Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1923-05-09

park with primeval forests and numer-
GUS lakes and rivers, to the one-acre
sand bar in the Connecticut river.
which is Dart Island State park of
Connecticut.
Historic Sites and Scenery.
State pride in characteristic natural
features and historic sites frequently
determines the selection of the state
park sites as in the cases of the Royal
Palm State park of Florida, with it's
luxuriant everglades; the Redwood
State park, of California, in which are
some of that states big trees; the
Old Salem State park, of Illinois,
which takes in the former home of
Abraham Lincoln. Practically all the
state parks of Pennsylvania appear to
be associated with military memories.
Scenic wonders are as various as the
panorama from the river bluffs of the
Nelson-Dewey State park of Wiscon-
sin, the curiously modelled gorges Of
| the Mashamoquet Brook State park Of
Connecticut, the canyons and gulches
| of the Starved Rock State park of
Illinois, the vast expanse of sand
dunes of the proposed lake front park
in Indiana, and the curious geology
and mystery water body Of Devils
Lake State park in Wisconsin.
Comparatively few state parks were
known outside the borders Of their
own states a few years ago but the
automobile tourist and the back-to-
real-nature vacationist are blazing
| their way to these parks in rapidly
increasing numbers from ever greater
distances.
1t is wholly probable that thousands
whose married life has begun to the
honeymoon music Of thunderous Mag
ara do not know that the American
portion of the falls lies within a state
park, and this particular state park
has an interest even beyond that of
protecting majestic natural wander
from exploitation. It's acquisition set
the legal precedent for appropriating
public money for saving scenic objects
for public use. The 112 acres of land
surrounding the falls and the 300 more
acres under water marked the first
place in the United States where con-
demnation proceedings were employed
for the sole object of preserving nat
ural scenery.
An Iowan may pick out site in
Keosauqua, build a summer cottage
there, and go back year after year,
without paying rent. In many parks
camping sites are available for tents,
fireplaces are provided, wood is dis
tributed by rangers, and what might
/ be termed a park de luxe" Is the
beautiful Starved Rock State park in
Illinois, which has electric lights, sew
erage, artesian water and fire protec-
tive apparatus.
Life in the Primitive.
A wilder and more primitive life Is
to be found in other parks, such as
the Itasca State park in Minnesota,
| where 22,01O acres comprise forest
and lake, with fish Of many species,
/ and beaver and elk have been intro
| duced.
Valley Forge park and Washington
Crossing park in Pennsylvania, give a
| hint Of the military associations of the
keystone States parks. In addition
there are, in Pennsylvania, reserva-
/ lions under the state forest commits
sion which serve like purpose and
afford campers and mixers many
| square miles of primitive country.
Though the state park systems in
some states are clear cut and well
| dof1pod In ofhora ~ 10 dif41ouIt IN ID
termine from their designations when
q park Is an historic site, place for
motoring, camping, or picnic ground.
All are equally to be commended, but
| Connecticut's idea of a state park,
such as Selden Neck, part of beau
tiful island on the lower Connecticut,
where families may take a picnic
| luncheon, Is very different from that
| of Wisconsin where you may rent an
island in an upstate lake and remain
there all summer.
Kentucky bids fair to follow In the
steps of Illinois In selecting historic
sites for parks. Two prospective parks
| of the Blue Grass state are the place
near Bardstown where Stephen Foster
wrote my Old Kentucky Home" and
| the place of Lincoln's birth near
Hodgenville. A third is Mammoth cave
State parks are being welded into
something like system Conferences
of state park officials are held an
nual1y in one of the parks for the dis
cussion Of common problems.