186 PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 



the city of Des Moines would appear to a stranger if in place of the pres- 

 ent conditions which exist, there were a driveway on the east and west 

 sides of the river, from the city limits on the north to the city limits 

 on the south. What infinite pleasure the toiler might receive by taking 

 a stroll along this boulevard with its drives and walks and flower beds. 

 There is nothing that would add so much to the beauty of Des Moines 

 as a little bit of awakening in this direction. This good work might well 

 be extended to other cities in the state. Iowa Park and Forestry asso- 

 ciation, 6th Annual Report, pp 32-8. 



PRESERVE AND IMPROVE OUR LAKES. 

 By E. C. Hinshaw. 



I heartily recommend that the next legislature provide ways and 

 means for the preservation and improvement of every lake in the state. 

 No lake should be drained, at least until the proper experiments have been 

 conducted for their improvement. If it is found that certain lakes cannot 

 be improved and it should be the wish of the people in the locality 

 where such lakes are located that they should be drained, the state will 

 not have lost anything by delaying the drainage a few years. I am con- 

 fident, however, that there is not a community where o-ne of the lakes are 

 located that will want their lake drained after they once see what can 

 be done by way of improvement. 



Let me repeat what I have said before, that more pounds of fish can 

 be raised in an acre of proper water than it is possible to raise pounds 

 of beef on the best lands that Iowa affords. These fish are worth more 

 per pound than beef, and this does not take into consideration the recrea- 

 tion, which is much more valuable than either the fish or beef and cannot 

 be figured in dollars and cents. 



Let us not forget in our mad rush for land to raise corn, that there are 

 other things that count besides the almighty dollar. Let us preserve 

 our lakes; let us improve our lakes; let us provide parks around each 

 lake, where the people can go for picnics without trespassing; let us 

 provide such places in that part of the state where there are no natural 

 lakes by building dams, etc., and creating small lakes. Why is it we 

 have not had more support in our efforts along these lines? Maybe it 

 is because the people haven't understood. Let us all get busy and then 

 these things will come and come easy. 



If some of the people who are so anxious to drain lakes will investigate 

 some of the lake beds that have been drained for several' years and 

 find that they are nothing more than swamps and are absolutely worthless 

 for agricultural purposes, and talk with the farmers who have been forced 

 to pay large sums of money for imaginary benefits, they will not be so 

 strong for lake drainage. Let the legislature make provision for the 

 improvement of lakes and see how fast the sentiment grows in each 

 community to have their lakes improved. 



