Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-01-13

II nnds much state park material and much that
is mere properly local. scenic survey of all the
states, made by the General Federation of Wom-
ems Clubs shows areas suitable for national state
and local parks
The conference will wrestie 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
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
sad something, as the tongue of the day has it.
The official national parks attendance figures for
1920 give hint of this motor travel In 1916 there
were 356,O97 visitors to the national parks and
probably a large majority Of them went by rail-
road In 1920 there were 919,5O4 visitors and
more than 60 per cent of them were travelling in
their own cars. In 1917 private cars were record
ed to the number of 54,692; last season, 12SO74
These cars bore the license plates of every state
in the Union.
All conference roads lead to Des Mones because ,
it is the capital of state that has the real park
spirit and is doing things the right way The
Thirty-seventh 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 r. Harlan, Des
Mones secretary.
The Iowa state park law is a working instru-
ment. The state board of conservation with tbe
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 to purchase or condemn lands for both mark
and highway purposes.
Secretary Harlan, who is curator of the state
historical department, delivered an eloquent ad-
dress July "a, 1919, before the Des Moines Ro-
h0 cfo ota hos b1icIo
'Iowa Law, Policy and Proceedings Upon q Svs-
TEN of Public State Parks and Reservations"
"In Iowa." says Mr.. Harlan, sit is but a short
spin from prairie lands to fairy lands" He goes
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 play ball, unless in cities
without trespassng." After sketching the situa-
ton from the viewpoints of both recreationist and
owner, he says in part:
Recognizing these conflicting truths respecting
these inharmonous interests the state set out to
open, acquire and preserve some of these areas
Due compensation shall be made to private own
ers Appropriate provision will be made that the
healthful may resort to the open air with safety,
without contempt of fellow citizens and with full
selfreSpect. Areas unique for scenery will be ac-
quired Those embracing objects and materials
useful or interesting in scientific study will be re-
served. Grounds will be bought whereon occurred
important scenes in early and recent social life;
where prehistoric works exist; where lie the ashes
of our great where shafts that speak of all these
facts should stand. Shore lines of lakes and rv-
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 areas streams in shade, will be prOvd-
ed where families touring may camp overnight and
rise in the morning without passing cars having
filed with dust their bed and breakfast. All this,
in time to come, is the states objective"
Chairman Pammel, who is a member of the fac
ulty of Iowa State college, reports that in the two
years of the boards existence it has secured IA