Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1919-09-04

There is no question that the Indiana dunes are
worthy OF national park honors. October 80, 1916,
a public hearing was held in Chicago by the in
terror department in pursuance Of a senate resolu-
ton. In September, 1917, a 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 a
strip along the shore of Lake Michigan about a
mile deep between Miller's in Lake county and
Mlchlgan City. After describing the Gunes with
considerable enthusiasm, Director Mather says:
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 ac-
cess1ble dunes; that they possess extremely inter-
esting tora and fauna that they offer unparalleled
opportunities to observe the action OF the wind
ana It's influence on the sand and plant life: that
the Lake Michigan beach is beautiful and offers
bathing facilities for q multitude; that the recrea-
donal uses of the region are myriad, should they,
or a large section of them, be preserved for present
and future generations? If they should be pre-
served, are they worthy Of inclusion in a national
park? And if they are worthy of consideration as
a possible national park, would it be practicable
to establish them as such a park for the benefit
and enjoyment of the people?'
He answers the first two questions emphaticaIly
in the affirmative. He says this region should be
preserved to the people for all time and that it is
worthy of national park honors. As to the third
question, he thinks it one Of Legislative policy to
be determined by congress, inasmuch as the dunes
are not public lands, and private lands have never
been purchased for national park purposes. He
thinks the park should contain from 5000 to 1900
acres. extending Is or 20 miles along the lake. He
finds that options secured by spectators vary
between $3.50 and 5000 an acre, with one tract Of
2,300 acres held at $1,000 an acre.
"Manifestly," says Mr.. Mather, none of these
lands are actually worth $3.50 an acre at this time
A figure less than 5000 an acre probably represents
the actual value of the average tract of land not
under the influence Of urban values, due to prox-
unity to cities. Practically all of the larger hold
ings must be purchased in their entirety. l believe
that 1000 to $4,000 acres of dune lands can proh-
ably be secured for park purposes for approximate.
" 5000. an acre. The purchase price Of d park of
the size suggested would therefore be betvean
81, 100000 and $2,600,000."
The proposed Dune National park is really q
wonderful place. In the first place, the dunes arc
an uninhabited wilderness. The fact that there i
nm uninhabited wilderness within a few miles ~
the center Of population-in 1910 at Bloomington
midland at the very doors Of Chicago, the second
city Of the nation and the fourth city OF the world
is in itself d marvel. Incidentally, the dunes are
within a few hours by rail and automobile of 90.
600 900 people. This makes them unique as a pub.
lie playground.
Again The dunes are a different world from
the n.onotonoun fairness Of the Chicago plain
They are a country of hills and bluffs, gullies and
valleys. There are all sorts Of interesting varia-
tons: Little lakes. streams, boys, meadows. The
bluffs above the beach are imposing. The beach
itself ID n w~onder--broad, smooth. clean. free from