Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-04-16
VIRGIN BEAUTY
FLOURISHES IN
STATE PARKS
Richard Lieber and Party
Find HOOsier Fairgrounds
in Excellent Shape.
PLAN IMPROVEMENTS
BY HORACE NJ. COATS,
Times STAFF Correspondent.

vastness Of the State park system, fur
Their publicity to acquaint the people with
the possibilities and advantages within
the boundaries of their own common
wealth would be superhuous.
Indiana's parks and beauty spots are
10 be in better shape in the coming sum
mer than ever before in the history Of
the State department of conservation, ac-
cOrding to Richard Lleber, director Of the
department.
Mr.. Lieber returned Wednesday after
noon from the spring tour Of the State
parks accompanied by officials Of the
department, Leo RapPapOrt, secretary of
the State park commission, and a corps
Of newspaper men. The party visited the
country home Of Mr.. Lieber In Brown
County, Mccormick S Greek Canyon, Tur-
key Run State park and several other
sites where the State has uuder consld-
GRAFTON the establishment Of parks. Mr..
Lieber was host to the party making the
trip.
UNDREANTED TREASURES
IN BROWN COUNTY.
To those who have never had the op-
portunity of visiting famous Brown
County. there are treasures in store Of
which they never dreamed. Although the
land is net fertile. nor is it level enough
TO raise any crops, yet the scenery Of
that county, and its unique Inhabitants,
fascinate the visitor.
An amusing anecdote was told by Mr.
Lieber. which illustrates the low value
Of the land
A resident Of the county was driving
new span OF mules, and on the road
met a tourist The tourist stopped and
inquired Of the man where he had OBJ
tanned the mules.
Traded leo acres OF land for them"
was the reply.
Isn't that a pretty high price for
span Of mules:" the tourist returned.
WAL" replied the farmer. THE deal
al first was for eighty acres, but when
got to the courthouse I found the dern
fool couldn't read, so I slipped in an
other eighty on him.
OLD LOG JAIL IS
NOT POPULAR.
There are many interesting spots in
Brown County. There is the old log Jail.
which. by the way, has not had a guest"
for many months.
we don't have much use for the Jail
since prohibition said one OF the resi-
dents.
The structure is a perfect specimen Of
pioneer workmanship, having been NOR
tised artistically, and having heavy iron
grating doors and barred windows. 1t
has two stories.
The party passed the grave Of a Revo
lutionary soldier. which is one OF the
countys wonder spots.
When the soldier was buried. an old
tree was followed out, and the body
placed In It. Years after. another tree
sprouted from the improvised coffin, and
now one Of the largest poplar trees of
Brown County stands as monument
70 the memory Of the soldier.
VISIT 9IcCORMICK'S
CREEK CANYON.
From Brown County the party went to
NcCormick's Creek Canyon, the States
embryo beauty park. Here. a hotel,
which soon will have all the comforts
Of a modern home. stands on q knoll.
from which the beauties Of the canyon
can be viewed
While the park does not compare In
beauty and natural wonders with Tur-
key Run state Park, yet the wonders OF
nature are apparent, and when the plans
Of the conservation department; have been
com pIeced It viii be one Of the beauty
spots Of the State.
Some Of the largest trees Of Indiana,
virgin timber, stand on this reservation.
No cutting Of timber IS allowed. and the
place abounds In beautiful wild flowers.
TO MAKE PARK
ELF-sUPPORTING.
The plan Of the conservation depart
ment is to equip the hotel with electricity
and install q furnace, and make an all
year resort Of the place. Thousands of
visitors are expected to visit the park
this summer.
Ike Turkey Run. the conservation com
mission hopes TO have this park on
self-supp basis In q short time
signs are placed throughout the park.
imparting the Information that this Is
your park and cooperation Of the citI-
zenst in the upkeep Of the place IS asked
Turkey Run park, near Marshall, Is
clearly the beauty spot Of the State, and
is one Of the coming spots which Will be
q mecca for tourists the country over.
The hotel at this park is modern
structure and numerous cottages and
lighthouses viii accommodate several
hundred persons. The bricks used In the
building were made by prisoners I'm the
State penal Institutions as was the furni-
ture, and the building itself was erected
bv prisoners.
TURKEY RUN Is
PLACE OF BEAUTY.
Turkey Run park has an area Of 2SS
acres and condemnation proceedings now
are under way. In an effort to obtain 1S5
acres Of virgin timber held by the Hoo
sier Veneer Company, as an addition to
the park.
/ Every kind Of native virgin timber
[ is represented on the reservation, and
some trees that stand In the forests
| there were baby trees" when Columbus
! discovered America, according to Frank
/ y. Wallace, State entomologist. In speak
/ ing Of the timbe- at Turkey Run, It can
/ be stated that under recent legislation it
/ is probable that large tracts OF forest
/ land IN Brown County viii be pur-
chased by the State, which will add hun
/ dreds of acres Of timber land to the
State system.
/ Falls, canyons, caves and all the nat
ural wonders for which divers spots in
the United States are famous, are all
/ included in the wonders OF Turkey Run.
y large swinging bridge over the river,
| cost Of which was covered by the dimes
collected from visitors to the park. as an
/ entrance fee, has been constructed. over
one hundred tons of concrete hold the
/ bridge in position.
/ STRIVE TO KEEP
/ PARK PRIMITIVE.
Definite plans have been laid by Mr.
/ Lieber, c. G. Sauers. chief Of the divi-
| sion Of lands and waters of the conserva-
ton department, for the extension Of the
park as soon as the additional land is OBJ
tanned.
Efforts are made to keep the reserva-
/ ton as nearly as possible in its primitive
/ condition No fires are permitted, ex-
/ cept on spots designated.