Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-09-27
PARKS BOARD TO
REPORT FINDINGS

mary Of It's investigations-several
Sites For State Parks Proposed
Estherviile Project Most Important
Other Places Bid For Honors.
BY Associated Press.
Ames. Sept. 27.--Dr L. II. Pammel,
E. p. Harlan, j. f. Ford and Joseph
Kelso. comprising the state conserva-
ton board, have been busy during the
summer months investigating the
sites of various proposed Iowa parks
and conditions relative to the es-
Enlistment Of such state parks. The
board is now engaged on the prepara-
ton Of the report Of it's investiga-
tions. together with its recommends
tons. which 1t will submit to the
next assembly.
DR.. Pammel. chairman of the con-
servation board. has made the most
extensive Investigations. and asserts
that there is splendid spirit of CO.
operation being shown by the Vari-
GUS. cities thruout the state. He de-
clares, moreover, that action In re-
gard to many of the proposed parks
and reservations must be taken i'm
mediately or it will be too late. In
many instances, he says. the natural
beauties and advantages which have
led to the choice of certain sites
stand certain TO be impaired beyond
all remedy withinn the next few
years unless the state takes steps TO
preserve them.
The Fort Defiance park project
In Baskerville. EmEet county, is one
OF the chief subjects being con-
sidered by the board. This park
comprises several hundred acres on
the Des Moines river and includes
peculiar. timbered morainic deposits,
and many interesting plants. Or.
Pammel asserts that the state must
have local financial aid there il the
park is to be established.
Mud lake. High lake and Twelve
Mile lake. with adjacent territory, are
other areas in Emmett county which
1t has been proposed should be con-
verted into state parks. In this re-
gion there stands considerable prime
val timber. which adds greatly to the
value Of the region. This site, tod
Is used considerably as picnic
grounds by the farm population from
the surrounding country.
Near Hamburg, in Fremont county,
there are exceptionally fine springs
at the base of the Loess bluffs. This
area, which includes several artificial
lakes said to be splendid breeding
places for wild fowl. liz under con-
sideration by the board. DR.. Pamme;
states that the Hamburg people have
offered very LIBERAL support If the
parkis established there.
At Clarinda. a forty Ave acre lake
with adjacent land Boosting a fine
grove Is being discussed as the site
Of park for Page county. This
place is already visited by about
$4,000 people every summer. Atlantic
wants the state to purchase tim
bered tract adjacent to a city park
to increase the park area. The
board is also contemplating taking
over small area, on the farm OF T.
II. Whitney, near Atlantic. on which
Is a great elm tree, thought to be the
largest In western Iowa, and a tract
OF land In Floyd county on which is
an immense boulder. relic of the
glacial epoch, the largest of It's kind
In the state. Another state park has
been proposed for Rock Rapids, in
Lyon county, on an area containing
small lake and island. A further
site in the northwestern corner Of the
state is under contemplation. in a
certain region in Lyon county where
the Sioux quartzite crops out. There
is a lake here, and the spot is Of
considerable scientific interest. A
site in Cass county is being consid-
cred. On the farm Of n. p. .Hoegh
there. is mammoth white oak,
nearly 3h feet in diameter, alleged
to have been planted but sixty years
ago. This farm will be the nucleus
OF the proposed park.