New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1911-06-03
IBERIA PARISH TO BE A
HAVEN FOR GAME
BIRDS.

! announcements was llld'' n''''
days ago that Charles Willis
Ward, of Michigan, and Edward
Avery MrIlhenny, of Avery j.
land La, had made Il gift OF
twenty square miles of land adj
joining VermiIion Bay to the
Game Commission of Louisiana
for the purpose Of maintaining a
breeding and feeding ground Tor
water fowl in particular and wild
game generally. Mr. Ward was
in New Orleans yesterday and he
explained fully why he and MIR.
McIlhenny had made the gift.
Mr.. Ward is a capitalist who
has spent his life in Michigan, his
State, but has, Of course, travel
ed the United States from end to
end, and visited the principal
countries abroad. lie is con
servationist along practical lines,
and when his suggestions in
Michigan were blocked and his
purposes attacked by politicians III
Michigan. he decided to quit Mich
igan, and is now withdrawing in
terests from that state aggregat-
ing more than $1,000, 900.
lie has invested in alluvial
lands in Louisiana and purchased
Louisiana securities and expects
in the future to make his winter
home on Avery Island.
Mr.. Ward is a horticultulist Of
nationwide reputation, as he is
the man who brought the carna-
tion to it's present high state of
culture. lie has a truck farm o'
Long Island. He has lumber in
terests, and has been interested
in manufacturing establishments.
Although Mr.. Ward is leaving
Michigan for all time, he will not
forget Michigan. He gave $25,-
700 worth Of art to the Detroit
Art Museum, and will fulfill
promises made to it and to other
institutions in the state.
Mr.. Ward says that beyond
question Louisiana is the most
state in the Union /
along lines of conservation. He
finds the lands of Louisiana in
this southern district the most fer
tile he has ever seen.
Louisiana is on the edge of a
great boom," said Mr.. Ward
''The state will not know itse III
twenty years. In twenty IT
New Orleans will be city ofWt{
least 100000, and very probably |
$50. 900"
Asked for the reasoning prompt
ing himself and Mr.. Mcllhenny
to give 1900 acres of land to
the state, Mr.. Ward said:
81 was born in Michigan. and
have lived most of my life in
region that was nearly as rich in
game and forest resources as mos
IF the State of Louisiana is today.
During my lifetime ] have seen
hose resources in Michigan al
most annihilated.
" A few years ago, in company
with friends and others interest
ID in conservation, an attempt was
made to secure legislation in
Michigan which would render pos
'ible and practical the establish
nent Of forest and game reserves,
md at the same time protect the
'emnant Of forests now left in
hat state.
"The political party which
dominates Michigan lined upI
against and defeated those meas
Tres. Again during the last ses-
ion Of the Michigan Legislature
mother effort was made to amend
md improve the game laws, and
'gain the much-needed legislation.
"Despairing of securing such
egislation in my native state as
would enable me to carry out
PRACTICAL and efficient plan FOR
'orest and game conservation. II
urned to the study Of the laws
# and conditions in other states,
,oping to find in some of them
,uch laws and conditions as would
.ender fairly certain my being
lble to carry out PRACTICAL some
,lan along the lines that have been
finally adopted.
"I soon came to the conclusion
hat the game laws Of Louisiana
we're the most progressive of any
# the states: that conditions
1..rc e NE~,.no l