The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-04-14
-C0nSerVati0n-
-OUIISEI WALNUT
FORESTS ALONG
RIVERS WOULD
BENEFIT MANY
Places for Vacations at
Little Expense Among
Points Cited.
BY WILLIAM r. COLLINS
Times Special Writer

ZINES SpeClal hfUer
Stop to consider a moment the
value to the state of Indiana of ac-
quiring over a long term Of years
the river banks in the state. Up
TO the moment practically all of The
public forests in the nation have
more or less remote from the CEN
ters Of population.
This was not due to chance. Re-
mote areas are less expensive and
usually having been at the tag end
of the nations demand for agricul-
tural land were least considered
by the farmer or farm land pro-
moter. I will have to confess that
not many areas escaped the farm
land promoter. but there are a few
where even he could not bring into
being an agricultural vision.
Block forests in remote areas do
not benefit many persons. Those
who can afford it traveel to the
most famous ones in the west. Fiji
teen thousand HoOsierS go to the
Brown county forest in the fall when
the leaves turn color, and 100000
Hoosiers visit the state parks,
mostly forest every year. That is
about one-siXth of the states pop
ulatiOn.
Greatest Number Affected
What is the matter with the idea
of establishing an Indiana venture
In acquiring our river banks and
thereon grow continuous line of
forest. on the five major streams
of the state live more than four
flfths of our population. No river
forest would be farther than a few
minutes drive from most of our
people.
Would it be more desirable to
have a state forest interesting the
habitat of the most of us than to
have it somewhere out in the hills
near but few of us? You will have
to answer that question.
Let us assume for the time that
we already have river forest start
ing from Winchester and running
along the banks of White river to
Greene county or beyond. Any other
stream will answer for the same as
sumption, but it so happens that
White river lies close to many per-
sons and for the sake of illustration
is taken first.
Youth Would Benefit
The first groups benefited would
be the local Boy and Girl Scout
troops. Close by would be a long
stretch of forest land in which to
indulge in their outdoor activities,
their map making, trail and camp
fire tests and water sports to carry
out their programs. Not every or
ganjzation of Scouts in Indiana has
its own grounds as has indianapolis
in which to practice.
Then come the fishermen. With
the river forest would come the
stream publication. Popular demand
would take care of that. Less pol
luton, more fish would result.
The hunter follows Hunting
would not be permitted in the river
forest; it would be a reservoir of
wild life that would overflow the
border to enrich the surrounding
fields.
The trail hiker would have a long
pathway to wander over, through
shaded forest land. At no point of
the hike would it be necessary to
TetraCe his steps. New vistas of the
states best scenery would always lie
ahead
The horseback rider would have,
as they have now in Westchester
county, New York, and in the Chi
cago environS through the Cook
county forests, an unparalleled OPP
portunity to extend rides into some
thing worth while.
Imagine if you can, the eXhilara-
ton of having at your command 125
miles of open forest trail following
the banks of a good, clean river that
would be easily entered within
brief ride from your stable. The &C
QUESTION of saddle horses by hun
dredS of persons would follow as
certainly as day follows the dawn.
State Would Control
The water sportsman, the boater
and the canoeiSt would have at
their command, as they have in the
Missouri OZarkS, mile after mile of
river on which to enjoy vacations,
free from the stencil of the open
road and the Sunday congestion of
motor traffic.
All of these groups would be
served by wayside or rather, river
side resting places owned or con-
trolled by the state as the state con-
trolls its hotels in parks.
In these inns, one would find
boats, saddle horses and other
equipment for hire or sale and a
long vacation could be planned with
the minimum of trouble and ex-
pense. The boater or the rider
could turn over his mount at the
last point of call and it would be
rediStributed along the trail to meet
the demand.
Dumps Became Pathways
Perhaps I am drawing a long bow;
perhaps this is all too visionary,
but if it is. then the Appalachian
Mountain Club was too visionary
when it planned the long trail
twenty years ago from Mt. Katah-
din in Maine to Stone mountain
in Georgia, now completed. Over
this trail pass the mixers of the
eastern states.
Then a45o was the vision of the
residents of WestcheSter county in
New York too ephemereal when they