Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-07-02
STARVED ROCK IS UNDER
NEW MANAGEMENT
CHANGE TODAY
Old BOARD RET|RES
SUPERINTENDENT FRANK LOW
MAN TAKES. OVER MANAGE.
MENT OF ILLINOIS GREATEST
.PLAv cRouNDs"-coDE BILL
FORCES CHANGE IN OPERA.
rioN.

TioN.
The final meeting Of the illinois
Park Commission was held in this
city Saturday evening, and was at
tended BY the Commissioners Thos.
cahili, of liadd, Frank Lowman, of
Sandwich. and AL Richards, of Ottawa
The Illinois Park Commission. to.
gether with all other state commits
sions, came to an end Saturday night
and today all state institutions came
under the operation OF the new civil
code bill. The Illinois Park system.
OF which Starved Rock state park is
part. will be under the directory of
Supt. Frank l.owman. of Sandwich.
On the day of the change IN the
management Of the state park syatem
comes report from Springfield Of
the wholesale yatoing of appropria.
tions for Starved Rock a total OF $43,.
100, OF which 5000 was Tor the build
Ing OF roads and completion of the
rewef, fire and water system and the
Improvement OF the lakes. This item
was vetoed, the only remaining item
left was $6,25c per annum for the re.
pair and maintenance of buildings and
grounds. The items for superntend-
ant and temporary employees was not
disturbed.
Hkabbona park, for which $4,000
vas appropriated for additional
grounds and maintenance aud repairs,
hses its entire appropriation.
IN the department Of Public Works
$1,000 item for travelling expenses
for the superintendent OF parks was
also vetoed. Making a total of $32,.
900 cut out Of the park system
At the meeting Saturday night the
affairs Of the retiring commission
were closed up and balance Of 49,
229.25 park earnings were reported
by Secretary Richards and drafts for
this amount were forwarded to State
Treasurer Len Small today. An un.
expended appropriation of 10000 was
also reported by the secretary which
will be turned back into the state
treasury This item was appropriated
for dixie from the Rock to tie Hi
nois river bridge at Utica, but when
the State Highway Commission de
clined to raise the grade OF the Deer
Park road the State Park Commission
decided il would be a waste of money
to build dixie to protect only one
side OF the park
The Starved Rock state park was
purchased In 1911, the first ccmmis-
sion consisted Of Prof W. W. Atwood
Chicago University, Prof j. A. james,
Northwestern University, Evanston;
Mrs. Frank M. Orr. Chicago; Mrs
John G. Ames. Streator. and AL. Rich.
ards. of Ottawa.
The second commission appointed
BY Gov Deneen consisted of Prof. j.
A. James, Evanston; Rev. Donate
Grove, OF Kewanee, and AL. Richards
Of Ottawa. This commission made the
original purchase OF Starved Rock
property. including the Walther's
tract paying therefore $4,000 The
following year the sewer system, fire
and water system and public service
building were constructed, the old
farm buildings were demolished ant
al auditorium, garage and hotel an
mex was added.
u was while this work was under
way that Rev Donate Grove diet
while visiting In Rome. His place wa'
filed BY Thos. Cahill, Of Ladd. by al
p0intment by Gov. Dunno.
Under Gov. DUNES administration
appropriations were made fo.. add
3 tional purchase of land extending cas-
\ an far as the salt we'll Roads wer
IN surveyed thru the park and over th'
canyons, and general road improve
ments were commenced.
The park at the present time com
prises Of about 1000 acres OF lam
and represents \ total investment D
\ aquarter million dollars. The attent
ance during this time has increase
from $4,000 annually to nearly 100000
The park during the time it has beel
In operation II has been free from dis
order Of any kind and the system Q
organizing has been copied by sevcra
N other states Of the union.
The appropriations for the purchas
md maintenance of Starved Roc
mate park were secured by Hons. WIN
n ocanlan, l. o. Browne. w. r. Lewil
N0.gE. Benson and Ex-senator RI. "
/Johpson and Senator r. E. Coleman
J Yhe change In the system Of manage
nltnt places the responsibility Tor tn
\ securing OF appropriations with tn
l heads of tho damn ri meuta