Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-02-18

stance the position af game and fire
warden could be served by one man
as the work is very much the same
and thereby save the taxpayers con-
siderable money. If we do away with
the game wardens in Pine county it
will not be long before all the game
would be depleted, not by settlers but
by game hogs which l am sure are
found in every township and village
in Pine or any other county of our
state. 1t is a sad picture, but it's the
fact.
If all the people did their duty as
citizens, by that l mean supported the
Constitution and its laws, we would
not need any officers like game and
fire wardens, but until such a time,
it will be necessary to have them for
the good of all the people, even
though they are expensive and at
times annoying.
It's a system that we have created
largely ourselves by not being law
abiding
If it was not for the fire wardens
.or foresters, the little timber that Is
left in Pine county would soon be
gone and a lot of it by settlers in our
own communities. | believe that all
timber on lands and Swamps not suited
for agriculture should be conserved.
It's our duty to do so, as we have no
right to rob generations yet to come.
1 believe we should so act that by our
living here in Pine county will make
1T better place for children yet to
be born. The same holds true in re-
gard to the game. | believe in con-
serving the game, but in the right
place. For instance, set aside game
refugees on all tracts of land that is
not as a whole suited for agriculture
and in all state forests and parks, all
which would be proper places for
game refugees. and not in farming
community.
Now a word as to the expense OF
the State Game and Forest Depart
ment Although the local warCens
work and live in Pine county, they are
not paid by county funds, but by
money collected from all the taXpay-
ers of the state. Very little, if any, is
borne by the taxpayers of Pine county.
The trouble with the fire wardens
is that there is not proper under
standing and cooperation between the
settlers and the wardens (and let me
say that this condition is the fault Of
the wardens).
The local fire wardenS have so far
shown little, if any, respect for the
local settlers; about the only time
they show up is when some poor set
tier has created some smoke by burn
ing a stump pile. | feel confident
that much good could be accomplished
ii the wardens show little more re-
spect and attention to the settlers.
They should be men able to offer good
friendly advice as well as receive ad-
vice from people who have lived in
the community for perhaps quarter
century or more and know the layout.
The same is true with the game de-
partment The settlers, who help
grow the feed for the game and who
put out most of the fires so damaging
10 the game, are not given any consid-
GRAFTON above that of a person living
in the cities who make no sacrifices
one way or another. One more word
as to the game refuge. | do not be-
leve that anybody living outside the
boundary line should have any say as
10 the establishing of game refugees.
Let us all labor for something that
is possible of accomplishment and
which will make Pine county a better
place for all its citizens and our chill
dren.
W. ABRAHAMSON.
Hinckley. Mimi, Feb. 10, 1882.