24 PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 



The citizens represented to the Commission that the reservoir 

 and all its attributes are the private property of the Cherry 

 Co., manufacturers of straw-board products, one indispensable 

 supply being a constant head of running water at present of a 

 volume of 1500 gal. per minute. 



It is possible an eventual requirement of 3000 gal. per minute 

 may result from expanded business. It was represented that 

 under the present construction and at the lowest stage of the 

 water in the Iowa River, the said quantity of 1500 gal. is regu- 

 larly delivered together with an additional volume wasted over 

 the retaining embankment of the full actual amounj:. In other 

 words, there is always flowing fully 3000 gal. per minute of 

 which the half only is at present required. 



It was further represented that said flow of water possibly em- 

 braces some power value. 



It was represented to the Board that the citizens are ready and 

 willing to turn over to the Board the reservoir, ditch and grounds 

 going therewith of a width from the water's edge of not less than 

 100 feet in all directions except where the railroad embankment 

 forms part of the retaining wall, provided the State would convert 

 the same into a recreation ground or park, and would deliver 

 the Cherry Company a maximum of 3000 gal. per minute or as 

 much thereof as the flow of the Iowa River, under proper control, 

 will supply ; and provided that if said Cherry Company in future 

 desire, they may, without interference of the State, use of the 

 stream or reservoir, produce power therefrom. 



The Board, taking into account the peculiar interest to the 

 public at large of the Musquakie Indians on their reservation of 

 some 3600 acres of land through which the Iowa River and the 

 Lincoln Highway run, both of which are approximately parallel 

 with each other and with the Milwaukee and North Western 

 Railroads from the dam in the Iowa River on this Indian Reser- 

 vation to the city of Tama, are of the opinion that what ever shall 

 be done with respect to a state park or any reservation on the 

 part of the State, ought to recognize the quality of interest pro- 

 posed by the Indian reservation and so establish and direct the 

 state's interests as to afford some benefit to the Indians on the 

 reservation as well as derive benefit therefrom. Therefore, the 

 Board directed its Secretary to take up and pursue with the 

 Indians and all other necessary authorities, a plan of connecting 

 with any use that may be made of the aforesaid water and its 

 surroundings, with the Indian Reservation as such. 



