Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-10-20
Capitol Neus
PLEADS PRESERVATION
OF NATURAL BEAUTIES
DR.. Gilmore of State Historical
Museum Deplores Scars Upon
Landscape of State

Returning delegates from the an.
nual convention of the North Dakota
Federation OF Women's Clubs at Val
ley City bring with them abundant
praise for the mastery address de-.
livered by DR.. NJ. r. Gilmore, curator
OF the state historical museum, on
Landmarks, Natural and Unnatur-
al" @"%.a
DR.. Gilmore's address, and his
cross-section of the state museum, dis
playing native foods and landmark
OF the aborigines, were features of
the closing days Of the convention.
The exhibit was set up in the Con-
gregational church. and was visited
by hundreds, including the classes
OF the public schools and the Valley
City Normal, who attended in body
and were each favored with a brief
lecture by the curator.
1t Is to be regretted that the doc.
tors address cannot be given in full.
His closing paragraphs we're:
Conserving Native Life
Il have advocated the policy Of
conserving all desirable forms of life
native to our country, by the preser.
walton Of tracts Of land still in the
natural state, and by employing ma.
tive trees, shrubs. vines, and flower.
ing plants in the planting Of parks
and gardens. 1t is probably true that
native plants are disappearing more
rapidly in our prairie states than in
any other part Of our country. They
are annihilated by the plow from
their native sod. and from pastures
by our grazing of herds and flocks;
they can scarcely find any place Of
refuge. Even along the roadsides
they are destroyed by the roadscrap.
er and the turning OF farm machinery.
And when they are overcome in the
struggle, and their restful grace and
beauty are gone, hordes of ugly for
eign weeds take their place and are
allowed to remain. And these are
not the only foes which make ruthless
onslaught upon our. defenceless native
flowers. Like a pirate of the sky
carrying death and destruction to
quiet fishing villages and farming
hamlets, the automobile. carries. com:
panies Of destroyers to the more Sc
1uestered spots and the whitening,
dying forms of our most beautiful
wild flowers are carried away by the
armful, serving no purpose but to sat.
isfy the desire fog plumber in those
who have wrought. this, destruction.
The Native Beauty Of Dakota =
"How shall we preserve the native
beauty Of North Dakota and make our
state a landmark for the guidance of
all our neighboring states? 1t can be
done. Instead OF destroying our nat.
i've vegetation needlessly let 1t grow
and perpetuate itself in all unused
tracts of land, and in the planting of
parks and gardens let US make use
of our native plants. They can be
used effectively for beauty and harm.
ony and they would preserve charact.
er and distinctiveness. Such a course
would save our parks from the dead.
ly dulness Of conventionalism. This
plan would also serve history and
science as we'll as beauty. And the
native growths will take care of them.
selves If given a chance. Such plant.
alton is easier to maintain than any
plantation of exotics. Our native
plants have been adjusting them.
selves throughout the long time since
the melting OF the continental glac.
iers.
TO Heal the Scars
1T is my hope that the Landmarks
Department OF the Federation may
be moved to make It their policy to
heal the scars on the landscape Of
our state and to preserve its natural
beauty for future time, and to pro.
mote the appreciation of our people
Of the beauty of nature with which
our state is lowered"
title of this tWo.reeler being ."Ruck.