60 PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 



dioate a still more open sea. The coal -seams and the black clayey shales, 

 on the other hand, were laid down in lagoons near the shore. Plant 

 remains are rather scarce even in connection with the coal seams, which 

 themselves have a small development. The presence of Fusulina of 

 Ammodiscus, of other foraminifera and no less the abundance of echi- 

 noderms and especially crinoid remains, testifies to the presence of 

 deeper waters at intervals. Below is given a classified list of the fossils 

 noted. Geology of Mills and Fremont Counties, Iowa Geological Survey, 

 pp. 127-8, pp. 162-3 and pp. 159-0. 



REPORT ON LOWER DES MOINES AREA. 

 By E. R. Harlan, Curator Historical Department. 



I wish respectfully to advocate, for the southeastern portion of the 

 state, the following: 



The bed of the Des Moines River from its mouth to Raccoon Forks is 

 the property of the United States Government or of the State of Iowa. 



The lands adjacent to the Des Moines River are held under govern- 

 ment designations, the owners generally not claiming though often using, 

 the lands between the meander lines and the water in the river. All 

 such lands should eventually be reclaimed or acquired where possible by 

 the state, the entire length of the river, from the Minnesota to the Mis- 

 souri boundaries. 



For much of the distance between the region of Belfast, in Lee County 

 and Eldon in Wapello County, there are maintained good highways on 

 one or both banks of the river and upon or near the meander lines; 

 wherever the roads are far from the river, it is because of the rugged- 

 ness of the country and banks. 



The original forest growth of the bottoms and the hills along this sec- 

 tion of the river has, in many places, been removed, but there is, 

 throughout the greater part, "a good variety and good specimens of all 

 trees native to the region. Young growth, in many places, is replacing 

 denuded parts, and replanting is practicable in all. 



The acquisition by the state of the banks and adjacent grounds for 

 study and recreation and their adaptation to that purpose, would be 

 merely a matter of acquiring the slender strip of ground along or 

 through which the river and the roads run. and then widening spaces 

 which are not expensive but of highly interesting historic, scenic and 

 scientific character. The least valuable in money of any lands in the re- 

 gion are best suited to the eventual reproduction of such plant growth 

 and rights of way as will make of them most valuable places for recrea- 

 tion and study by the present and future generations. 



Practically^ every prominent point of land abutting the river is topped 

 by mounds of prehistoric origin, many of them as yet unvandalized. 

 These are usually to be found where the natural ruggedness has pre- 

 vented the building of roads. They are in the best places for resting, 

 camping and sight seeing, are ample in number and so vary in position 



