The Elk Mountain pilot. [volume] (Irwin, (Ruby Camp), Gunnison County, Colo.) 1880-19??, 1919-08-28

There IL no question that the Indiana dunes are
worthy of national park honors October 80. 1915.
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 q
mile deep between Miller's in Lake county and
Michigan City. After describing the cunes with
considerable enthusiasm Director Mather says
Assuming. without further description Of actual
conditions In this dune couptry. that the sand
dunes of Indiana are equal to those In any other
section of the country: that they the most ac-
cessble 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 are myriad, should they.
or large section of them, be preserved for present
and future generations? If they should be pre-
served, ure they worthy of inclusion in a national
park? And If they are 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 enphatically
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 the third
question, he thinks 1t 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 1900 to 1900
acres extending Is or 20 miles along the lake. He
finds that options secured by spectators vary
between $3.50 and. 5000 acre. with one tract of
1900 acres held at $1,000 an acre.
"Manifestly." says Mr.. Mather, none of these
lands are actually worth $3.50 at this time
A figure less than 5000 probably represents
the actual value of the average tract of land not
under the influence of urban values, due to prox-
imity to cities. Practically all of the lnrger hold
incs must be purchased in their entirety. l believe
that 5000 to 1900 acres of dune lands can prob
ably be secured for park purposes for approximate
ly $500 an acre. The purchase price Of park of
tho size suggested would therefore be between
ST 100000 and $2GOO,OOO" r,4- F..
The proposed Dune National park is really
yonderfu place. In the first place. the dunes are
an uninhabted wilderness. The fact that there is
an uninhabited wilderness within few miles of
tho center of population--in 1910 at Bloomington
Jnd-and at the very doors of Chicago the second
citv Of the nation and the fourth city of the world
10 in itself u marvel. Incidentally. the dunes are
vitbin a few hours by rail and automobile of 20
OOO O(O people. This makes them unique pub
lie playground
Again: The dunes different world from
the monotonous fairness Of the Chicago plain
They are a country of hills and BLUFFS gulies and
valleys There all sorts Of interesting varia-
lions: Little lakes, streams boys, meadows. The
b,ufrs above the beach are imposing. The beach
itself is a wonder-broad smooth. clean. free from