Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1920-06-30

The creation of public recreation
places is an American idea. In the old
er countries the places of beauty and
interest were all appropriated, owned
and controlled by the nobility-the aris-
tocracy-the favored class. The COM
mon people were not supposed to re-
quire the stimulation of these beauty
spots and were not permitted to enjoy
them The American idea is different
Here every man is equal to every other
man; there is no nobility but nobility of
character; no aristocracy but the aris-
tocracy Of American citizenship.
The men who conceived the idea Of
separating from the public domain for
the specific use of the people these ma
tural parks and recreation places were
men of vision and far-sighted wisdom
Had it not been for their determination
and energy, in the face of opposition
and indifference. the grandeur of the
Yellowstone. the virgin forests of Itas-
ca would long ere this have been de-
spoiled and reduced to the common
place. Too much cannot be said in praise
of these men by a grateful people, We
can not 90 too much honor to their
memory.
AS we go in the establishment and
development of our state parks there
becomes more and more evident the
need for coordination of thir care and
control. If We are to enter upon a def
mite policy there should be some CEN
trail agency to regulate their establish
ment. organization and care, created bv
law and vested with the necessary auth
orlty. At present there is no such def
mite plan or policy, the various parks
and historic reservations belonging to
the state being under the various sorts
OF management and control each inde-
pendent of others. Thus one may be
under the control of the State Forestry
Board. another under the State Audi
tor, another under specially created
commission, and so on.
In dedicating this park it is fitting
that attention be called to the appropri-
ateness of the name by which it is
be known. Sibley State Park There is
much that is inspiring in the lives of
those sturdy frontiersmen and stalwart
pioneers who blazed the way for civili-
zation. General H. H. Sibley was prob
ably the most conspicuous and forceful
OF all the strong and vigorous men who
made history during the period when the
fur trader and the explorer held sway.
He came to Minnesota then a part of
the Territory of Michigan, in 1884, as
the agent of the American Fur Co. He
was an ardent sportsman, gallant SOL
dier and able public servant He was
the first representative of this wilder
ness region in congress and secured it's
organization as territory. He became
the first governor of the state when ad-
mltted to the union in 1853. He led the
troops which put down the savage up
rising of 1926, and in his declining
years served in the state legislature and
as regent of the state university
Sibley spoke the Indian tongue, was
famous athlete and often joined the red
men on their hunts On one occasion
| ne related having been on a hunting
trip with Gen. John c. Fremont, the
famous "Pathfnder". On another occa-
| a tir,u
| cipated with about $50 Indians on which
expedition this particular locality was
traVersed and hunted over, the bag of
| same consisted Of 1000 deer SO or 60
elk, many bear, some buffalo. five or
SIX panther, besides abundant smaller
game Contemporaries of Sibley and
| whose names are perpetuated in the
names of places, countless or other geo.
graphic divisions of this state, were JOS
| H. Brown, Joseph Renville, Jean Fari-
| bault and Martin Mcleod The leading
men among the Sioux and Chippewa
tribes were his friends, but he says of
Little Crow, Jr., who led the Massacre
| OF 1ooz that he was a pagan Indian, a
liar. drunkard and wholly unreliable
and bad.
These forests and valleys were the
favorlte hunting grounds of the abort
sinal tribes who lighted their signal
hres on these lofty hill tops. fought
their inter-trihal battles along these
shores and slopes, launched their bark
canoes on these placid lakes. who held
| their councils of peace and war under
| the branches of these spreading trees,
who probably roamed and pursued their
| nomadic. care-free lives over this re-
| g1on for thousands of years before the
foot of white man rested on this spot.
There is sadness in the thought that
a race of men should thus be effaced,
but there has followed them a better
race. happier condition, higher and
better era.
In this dedication there should be nc
lack Of tribute to the pioneer who toll.
ed over the plains and thru the track.
less forests, blazing the way for the
(Cnnt}u11ad nm pova o.