Evening star., 1924-07-20

N these days Of summer outings
I the saturation of the cities with
| automobiles and the finest high
way system in the world beck
oning us toward the beyond COM
bine to tempt US into seeking the
! great open places for relaxation and
health.
| The call of nature, the call of
Mother Earth-particularly at this
| season-thrills us. With our whole
| being thus attuned to air and sun
shine and water, we appreciate as
never before the great work that is
in progress for conservation of the
| outdoors, for health and profit. 1t
makes US appreciate the purpose
| behind the National Conference on
Outdoor Recreation called here last
May by President Coolidge to en-
| courage Americans to make more OF
their opportunities and appropriate
| more of the advantages of our great
American heritage of varied cliInes
| and scenery. of mountain and PLAIN
| of lakes and rivers.
Linking in with this general vision.
| a first practical step has already been
| taken in an act, which became law on
June 7, authorizing the acquisition
and setting aside as a Wlld NE
refuge of about 100000 acres Oh
swamp and low lands along the MIS-
sissippi River between ROCK lslanu'
H., and Wabasha, Min. bstinlasfs A. ;
! for appropriations TO carry out inns
project, for which funds are author-
! lied but not appropriated, are being
| submitted at this time by the Depart
mentS of Agriculture and commerce.
Now this particular bit Of outdoor
| conservation proposes that a ready
! made fish hatchery, created by ma
| t,lre, the best known breeding place
! for the greatest of American game
| fish, the black bass: breeding place
| game animals, fur-bearing anlnals;
and for the conservation OF Wlld
| flowers and aquatic plants, shau De
| preserved for our nation for all time.
scheme Comprehensive.
This initial project fits in with a
| far more comprehensive scneme on
which legislation is pending and VIII
he pushed when Congress resumes.
| This is a national project, known as
| "the game refuge BILL" or migratory
bird refuge act, for which Repre-
sentative Dan A. Anthony of Kansas
| is the sponsor, to furnlsh IN per
netuity homes for migratory birds,
| the establishment Of public shooting
| grounds to preserve the American
| system of free shooting, the provision
| of funds for establishing such areas
| and the furnishing of adequate pro-
lection for migratory birds. rms Is
| considered to be the only salvation
| of duck and goose shooting.
This is an Offset to reclamation
! Conservationists and biological inter
| ests have for some years been work
| ing to hold from drainage as many
] Ill rF no n
areas for migratory wild fowl, fur-
| bearing animals and fish. We have
! drained during the past 90 years an
area of more than 7l.00O.000 acres,
or II 100000 more than covered by
| the five great lakes. The Biological
| Survey has worked with the game
! commission of Minnesota in saving
| Swan Lake, one of the finest areas
| for bird, game and fish refuge. Much
| of the water areas are worth Tar
more in their natural condition than
| by being. reclaimed as agriculture
| land. For example, there are several
! localities in nearby Maryland which
pay better as muskrat fields than if
| under cultivation.
| Nation Looks Ahead.
! The people of the country are be-
| ginning to look ahead and to demand
| that there be some forethOught tC
| save some of these natural areas be-
| fore the opportunity is gone forever
| One of the greatest advantages II
| come out of such conservation is the
| opportunity afforded for health build
/ ing recreation, so that men and WON
| en- may be rejuvenated to carry or
| the work of the world. 1t must not
| be considered that this is legisla tion
| hostile TO drainage and reclamation
but merely opposed to unwise drain
/ age.
This larger project outlined in the
Anthony bill has been favorably re-
ported after extensive hearings in
both the Senate and House. and early
action is expected in the next session
of Congress.
| Having taken this rather sketchy
general survey of the wild life refuge
Legislation and the conservation il
tcontemplateS, we return to tho
project already authorized by Com
gress--the new wild life refuge to be
established on the Mississippi River
When the necessary appropriations
are made by Congress and the areas
have been acquired, the Secretary ol
| Agriculture is to have jurisdiction
| with respect to wild birds. game ami
| mails fur-bearing animals, trees
wild flowers and plants. The SeCre-
tary of Commerce will have JurisdiC-
tion over the fish and other aquatic
animal life. These officials are au-
thorized to make suitable regulations
governing hunting and fishing on the
areas acquired.
This new law is a conservation
measure of great interest in the
preservation of wild life of all kinds
fha great