Arizona republican., 1917-01-10
BY Robert P. Holiday

The greatest scheme ever thought
out to advertise Arizona has been pro
posed to State Game Warden q. M
Willard, who has it under considera
ton. the plan put up TO MIN 10. 44l-al
consideration is 10 liberate several
hundred ostriches on the deserts oil the
state, and advertise Arizona as the
only one of As states where The giant
ships of the desert can be seen chased
or hunted.
THINK Of il, wild ostriches on the
desert, What drawing card that
would be. There is not state IN the
Union which could boast sucn pos
session, and there is not doubt that
California and other over boosted
states would turn green with envy,
and make an attempt to liberate wild
elephants on their waste lands.
The game warden is in deep state
OF uncertainty regarding the plan. 1t
is not the initial cost which is bother
ing him, as u thousand dollars would
supply the whole state with enough os-
tricnes to make, them common as
| coyotes. 1t is the ultimate cost which
is worrying him. AS he states it, an
ostrich Is "belligerent" IN the extreme,
and viii attack man just for the
mere fun of it. II will be impossible,
according to Mr.. Willard to liberate
\
communities: a hurro is a poor second
when il comes to destructive teauen-
cies. In fact the big birds VIII eat
ANYTHING and everything that is grow
able except the fences
! Mr. Willard is not in favor of stock
| ing the state with wild ostriches for
/ the purposes Of having them hunted.
| He would have n closed season on
! them the year round. Ii is possible
: o hoe
experiment, he, as well as others inter
! ested in the project would be glad to
have a few OF them killed. as they
multiply nearly as capably as the cot
/ ton tail, which is rather capable
In fact, the ostrich is qualified in
! every manner conceivable 10 exc out
I an existence on the Arizona deserts Ii
I is used 10 hot weather, and can stand
the cold nights in winter time. II does
/ not need an excess OF water, and for
provender will be able 10 pick up
enough food on the desert to keep IL
alive and prosperous. 1t Is not neces-
sary to state that 1t Will suffer from
4 the high cost OF living
Another item in its favor is this. 1,
the birds cannot be hunted for their
/ lives. why cannot they be hunted for
the feathers Why wouldn't IL be a
brilliant idea to organize feather hunt
ing parties. advertise them wildly in
the east and have big game hunters
with lots Of money to spend come to
Arizona for the hunt. not only for the
sport TO be had but for the purpose Of
going back 10 the effete east and say
ing. All yes. those feathers there on
the wall. ! got those in the great Ari-
iona ostrich drive last season, rather
good sport you know. and extremely
good specimens too. better Join US you
know. next year. capital sport | must
say, and lot more like that
wouldn't II be worth several hundred
dollars or more to be able to say a
thing like that And wouldn't IL be
worth several thousands 10 the state OF
Arizona 10 be able to have such things
said OF IL hy people who reeotnizf
real sport when they see Il? Truly II
would. and all those approached on In.
subject are enthusiastic over the
project
Take for instance Phoenix two years
from now. The local papers would D.,