120 THE FOREST PRESERVES 



Elk Grove Preserve 



As one of Chicago pioneers has so aptly put it, "Tell me 

 what the Indians called this place and I will tell you what 

 there is worth while about it." Such is the case with the Elk 

 Grove woods, 1,600 acres constituting another northwest pre- 

 serve. 



"The Land of Bubbling Springs" was the name by which 

 they designated this stretch of hardwood forest punctuated by 

 pure water springs giving rise to little streams that give joy 

 to the little ones and grown-ups alike. 



Along the entire west boundary of the preserve, which is 

 destined to become one of the most popular of the entire string, 

 the historical Salt Creek finds its serene way, banked on either 

 side by lofty elms and Gibraltar-like oaks. 



The whole interior, webbed with roads and trails, presents 

 a realm made to order for the lover of outdoors in its natural 

 state. It has been estimated that on this tract more millions 

 of feet of nut-bearing timber has been spared by lumbermen 

 than on any tract in existence. 



For the one who loves to roam for hours without even a 

 semblance of civilization presenting itself, here is the spot. 

 The claim has been made that before the days of designated 

 trails visitors have been known to wander through these woods 

 from morning till night looking for the way out. 



And what would the redskin of a hundred years ago say 

 were he to gaze upon his "land of bubbling springs" today? 

 Bubbling, these springs still flow on but today they are the 

 mecca of thousands who feast upon the waters as though it 

 was some new-found elixir of life. 



And, perhaps, they are not far off. Chemists employed by 

 the district officers have made analyses of these waters and 

 have found a 100 per cent score. Eventually it is the scheme 

 to give some appropriate name to each of the improved 

 springs. 



One feature that every visitor to the Elk Grove Preserve 

 is going to appreciate is the arrangement by which all points 

 of interest will be easily accessible in maze of forestry. These 

 guide maps will be what the balls of yarn were to the mythical 

 labyrinth prisoners. 



