PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 5 



and as a tribute to the bravery of the Marines. The general 

 government has named certain areas and objects for great charac- 

 ters of national and international renown. Why should we hesi- 

 tate to assign to our own a fitting memorial? 



Let us call attention also to the recreational value of such 

 parks as well as the value to the student and scientist. What 

 would be more commendable than to have located in different 

 parts of the State recreational parks so distributed that prac- 

 tically all sections of the State could be served without traveling 

 to exceed fifty miles except in extreme cases where the enthusiast 

 requires some special type of natural object or advantage? Our 

 wooded river banks and lake shores are ideal for recreational 

 parks as well as valuable for study of natural history, forest re- 

 serve, geology and propagation of wild life, and furnishing splen- 

 did fields for the students of plant life also. Indeed they are now, 

 although owned, fenced, taxed and properly used for grazing and 

 agricultural purposes. Why should a farmer be forever obliged 

 to follow the trespassing stranger every few days to repair fences, 

 close gates and suffer damage, often innocently done, but still 

 committed? Why not acquire and pay for his lands, open them 

 to the full use of the public forever and do justice to all con- 

 cerned? 



Summing up our report, we do not hesitate to say that Iowa 

 has within its borders many of the rarest places of historical 

 and scientific interest that might be conserved to the general good 

 of its people, that the opportunity of combining comfort and rec- 

 reation, with the knowledge to be obtained from a study of plant 

 life, natural beauty and resources still exists and that we should 

 avail ourselves of the opportunity of acquiring them for all of 

 the people of our state for all time. 



It apparently was the intention of the Legislators of Iowa to 

 have this park development financed by using funds collected in 

 the Fish and Game Department. No doubt, a great deal can be 

 accomplished by this plan. Nevertheless, it is bound to be a very 

 slow process if the development is left to that fund alone. There 

 is danger that the drawing of any amount from that source will 

 curtail improvements that should be made on the banks or shores 

 of our rivers and lakes and prevent the sufficient stocking of the 

 waters of the State with fish. 



We, therefore, do recommend that an annual levy of two-tenths 

 of a mill be made upon all the property of the State for the pur- 



