South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-09-17
Dodge Brothers Give Parks For
Motorists; Buy Tracts of State
Company Purchases Eleven Tracts of Forests and Lake Sites
and Present Them to Michigan to Afford Car Own.
ers Relief From 0vercrOwded Roads

DETROIT. sept 16-Candidly ac-
know ledging rs own substantial con-
t~.hutlon % the flood OF motor cars
which the automobile industry has
turned loose on the highways Of
Michigan. causing a serious conges-
ION OF the Few remaining open
parks and bathing beaches within So
miles OF Detroit Dodge Brothers.
Inc. has bought Up II or tho finest
park sites in the lake district north
o5 here and donated them 20 the
state.
The purpose OF the donation IS TO.
provide q memorial 20 the late John
D. and Horace u. Dodge and 20 give
motorists places where they may
havo their picnics. games and hath
Ing without being constantly driven
from pillar 20 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 seen
cry. The parks viii be known as
Dodge Brothers State Parks No. !.
{. etc
In letter 20 Gov. Alex. J.
Croesbeck. formally presenting the
parks 10 the state. Chairman Howard
j Boomer OF the board OF directors
or Dodge Brothers. inumates that
he would like TO see other automo-
bile manufacturers follow Dodge
Brothers example and do something
20 provide outdoor recreation for
motorists. Under present conditions.
he says. 60 Is almost impossible for
tho man who does not own a sum-
mer home TO find a suitable place 10
spend the weekend. His letter fol-
lows.
Dear Gov. Groesbeck:
Dodge Brothers. Inc. the manu-
facturer OF the Dodge Brothers
motor car. believes that It is the
duty Of a large industry TO not
only make and sell an honest pro
duct but 10 strive to demonstrate
in some tangible way its appre-
citation Of the public's confidence.
For that reason it's Board of Di-
rectors has for a long period
studied the peculiar problem
brought about by the widespread
ownership of motor cars in the So
called average family" This
study has convinced It that the
very product made and sold by
Dodge Brothers and by the auto
mobile industry as a whole has
developed an urgent need of places
and means Of recreation un
thought or before the advent Of the
motor car.
As the motor car has enlarged
the range or pleasure travel for
the public It has also put the pub
lie in the position OF having al
most no place to go where it is
really welcome Automobile pic
mic parties have invaded farms.
fields and orchards only to be
driven out by indignant owners.
They have camped on highways
along the lakes of Oakland County
in such numbers that Oakland
County I'm its own defense has
been compelled to pass an ordin-
ance TO prohibit such camping,
with the result that thousands Of
men. women and children from
the city OF Detroit and surrounding
cities and towns who seek health
and pleasure each week in auto
mobile trips 10 the country have
found themselves driven from
"pilar 10 post" and classified as
unwelcome guests not only by resi-
dents but BY county authorities as
well.
Dodge Brothers. Inc. has real
led that the motoring public is
now seriously handicapped in its
quest Cor the health and happiness
that comes from sunshine and
open air and desiring 20 be a pio-
nccr in n movement 20 relieve this
unfortunate lack Of outdoor recre-
alton centers. has tried 20 provide
for tho needs of IT'S home city and
state by purchasing II parcels OF
land located as follows.
L. % acres. Island Lake, Living
stor County
. Is acres. Walled Lake, oak
land County
5.IS acres. Crescent Lake. oak
land County.
g. 90 acres. Cass Lake Oakland
County
S. so acres, Reed Lake. Oakland
County.
s SIS acres. Hunt Road. Town
ship or South6eld. Oakland Coun-
"
T. so acres. John r. Road on
clinton river near Rochester,
township Of Avon. Oakland Coun-
ty
s. % acres. Utica Gravel Road
midway between Utica and Mt.
Clemens. on Clinton river, Stcr-
ling Township, MaComb county.
g. go acres. Huron River Drive
on Huron River adjacent 20 village