The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1918-04-27

to appear before any body of citizens in Lake
County in the interest of the forest preserve
as bird sanctuary and to tell something OF
what the government is doing for the cOnser-
walton of bird life in the interest of the agri-
culturst The rest of this article is written
by Mr. SchantZ who has been consistent and
untiring enthusiast in behalf of conservation
in Illinois,
The enactment of the Forest Preserve
legislation by the State of Illinois was one of
the most far reaching conservation move
ments of any State legislature in the middle
west.
It's significance can scarcely be appre-
ciated by any but the ardent outdoor enthusi
asst, and the ultimate good to the people OF
Lake County will only be realized by them in
years to come, when they have learned of this
wonderland of wooded regions that is being
set aside for playground and sanctuary for
the wild flowers, birds and small animals that
were rapidly being eXterminated by care
less and needless public.
The tremendous area of woodland avail
able for this great public benefit in Cook
County alone, is so SURPRISING that the aver
age city dweller can scarcely comprehend the
possibility.
The statement that there are 10000 acres
available and that already $4,000 acres have
been purchased and set aside, should bring a
realization of not only the far sighted vision
of the men who were instrumental in having
the Forest Preserve law enacted, but the gen.
erous size of the County. It's greatest length
from north to south is AZ miles, it's greatest
width 80 miles. Cook County with it's area of
993 square miles is fifth in size of the 1O2
counties in the State
While Cook County on account OF its vast
wealth is better able to set aside it's forest
areas, the movement for conservation has
been taken up in the adjoining counties of
Lake and DuPage, and no doubt within the
period of few years these three counties will
contain within their area the greatest Forest
Preserves to be found in any prairie state.
The incalculable benefit to the residents of
the region is difficult to comprehend. Won
derful forest trees, myriads of varieties of
smaller shrubs and plants and in addition
the creating of a natural sanctuary along
Lake Michigan, 80 miles wide, and almost 90
miles long, in which our wonderful bird life
may find food and shelter unmolested. Added
to these attractions, the opportunities for va
cation camps recreation for the tired city
dweler, the great opportunity for the study
of natural history and the value of this great
investment, cannot be adequately estimated.
The Mississippi Valley is the greatest mi
grafton route for. bird life in the United
States. From early March to the middle Of
May, this great aerial highway is used by
thousands of insectiverous birds and water
fowl on their way to the breeding grounds of
the North.
If, on their way north, they stop for food
and rest in our woodlands, what better
recognition can we give them than to protect
them while they are with us, and by Forest
Conservation encourage many of them to stay
through the summer?
The value of bird life to the farmer, gar
dener and horticulturist is becoming better
understood from year to year.
Our bird friends are not slow to recognize
protection, and it is quite within the posi-
bilities, that many species that have not nest
ed with us in recent years may again find
congenial surroundings in the protected for
est area of our region