UNCLE SAM’S BIGGEST BANK ACCOUNT 35 
economical use. Concerning the mineral lands held by 
the Government a mining claim may be located upon 
the public domain or within a national forest and if 
there is ore there in paying quantities the mine may 
be obtained practically without money and without 
price. Coal and oil lands, etc., are no longer given 
away to corporations or to individuals. They are 
leased generally upon a royalty basis. 
In spite of the fact that ninety-eight per cent of the 
animal life found upon this continent fifty years ago 
has disappeared the situation is by no means as dark 
as it was eight or ten years ago. Chiefly as a result 
of the splendid work done by such men as Hornaday, 
Waleott, Shiras, Bayne, and others, the public has 
been awakened to the economic as well as sentimental 
loss which would be suffered were our birds and game 
to be slaughtered without restraint. Fish and game 
leagues have been founded all over the country; many 
of the States have passed more stringent laws and are 
better enforcing the laws now upon the statute books, and 
Congress in addition to acting favorably regarding the 
protection of migratory birds has established several 
game refuges. The next step aimed at by the champions 
of our wild life is to have a portion of every national 
forest made a game preserve where the birds and 
animals common to that region may breed and multiply. 
It is sincerely hoped that such refuges may be es- 
tablished. So long as the young men of a nation hunt 
and fish they are virile and strong and a plentiful 
supply of game is desirable that the coming gener- 
ations may be red-blooded men fond of outdoor sports. 
Scientific management as applied to labor is en- 
deavoring to make every foot pound of muscle labor 
and every bit of nervous energy yield the largest re- 
