Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1921-01-06

1t flnds much state park material and much that
Is mere properly local. A scenic survey of all the
states, made by the General Federation of Wom-
ems Clubs, shows suitable for national state
and local parks
The conference will wrestle with this embarrass-
ment of riches. 1t is hoped--and expected-that
out of Its deliberations will come a classification
and standardization of park areas and draft of
a standard state park law, which can be amended
by the several states to suit local conditions.
When Senator Harding declared, "All America is
motoring and leaving a golden trail behind" he
said something, as the tongue of the day has 1t.
The official national parks attendance figures for
1920 give hint of this motor travel In 1916 there
We're 356,O97 visitors to the national parks and
probably large majority of them went by rail-
road. In 1920 there were 919 504 visitors and
more than G5 per cent of them were travelling In
their cars. In 1917 private cars were record
led to the number of 54,692; last season, 12SO74.
These ears bore the license plates of every state
in the Union.
All conference roads lead to Des Moines because
1t is the capital of state that has the real park
spirit and is doing things the right way The
Thirtyseventh general assembly created state
board of conservation. The Thirty-eight assembly
endowed this board with 100000 year and other
wise empowered it. The members of this board,
who serve without pay, are: DR.. L. H. Pammel,
Ames, chairman; Joseph Kelso, Bellevue; John
F. Ford, Fort Dodge, and Edgar Il. Harlan, Des
Mones, secretary.
The Iowa state park law is working instr,l-
ment. The state board of conservation, with the
written consent of the executive council has the
power TO establish public parks In all suitable
places and to improve them and make them ac-
cessible from the public highways. The board has
power 10 purchase or condemn lands for both park
and highway purposes.
Secretary Harlan, who is curator Of the state
historical department, delivered eloquent ad-
dress July "a, 1919, before the Des Mones Ro-
tarinns. The state has published it with the title
"lowa Law, Policy and Proceedings Upon Sys-
TEN of Public State Parks and Reservations"
I'm Iowa." says Mr., Harlan, at is but a short
spin from prairie lands to fairy lands" He goes
on to enumerate some of the beauty spots and
places of historic and scientific interest In a coun-
try Of farming land worth up to $500 an acre
But" he says, you cannot go swimming, boat
Ing, fishing. camping nor play ball. unless In cities
without trespassing." After sketching the situa-
ton from the viewpoints of both recreationist and
owner, he says in part:
Recognizing these conflicting truths, respecting
these inharmonious interests the state set out to
open acquire and preserve some of these areas
Due compensation shall be made to private own
Appropriate provision will be made that the
healthful may resort to the open air with safety
without contempt of fellow citizens and with full
seif-respect Areas unique for scenery will be ac-
qulred. Those embracing objects and materials
useful interesting in scientific study will be re-
served. Grounds will be bought wherein occurred
important scenes In early and recent social life
where prehistoric works exist where lie the ashes
of great, where shafts that speak of all these
facts should stand. Shore lines of lakes and riv-
ers; reservoirs; sleeps and slopes deforested In
early days will be secured Some will be replant-
ed in time with useful and attractive trees. Small
roadside streams In shade, will be provid-
ed where families touring may camp overnight and
rise In the morning without passing cars having
filled with dust their bed and breakfast. All this
In time to come, Is the states objective"
Chairman Pammel, who is member of the fac
uty of Iowa State college, reports that In the two
years Of the boards existence 1t has secured IA