182 PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 



Des Moines river on survey work, and of this number only two or three 

 were found who had ever rowed a boat. Such a -condition presents this 

 problem in simple arithmetic: Subtract from the daily work and play of 

 the average youth, and of the adult as well, the clean and healthful 

 pleasures of boating, swimming, fishing, picnicking and camping, with a 

 good part of hunting and the result will be what? little else than work, 

 with perhaps some athletics to take the place of those other pleasures, 

 or more likely only society gaieties. 



The immediate cause for need of activity on part of the people of 

 Iowa in regard to lake preservation is the fact that a legal method 

 of procedure has been authorized by which meandered lakes of certain 

 character may be drained and improved for agricultural purposes. The 

 advisability for maintaining and preserving certain lakes for pleasura 

 purposes will never be questioned. Similarly there are certain lakes, 

 so-called, of which no one will question the advisability of drainage. 



The United States government surveys of fifty years ago regarded as 

 lakes many bodies of water which are merely ponds or sloughs at the 

 present time, and this association which seeks to preserve the natural 

 beauty of, and usefulness of, forests and stream, hill and dale, will sanc- 

 tion the idea of draining and improving these sloughs which are no 

 value, but are a menace to the health, the agricultural interests, and 

 the general welfare of the community. But there is a middle ground 

 which is here not the usual safe middle ground, but the doubtful one. 

 Many of these lakes are part lake or clear open water, with perhaps 

 the larger part slough or marsh. The adjacent property owner will 

 usually desire that the lake be drained while others may desire its preser- 

 vation. 



The portions of the act of the last legislature, which are of most in- 

 terest to our association, read as follows: 



"Sec. 1. The executive council of the state is hereby authorized and 

 empowered to survey the meandered lakes and lake beds within the 

 state, and sell the same as hereinafter provided, and determine what 

 lakes shall be maintained as the property of the state and what mean- 

 dered lake beds belonging to the state may be drained, improved, de- 

 mised or sold. 



"Sec. 2*. Upon the presentation to the executive council of a state 

 ment signed by not less than fifty (50) freeholders, twenty of whom 

 shall be actual residents of the township or townships in which said 

 lake or lake beds are situated, of any county that any meandered lake 

 or lake bed in such county is detrimental to the public health of the 

 general welfare of the citizens of the county, and that it is unwise to 

 maintain such meandered lake or lake bed as a permanent body of 

 water, and that interest of the state will be subserved by draining and 

 improving such lake bed, the governor shall within thirty (30) days 

 after the receipt of such statement, appoint a competent engineer who 

 shall at once examine the situation and condition of such lake or lake 

 bed, make a survey and plat thereof, and ascertain whether its location 

 is such that it can be drained and improved, and make a full report to 

 the executive council of the area and depth of water in the lake and its 



