148 PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 



number of years ago the writer enjoyed the opportunity of making a study 

 of the physical features of Des Moines valley for the Iowa Geological Sur- 

 vey and from the observations then made the following notes are drawn. 



It is evident to one who is at all familiar with the region that there is 

 an abundance of localities along this valley which are well adapted to 

 conversion into parks or which could with some care and effort be trans- 

 formed into excellent pleasure grounds. The chief question in the mat- 

 ter of location, perhaps, is that of establishing such parks where they 

 will be conveniently accessible, not only to the automobile owner, he can 

 go anywhere, but also to the large group of people, even in our own state, 

 who are less favored in the matter of transportation facilities. However, 

 there are in the vicinity of most of the cities and towns along the river, 

 areas, large or small, which are adapted for park making. 



The east fork of the Des Moines river, owing to its character, has fewer 

 potential park sites than has the west fork. In the first place it is 

 smaller and hence has a narrower, shallower valley, which is nowhere, 

 except in the lower few miles, cut to rock. Then more of the surrounding 

 land is level prairie and does not offer the diversity of landscape which is 

 present along some parts of the west fork. Nevertheless there are a 

 number of really picturesque localities which are deserving of mention. 



In Minnesota the east fork is a small stream a few miles in length 

 which flcfws into Alton Lake, known also as the Inlet. This in turn 

 empties by a channel a mile or so long into Tuttle Lake, which is crossed 

 by the state line. Tuttle Lake covers about four square miles and on the 

 south shore has several attractive areas which while not high above the 

 water are well wooded and make desirable camp and cottage sites. These 

 areas would make an excellent park and should be purchased by the state 

 for public use. 



While Iowa Lake is not strictly tributary to the Des Moines it is so 

 near by that mention may be made of it here. It also lies on the state 

 line, five miles east of Tuttle Lake, and its outlet is to the east toward 

 Blue Earth river. Iowa Lake is of interest geologically because it is at 

 the southern end of a series, known as the Chain Lakes, which occupy 

 part of a former river valley of considerable size which seems to have 

 drained southward during preglacial or interglacial times. Silver Lake, 

 the next one to the north, is more popular as a resort, as it is deeper and 

 the banks are higher. However, Iowa Lake has a charming shore line 

 and offers a very desirable site for a state park, which should by all means 

 be established at an early date. Iowa has all too few lakes and any which 

 have such natural beauty as Iowa Lake should be made available to all. 

 The State Highway Commission in its report on Iowa lakes recommends 

 the buying of park sites at both Tuttle and Iowa lakes. 



For a number of miles below Tuttle Lake the Des Moines valley is for 

 the most part shallow and its walls are gentle and bare of timber. But 

 east of Burt it unites with an interglacial valley, known as Union Slough, 

 and below this point it is deeper, its walls are steeper, and grooves of 

 timber add touches of beauty to its vistas. At and immediately below 

 Algona the east wall is rugged and tree covered and here should be a 

 most desirable park site which now is used only for occasional picnics or 

 for cow pastures. This condition extends all the way to Irvington, five 



