouldered, the red tailed and the broad
winged birds had lived mainly on the ami
mails that were preying on the crops OF
the agriculturist. The farmer found 1t out
a little late, but he found it out In time to
save the hawk family in Pennsylvania
from extinction.
Out in Kansas few years ago the wes-
tern redtailed hawk was abundant. About
once every six months the redtail would
pick up chicken and the act aroused the
owner of the chicken to anger. The law
maker Of Kansas declared the redtal an
outlaw and put price on his head. There
were so many redtailed hawks killed that
the count was lost. Coincident with the
killing of the birds the plague OF prairie
dogs increased and menaced the very
means of livelihood Of the majority OF the
biological survey Of Washington to help
them out of their trouble. The scientists
sent this prescription: Repeal the law
placing @ bounty on hawks" This was
done, and since that time nature has kept
the balance even.
All this perhaps has comparatively little
to do with the grounding Of Illinois, but
| it may be said that the legislators who
would pass laws intended to interfere with
the workings Of Mother Nature are taking
great chances. Confessedly it Is not known
just what place the grounding or the wood
chuck, as you will, holds in natures system
of economy, but that it holds place is well
assured. It is more than possible that the
propaganda for the preservation Of the
natural resources of the country includes
the grounding. Chicago Post