Once the state or the federal government takes possession of land, the door has then been opened for the general public to make use of that property for whatever purposes they see fit. In the beginning, this change in land use is generally attributed to some benevolent purpose.

Over time, the public lands become over-used and abused by the non-caring faction, which happens to be a persistent component of our free society. Thus a piece of public property that has desirable features becomes degraded, first by overuse, next by littering and then by vandalism. These problems cannot be overcome because the abusers also claim to be the owners.

At various stages, over time, special interest parties arrange for new uses of the once prized, now partially ravaged parcels. Usually, the new use is to be a profit-making venture.

For some reason, privately owned property is not subjected to extensive abuse by the general public. Only the owner has that right and in his own self interest he is not likely to exercise such right. Over the long haul, private ownership offers the greatest hope for the preservation of the natural world.

C. R. Leighton

Limestone