The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1919-08-29

There is no question that the Indiana dunes are
worthy Of national park honors. October go 1916,
public hearing was held In Chicago by the In
terror department in pursuance of senate resolu-
ton. In September, 1917, printed report by
Director Stephen 7. 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 a
mile deep between Mers In Lake county and
Michigan City. After describing the dunes with
considerable enthusiasm, Director Mather says:
Assuming. without further description of actual
conditions In this dune country, that the sand
dunes or Indiana are equal TO those In any other
section of the country; that they are the most ac
cessible dunes; that they possess extremely inter.
esting flora and fauna that they offer unparalleled
opportunities to observe the action of the wind
and Its influence 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 they
large section of Them be preserved for present
aud future generations? II they should be pre-
served are they worthy of inclusion In a national
park? And ff they are worthy of consideration as
a possible national park, would It be practicable
to establish them as such park for the benefit
and enjoyment of the people?"
He answers the first two questions emphafieally
In the affirmative He says this region should he
preserved to the people for all time and that it is
worthy of national park h0nors. As TO the third
question he thinks 1t one Of legislative policy to
be determined by congress. fnasmuch 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 1900 to 900
acres, extending 10 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
1890 acres held at 1000 an acre.
"AIanifestly,' says Mr.. Mather, "none of these
lands are actually worth $3.50 an acre of 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
ines must be purchased I'm their entirety believe
that 1900 to 1900 acres of dune lands can prob
liz 500 an acre. The purchase price of park OF
81 10000 and ~, 600000"
The proposed Dune National park Is really a /
wonderful place In the first place. the dunes are
m uninhabited wilderness The fact that there Is
"a unlnhabited wilderness within few miles Of
the center Of population--in 1910 at Bloomington
Ind--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 rain and automobile Of 90
100000 people. This makes them unique as q pub
III playground. M
Again: The danes are different werld from
1he menofonons natness of the Chicago plain.
They are country 81 A.lls aud bluffs. gnliies ana
valleys There are iii sorts az Interesting safin-
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