The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-01-02
WALLACE REVIEWS THE
WORK OF HIS DEPARTMENT

Montgomery, January 1.-(Special. 1.-THE
state game and fish commissioner, John
H. Wallace. Jr., announces that the de-
partment of game and flsh has expert
enced during the last year the most sue
cessful and profitable to the state In the
history of its existence. A better under
standing, says Mr.. wallace, has been
achieved between the people of the state
and the department OF game and f1sh. The
people now appreciate that the birds,
game and fish constitute a vast natural
resource which does not belong to any
one In his individual capacity but which
belongs to the race.
All hunters licenses expired on yes
terday. and soon every sportsman. who
under the law Is required to secure a
hunters license, will purchase the priv
ilege to hunt for the year 1910
The game law. while 1t has been violated
in some remote instances. In the main has
been observed, there being a strong SEN
timent In this state favorable to this
statute which compels its enforcement.
Speaking of the conservation of the nat
ural resources of this state, Mr.. Wal
lace says:
The States Duty.
1.-THE fostering Of the natural resources
of the United States is a question that
has engaged the attention of the leading
minds Of the nation. This work is per-
haps the longest look ahead of any un-
dertaking that has ever been attempted,
the thought that natures storehouse Is
inexhaustible has been abandoned. Per-
haps no people we're ever 30 ablndantly
endowed with mines, waterways, game,
fish and forests as those Of the American
continent On account of the erstwhile
ABUNDANCE of these most valuable assets,
our people have thoughtlessly and wan
tonly wasted that which, IL 1t were avail
able today. would be worth billions. So
persistently has the campaign Of deple-
ton been waged, and SO relentlessly has
the charge on the natural resources been
prosecuted. that 1t is a palpable fact that
unless an imperative halt is called the
time will most inevitably come when the
people will actually want for that which
nature SO lavishly laid at their very
doors. If q judicious use had been made
by the people of their heritage the time
would never come when nature would
fail to yield UP adequate supplies for thur
comfort and happiness.
After all it depends upon the earth
and the products Of the soil and of the
waters to render unto man the necessi-
ties of life. So startling has become the
condition that not only has protective leg
islation been necessary but artificial
propagation of game and fish has been
resorted to in order to restock the fields
forests and streams
"Since the state in It's sovereign ca
pacity occupies the attitude Of guardian
and custodian of the peoples welfare, 1t
Is therefore the duty of the state. by
enactment Of appropriate legislation, to
endeavor to extend adequate protection
to those resources in which the people
have collectively a natural right Wise
and discreet individuals who feel no in
clination to make assaults on natures
storehouse should have their rights pro-
tected by the enactment of strong laws
to restrain the hands Of the wanton and
reckless, whose vandalism would ami
hilate every visible thing in An. fur or
feather, to crafty their savage instincts.
Vandalism Reduced.
"The strongest tendency Of game laws
toward conserving the public veal IL the
effect they have Of taking guns out of
the hands Of the shiftiess and rowing
class that loitsr most of the while and,
under the pretense Of hunting, congre-
gate for the purpose OF committing crime.
This class feel no hseftanoy. If unre-
nkpnlDnA hv thu ntr0nR hand Of thu law