The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1919-08-29

There Is no question that the Indiana dunes
worthy Of national park honors. October 80 1915,
public hearing was held in Chicago by the in
terror department In pursuance of senate resolu-
uon. In September. 1917, printed report by
Director Stephen T. Mather of the national park
service was issued. This report eliminated from
consideration all OF the dune country except
strip along the shore of Lake Michigan about
mile deep between Millers In Lake county and
Michlgan City. After describing the dunes with
considerable enthusiasm, Director Mather saws
assuming, without further description Of actual
conditions In this dune country, that the sand
dunes OF Indiana are equal to those in any other
section OF the country; that they are the most &C.
cesslbie dunes; that they possess extremely inter.
estlng hora and fauna that they offer unparalleled
opportunities to observe the action of the wind
ana lts influence on the sand and plant life that
the Lake Michigan beach is beautiful and offers
bathing facilities for multitude; that the recrea-
tional uses Of the region myriad should thew
or large section Of them be preserved for present
and future generations? If they should be pre-
served, are they worthy of Inclusion in national
park And If they worthy of consideration as
a possible national park. would 1t be practicable
to establish them such park for the benefit
and enjoyment of the people?"
He answers the first two questions einphatIcol,v
In the affirmative. He says this region should be
preserved to the people for all time and that II Ia
worthy of national park honors. AS to the third
question, he thinks 1t one of legislative policy to
are not public lands, and private lands have never
been purchased for national park purposes He
thinks the park should contain from 1900 to IL ON
acres, extending is or 20 miles along the lake Ha
finds that options secured by spectators varv
between $3.50 and 5000 acre, with one tract ~
1890 acres held at $1,000 acre.
"Manifestly." says Mr.. Mather, none of these
lands actually worth $3.50 acre ut this time
figure less than $500 an probably represents
the actual value of the average tract of land no,
under the influence of urban values due TO PROV
unity cities. Practically all of the Inrcer hold
ings must be purchased in their entirety believe
that 9OOO to 1900 acres of dune lands can nroh
ably be secured for park purposes for approximate
ly 500 The purchase price of park NJ
the size suggested would therefore be betwasn
81, 100000 and 81 100000"
The proposed Dune National park is rea,v .
wonderful place In the first place. the dimes ara
an uninhabited wilderness. The fact that there 10
nm uninhabited wilderness within few miles q,
the center of population-in 1910 at Bloomington
lnd--and at the very doors of Chicago. The second
city OF the nation and the fourth city of the world
is In itself marvel Incidentally. the dunes are
within few hours by rail and automobile of 20.
100000 people. This makes them unique as a pub
lie playground
Again: The dunes are different world from
the monotonous fairness OF the Chicago plain
They are country of hills and bluffs, gullies and
valleys There are all sorts OF interesting yaria-
tons: Little lakes, streams, boys, meadows The
bluffs above the beach are imposing The beach
itself is n wonder-braad. smooth clean. free from