The Washington herald., 1922-09-10

DETROIT. Sept. 9.-Candidly ac-
knowledglng its own substantial
contribution to the flood OF motor
cars which the automobile indus
try has turned loose on the high
ways of Michigan. causing a Sc
rious congestion of the few re-
naming open parks and bathing
beaches within fifty miles of De-
troit. Dodge Brothers. Inc, has
bought up eleven of the finest park
sites in the lake district north of
here and donated them to the
State.
The purpose of the donation is
to provide a memorial to the late
John F. and Horace E. Dodge and
to give motorists places where
they may have their picnics. games
and bathing without being con-
stantly driven from pillar to post
by Indignant owners of private
property"
Ten of the eleven parks have
large lake or river frontage and
the other is rugged. almost
mountainous parcel noted for its
beautiful scenery. The parks will
De KNOWN as lpouee bTOlncEs Sbdtc
Parks No. l. 2. etc.
In a letter to Governor Alex ].
Groesbeck, formally presenting the
parks to the State, Chairman
Howard r. Bloomer OF the board
of directors of Dodge Brothers, in
Inmates that he would like TO see
other automobile manufacturers
follow Dodge Brothers example and
do something to provide outdoor
recreation for motorists. Under
present conditions. he says, it is
almost impossible for the man who
does not own summer home to
find suitable place to spend the
weekend. His letter follows:
Letter to Groesbeck.
Dear Governor Groesbeck:
Dodge Brothers. Inc. the manu-
facturer of the Dodge Brothers
motor car, believes that it is the
duty of large industry to not
only make and sell an honest
product but to strive to demon
strate in some tangible way its
appreciation of the public's conf
dence.
For that reason its board of dI-
rectors has studied for a long pc.
riod the peculiar problem brought
, about by the widespread owner
ship of motor cars in the so-called
average family" This study ha.
convinced it that the very product
made and sold by Dodge Brothers
and by the automobile industry a.
4 whole has developed an urgent
need of places and means of rec,
reation unthought of before tn,
advent of the motor car.
l A.. ha 4
! the range of pleasure travel for the
/ public it has also put the public in
| the position of having almost nc
| place to go where it is really wei.
| come. Automobile picnic parties
| chards. only to be driven out by
indignant owners. They have
campcd on highways along the
| lakes Of Oakland County in such
numbers that Oakland County in
| its own defense has been compelled
| to pass an ordinance to prohibi,
such camping, with the result tina,
| thousands of men. women and chill
| dren from the city of Detroit and
| surrounding cities and towns who
| seek health and pleasure each week
in automobile trips to the country
| have found themselves driven from
| pillar to post" and classified as
unwelcOme guests not only by resi-.
| dents but by county authorities as
well.
Realizes Handicap.
Dodge Brothers. Inc. has realized
| that the motoring public is now Sc.
riously handicapped in its quest fol
| the health and happiness thai
| comes from sunshine and open all
and desiring to be a pioneer in g
| movement to relieve this unfortun.
| ate lack of outdoor recreation cen.
| ters. has tried to provide for the
needs of it's home city and State b,
| purchasing eleven parcels of land
| located as follows:
l. Twenty-Five acres, Island Lake
| Livingston County.
2. Twenty-six acres, Walled Lake
| Oakland County.
3. Thirteen acres, Crescent Lake
| Oakland County.
4. Thirty acres, Cass Lake, Oak
| land County
5. Eighty acres. Reed Lake, Oak.
| land County.
s. Thirty-fve acres, Hunt Road
| Township of Southfeld, Oakland
| County.
Z. Fifty acres. John R. Road or
| Clinton River. near Rochester
| Township of Avon. Oakland County
s. Twenty-three acres. Utica
| Gravel Road. midway between Utica
and Mount Clemens, on Clinton
River. Sterling Township, Macomt
! County.
9. Thirty acres, Huron Rive,
Drive on Huron River adjacent tS
to village of lockwood, Monroe
County.
10. Seventy eight acres on Eliza
beth Lake road, adjacent to Pick.
erel Lake. Highland Township
Oakland County.
IL. Two hundred and forty acre.
J on Horseshoe Lake, oxford Town
/ shin, Oakland County.
i These parcels giving access t