The Tomahawk., 1919-09-04
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There 1S no question that the Indiana dunes are
worthy of national park honors. October 80. 1910,
public hearing was held in Chicago by the in
terror department In pursuance of 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
strip along the shore of Lake Michigan about
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 country, that the sand
dunes OF 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 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 are myriad. should they,
a large section of them. be preserved for present
aud future generations? If they should be pre-
served. are they worthy of inclusion in national
park? And II they are worthy of consideration az
a possible national park, would 1t be practicable
to establish them as such a park for the benefit
and enjoyment of the peopleT' ~.
He answers the first two questions emphatically
in the affirmative. He says this region should be
preserved to the people for oil time and that it is
worthy of national park honors. As to the third
question: he thinks it 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 1000 to 13 600
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
23OO acres held at $1,000 an acre.
"Manifestly." says Mr.. Mather, none Of these
lands are actually worth $3.50 acre at this time
figure less than $500 an acre probably represents
the actual value Of the average tract of land not
under the influence Of urban values, due to pro1-
Unity to cities. Practically all Of the larger hold
ings must be purchased In their entirety. believe
that 5000 to $4,000 acres Of dune lands can prob
ably be secured for park purposes for approximate
IL 500 an acre. The purchase price Of park of
the size suggested would therefore be between
81 100000 and 81 100000"
The proposed Dune National park IL really 4
wonderful place. In the first place. the dunes are
on un,nhabited wilderness. The fact that there "a
IN unnhabited wilderness within few miles of
~. conter Of population-in 1910 at Bloomington
Ind and at the very doors Of Chicago the second
itv If the nation and the fourth city Of the world
:. IN itself a marvel. Incidentally, the dunes are
within few hours by rail and automobile of 20
ON oOO neople. This makes them unique as q pub
lie playground.
Acain: The dunes are q different world from
tho monotonous fatness Of the Chicago plain.
Thev are a country of hills and bluffs. gullies and
va,levs There are all sorts Of interesting varia-
lions. Little lakes. streams, bogs, meadows. The
hlutf. above the beach are imposing. The beach
it,elf is a wopder-broad. smooth clean, free from