The Daily Alaska empire., 1932-04-16
GOV. RIGGS ON BEAR SANCTUARY.

GOV. RIGGS ON BEAR SANCIUAR1. Former Gov. Thomas Riggs has thrown his wide experience and authentic knowledge into the fight that rages in the East John M. Holzworths propaganda for making bear sanctuary of Admiral ty Island rich in minerals fishing interests and tim Der potentiates He was induced to take up the cudgels upon reading a letter by L. A. Dedell to the What Do You Think Editor" of the New York Sun MT. Dedel. among other things wrote:
 John M. Holzworth, chairman of the nation al committee for the preservation of Alaska grizzly and brown bears, tells us of efforts now being made to retain free from deSpoation the last natural habitat of these appealing animals. Admiralty Island proposed as sanctuary is but dot on the surface compared with the immense domain of Alaska, yet even this small asylum will be begrudged by those having de- signs of a predatory nature on it's resources.
 Only then by the efforts and constant vigi- lance of conservatonists and the support Of the general public can this crime of destroying the last vestge of our wild life be prevented. What is debt to posterity? Cooper's novel "The Chainbearerp gives us an account of the immense flocks of passenger pigeons that fairly darkened the skies. In his Pioneers" he describes vividy the slaughter of these birds. They netted and shot and even small cannon brought into play till the ground was covered with wounded and dead Gov Riggs, now resident of New York but foi nearly quarter of century very active eitizer of Alaska and who is familiar through first hand experience with nearly every section of the country than whom probably no one knows more about th' bears of Alaska and their contacts with civilization also writing to the What Do You Think Editor" O the Sun. under date of March 2s, said:
 Poor old Alaskal After withdrawing large part of it's productive from entry now comes the attempt to withdraw Admiralty Is- land into bear sanctuary. What next? Alaska has forest reserves, moose reserves without moose, bird reserves, fox reserves fish reserves, seal reserves coal reserves. oil reservs military reserves without soldiers naval reserves without sailors, national monuments withdrawn from use the largest of which is visited by Father Hubbard the explorer only national park and the Lord only knsws what. One reservation is so reserved that shipwrecked sailor could be arrested for trespass
 John M. Holzworth, chairman of the nation al committee for the preservation of Alaska grizzly and brown bears is making drive to withdraw Admiralty Island He is fine sports man and a misguided conservationists. He claims 5000 bears for Admiralty Island and that they must be protected from ibig busi- ness which is trying to eliminate them. B. B. evidently wants to cut downsthe forests How cutting down forests is going to hurt bears he does not say. Certainly bears not attracted by wood chopping Bears of my acquaintance usually avoid noise. Remember. too, that only the low portions of Admiralty forested The bear country is generally back of commer- cal timber.
 MT Holzworth says grizzly bears are harm less unless wounded. In this he is greatly mis- taken I had authentic record of about fifty cases of unprovoked attacks by grizzlies on humans
 I am in favor of conservation, but so many people who have visited Alaska once or twice have become obsessed with the idea that some particular part of the country must be pre- served for something. Generally just some thing So I am very suspicious of all new res ervation proposals.
 Alaska has what is known as the Alaska Cane Commission" appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture It has Governor appointed by the President Logically these Federal officers should be the ones to report on the desirabil- ity of any proposed withdrawal. Unfortunately this is not always the An unnecessary reserve slips through A reserve to be effective must be policed Few reserves are; as a result Federal law is about effective as the Vol stead act when enforced by only eleven war dens for the entire Territory
 l. A. Dede writes to you supporting the hear sanctuary He seems to think that Ao- miraltv Island is the last natural habitat ol the grizzlies He too, is mistaken GrlzzlleS chased by pack train not far from the Arctlc and did not recover the horses for two days. Then the bear chased the packer up tree.
 Grizzly bears scattered over an area as large as the United States east of the MlsslsSslppl are not in danger from the sparce population of Alaska most of whom do no hunting al all Perhaps in another hundred years or so when there is a population larger than one person to every ten square miles it may be necessary Vo get all fussed up about bears