Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-07-27
RESEARCH WORK
At SPIRIT LAKE
TWELVE coLLEGlANs PURSUE
SCIENTIFIC STUDIES At LAKE
SIDE LABORATORY.
ATTENDANCE SMALL
BECAUSE OF WAR
State University and Morninoside Col.
leee Only Schools Represented This
Year-Many Prospective Students
Called in Seleetive Draft-Helpful
Instruction For Young Scientists.
Special to Times Republican.

special to Times Republican.
Spirit Lake. July 27.--On the highest
point, in Iowa which affords view Of
the whole of the Iowa great lakes sye-
tenn is one of the most unique COM
munites Of pleasure seekers in the
their time in boating and fishing but in
doing original scientific research work
that is OF inestimable value to them
selves, the state and the world.
This institution, known as the Mac
bride Lakeside Laboratory, offers to
college or graduate students Interested
In out of-door. phenomena an oppor-
tunity to study under the guidance of
experts. the wonderful field and lakes
in the Mississippi valley.
Courses are open to students in linn
tied number who camp on the hillside
above the lake and spend six weeks In
June and July investigating physical
geography. geology, botany and zoology.
Just as the charm and beauty OF the
lakes make them a favorite playground
for summer travellers. their topography
and surroundings make them a fertile
field for students OF science.
How came these lakes where they
are? What agency tossed the hills be-
side them? What dekpened Lake
Okaboji till It's surface water looks as
green as Lake Michigan while that Of
Spirit lake remains brown that de-
notes bottom at bare twenty feet be-
low the surface?
Laboratory Founded in 1909.
The laboratory has been affiliated
with all schools and colleges in Iowa
through the extension division Of the
State University OF Iowa. 1t was es-
tahlished in 1909 through the influence
Of Thomas H. Macbride. who for over
forty years was one of the great teach
ers at the university OF Iowa, and dis
covered the location while preparing a
report on the geology and fora Of Dick-
enson county. It is kept up by the
alumni association and has constantly
grown in size and scope.
A Laboratory. administration building
with dining room and kitchen COM
bined. and large amount OF ground
where tents Tor sleeping purposes are
pitched are now a part OF Camp Mac
bride. Although the laboratory Is well
fitted with tables and microscopes for
fine indoor work. the one most used
consists of the lake, the fields and the
air. sly.
:. When Professor Macbrlde chose the
location on Miller's bay, he said in its
favor:
1T is a rule with landscape artists
that glimpse of water Is essential to
a perfect vista. Rivers and lakes and
seas were the natural guide Of men in
the earliest wanderings and migrations.
so. that they learned to look with COM
fort upon some peaceful expanse OF
water.
"Men Of refinement the world over
have been delighted in the changing
beauties and restfulness Of inland
waters. From Switzerland to Scotland,
the lakes year by year summon happy
travellers Thought quite.ias attractive.
the lakes in our country are not as
common.
Prairie lakes are all too few. In
Iowa there are scarcely dozen. Our
Spirit Lake group rivals the best of
England's or Scotland's and except for
the absence Of mountain scenery any
inland water in the world"
Varied Vegetation Found.
Within a radius of a few miles Of
Miller's bay, on West Okoboji, nature
demonstrates all her laws and illus
trates them with the charm and beau
ties of the lake country. The botonist
finds the most varied Vegetation:
aquatic plans bloom in pool and march
and shallow. Flora Of the western
plains and the northern prairies occupy
the levels between lake and hillside.
This summer Camp Macbriie Is un-
der the direction of Prof B. Shimek;
head OF the department OF botony at
the state university. and there are, in
spite OF, the draft which caused great
er number of students to withdraw the
week before the camp opened than are
now left, twelve enthusiastic students
each of whom are pursuing a double
line of work. botony and zoology, one
on alternate days.
! The first day they, spend in hunting