PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 51 



A NATURAL PARK SITE. 

 By Mrs. W. B. Small. 



On different occasions during past years, I had heard Independence 

 friends refer to excursions made to an interesting spot not far distant 

 known as "The Devil's Backbone." From, a meager description of the 

 place, my mind had conjured up an immense, smooth, almost "unscalable" 

 boulder which was curious but not beautiful. I had felt a curiosity con- 

 cerning this "freak of nature," as I supposed it to be, and welcomed with 

 delight the opportunity to visit the locality. 



We found the place in question to be located four or five miles south 

 of Strawberry Point, and not on a main traveled road; but the trail leads 

 through fields and up rough hills, and finally on to a high peninsula which 

 is encircled by the Maquoketa river. The open space on the summit of 

 this point of land makes a beautiful picnicing ground, and the lover of 

 nature rejoices to see that this retreat is unspoiled by the hand of man; 

 it is too far from the city and too inaccessible to attract the pop-corn 

 vender or the summer resort proprietor. While our lunch was in course 

 of preparation, some one discovered the trail to a spring of water and 

 he also reported marvelous examples of erosion to be seen in the descent 

 of the rocky hillside. In our further explorations on both sides of the 

 tableland, we found delightful surprises and there was a continuous suc- 

 cession of "ohs" and "ahs" from different members of the party. By the 

 action of the water, great portions of rock have become detached from 

 the main promontory, and these "detachments" have, taken fascinating 

 shapes, so that we found caves, rooms, and all sorts of enchanting nooks 

 topped by trees and edged with ferns and hairbells. The climax was 

 reached in the eastern descent to the river; here, Nature has set aside 

 a block of stone, and deftly chiseled a charming and complete room, 

 where one can enter through the doorway and sit, as in a balcony, 

 looking from the window upon the scene below. Tiny ferns and blos- 

 soms decorate the roof, and a delicate vine trails past a bird's nest on 

 the ledge above the doorway. Perched upon the hillside, high above 

 the river, it reminds one of a tiny Swiss chalet, which might fittingly 

 be called "Sylvia's retreat." In our prairie state, it is a distinct surprise 

 to find such rocky promontories of seventy-five or a hundred feet in 

 'height and it is devoutly to be hoped that this paradise of the geologist 

 and botanist may be preserved as a playground for Iowa's people. Iowa 

 Conservation, Vol. II, No. 1, p. 11. 



PROPOSED PARK AT BUCKINGHAM LAKE. 

 By Seth Dean. 



I take it for granted that the head of every family is in favor of public 

 parks as play grounds, but there may be honest difference of opinion about 

 what is required to make a satisfactory park, but using my own judgment 

 in selecting a suitable location the following considerations should be fac- 

 tors in influencing my action, viz. : 



A tract well removed from the business centers, having a permanent 

 lake or where a generous pond of fresh water can be deepened and en- 



