Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1921-06-23
Committee Of the Legislaty,,S ),
Makes recommendation
the Tract Be Purctsysc.o
PART OF PROPERTY
IS SUBJECT TO LEASE
SOlOns Think Park Would Pay for
Itself in Ten Years Power
Company Holds Key

The following is an extract from
the printed report made by the joint
committee of the legislature as to the
proposed state park at TIE Dells. Part
of the land is now leased to G, FL,
Crandall and the purchase must be
made subject to the lease which ex-
Dires in 1924. Other arrangements
of course might be made. The report
of the committee, in part, reads as
follows:
1st The Dells of Wisconsin are to
Wisconsin what the National Park is
to the West; it's scenic beauty and
grandeur was not created by our Max
er for any one people or corporation
that might take advantage of the pub
zfc. They should, therefore, be owned
and controlled by the state, SO the
people of this nation from coast to
coast can see and enjoy this master
architecture in it's original beauty, and
that they may maintain their natural
growth of timber and shrubbery
along the banks not only for the pres
ent generation but more particularly
for those who come after us.
I'd. Opportunities usually come but
once and we believe this to be the
psychological moment for the state
to- act as information disclosed to the
committee seems to point to some
changes in the near future.
Sd. We believe without a question
OF doubt that if this property is ac~
quired by the state it can be put on
a paying basis and within ten years
every dollar will be paid back to the
state, and in years to come will prove
TO be one of our most valuable resour-
ces from a purely financial standpoint
and more valuable from the stand
point Of educational advantage. Our
GeOlOgist students make special trips
to the Dells to study the geological
formations, and in order to preserve
these places of scenery and beauty, it
is necessary that it be done promptly.
A state park also furnishes opportun-
ity for health and recreation.
4th. The Wisconsin River Power
Company hold the key to the situation
and have made a tentative offer to
sell to the state such lands which they
own bordering ON the river and shown
and explained fully in drawings made
by the Conservation Commission The
offer made by the Wisconsin Pow
er company, subject, however, to the
flowage rights and a lease held by
Mr. Crandall, is S7O,OOO.O0 which was
the cost of these lands to- them, as
shown in their deed.
5th. Believing in the wisdom of
the policy of preserving and recrea-
ton purpOses-and if some method
can be devised by which these lands
can be procured without the tax pay
ers feeling an undue burden at the
present time-the committee recon.
mends the purchase of the property
offered by the Southern Wisconsin
Power company in accordance with
the contract submitted herewith, to-
gether with the lease held by G. H
Crandall and the opinion of the At
torney General.
Finance Committee Recommends
The finance committee has recon
mended that $4,000 be spent by the
state for the purchase Of lands for
state parks.
1t recommended for passage bills
creating the Northern Lakes State
and the Dells parks. The Northern
Lakes park is tract of land of 1906
acres in Price and Sawyer counties
most virgin forest land dotted with
hundreds of lakes. The park is tC
cost $250,000.
The bill making of the Dells state
park appropriates $4,000 for this pur
pose.
Another bill allied to the state parE
program of the state by Senator Nye
appropriates $4,000 annually for this
purpose of extending state aid Il
county rural planning. The none!
will be used to extend state aid Il
counties establishing county parks.