Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-07-11
PRESERVE THE STATE PARK TREES.

II is deplorae fact viewed from eshctc standpoint that
the management the state parks and certain extent our national
parks is vested who the positions more largely through
political pull than of special fitness Tor the WORK or
any particular enthusiasm or interest III preserving the property CON-
mied to their charge Immediately following such ram As we
had last night apparent the need Of constructive work to preserve
the na<a beauties of the State Park if the rain was as heavy there
Ottawa So little thought has been given to the matter OF pre-
venting the washing the sandy soil around the of the trees
in the immediate vicinity OF the Rock that after another The
trees are dying topping from their roots being exposed
until it safe say that under the present plan OF not caring tor
them in Jew years only foliage left will he the underbrs and
that rooted crevces which cannot be reached
Take any picture of the Rock taken nye more years ago
and compare with and the devastation on the summit
the Rock will be apparent MI OF which could have been largely
avoided by little and torethougnt
Climbing around the sides of the Rock and the cliffs and canyons
in the immediate vicinity the attractions OF the place and
confined the prescribed trails would do comparatively little harm
if they are watched for But under the present plan
trail followed until its location hill side it begins to
break down. and then another started little higher up lower
down as the case may be- This begins slide and the eN
posture OF the of lot OF trees and the washing of new g
leys Were the original trails taken of and the slipping and
washing stopped could easily be done by yg few old
tree trunks the side the uciou Of little concrete
there would be little temptation trails and consequently
slides The OF these trails or paths would only be really
necessary the immediate vicinity of the Rock, where the crowds
of climbers are most numerous With several miles explore up
and down the inside the park grounds the damage from this
other parts of the park would be insignificant but even
there little thoughtful work would help much preserve the beat
ties Of the park for future generations.
But the whole park situation covered by the fact that the OBJ
ec OF acquiring the park property for park purposes and to pre-
this unusual and beautiful for the pleasure OF the people
has been overlooked forgotten The whole purpose OF the Canyon
Drive has been sacrificed roadway nearly possible
speedway and follow the rcous route laid which de
signed in that in order in the immediate vicinity of the
upper ends of the How utterly the highway department
has dsregared this evidenced by the that along the entire
drive not turnout parking place has been provided and nar
ally safe parking places being fenced off and made inaccessible
Everything has been sacrificed speed the road The highway
branch of the state has assumed been granted exclusive control
and the park commission have enforced idea make
apparent that the road goes through park acquired account
Of its natural scenic beaes Even natural picnic grounds along
the road have been fenced made inaccessible.
There has been change of park administration and APP
ponees have been named 1t to be hoped the officials will
give thought the adaptation Of the land park and pleas
purposes and that the purely side will be brought
down to somewhere level with the purposes for which the park
was acquired by the state for the people rather than for the
cessionaes