PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 109 



cated in half a dozen spots along the Oneota, and doubtless owe their 

 existence and form to similar conditions namely the meandering of the 

 stream while it was still flowing up on the level of the divides and up- 

 lands. Now that the river has cut its valley 400 to 500 feet below these 

 uplands, having made its bed, it is literally forced to lie in it. Similar 

 cases of entrenched meanders are plentiful along Turkey river between 

 Spillville and Clermont and on some of the smaller streams of the 

 region. 



THE SCENERY AT IOWA FALLS. 

 By Frank E. Foster. 



You lowans who enjoy touring around a bit in your automobiles 

 you who enjoy nature when she is unusual, untamed and picturesque 

 take out your map of Iowa and put a big blue mark or a red mark 

 or some other kind of a mark on Hardin county. 



Then take out your little memoranda book and jot this down: 



"Trip to Hardin county^ and Iowa Palls during summer of 1917. Seen- 

 ery is beautiful. 



"P. S. Roads in Hardin county are among the best in Iowa." 



One thing more: Promise yourself you will take this trip and then 

 be sure to keep your promise. 



When one thinks of touring in Iowa, one's mind pictures endless roll- 

 ing prairie, limitless fields of corn, and a great multitude of obese cat- 

 tle and snub-nosed hogs. Add rotund farmers, bulging pocket-books and 

 mud-roads and you have the composite average conception of the grand 

 and glorious state of Iowa. At least, that always has been the idea; but 

 lowans are beginning to get interested in their state, geographically 

 and to know it better. There is real beauty in Iowa, and if you keep 

 that ipromise to visit Iowa Palls this summer, you will be delightfully 

 surprised. No other city or town of the Hawkeye state can duplicate 

 the beautiful setting that nature has given to Iowa Falls. 



Viewing the environments of this city, one is impressed with the fact 

 that nature, fickle and of many moods, paused here to paint romantic 

 pictures that will forever distinguish it. Nature has done so much for 

 Iowa Falls, there is little left for her citizens to do in the way of adorn- 

 ment, and so they are content to preserve, conserve and appreciate these 

 beauties. 



Save in the rugged and scenic spots of northeastern Iowa, there is 

 not found in the Hawkeye state scenery like that which abounds in 

 and about Iowa Palls. Rising in Crystal Lake of Hancock county, the 

 Iowa river flows peacefully through a prairie country until it reaches 

 the western limits of Iowa Falls, where it dashes into a chasm in the 

 rocks and for two miles or more flows between massive stone walls 

 that the erosion of ages has cut. On both sides of this chasm, the peo- 

 ple of Iowa Palls have builded well, and there is not a person within 

 her confines who does not revel in the beauties here so lavishly be- 

 stowed. 



