PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 205 



The efforts of the state fish and game warden to conserve- the wild life 

 of the state by leasing thousands of acres of land adjacent to the 

 streams and lakes, and endeavoring to restrict shooting on such areas is 

 practical conservation work which all of us will commend. 



I am also heartily in sympathy with his efforts to have the state pur- 

 chase tracts of timbered lands on the river bluffs and flood plains so that 

 the public may have free access to the streams instead of being barred 

 out as trespassers. I hope that the association give its cordial support to 

 this movement. 



And I hope that some provision will be made, either by the addition 

 of trained foresters to the warden's staff or in some similar way, to care 

 for the forest coverings of such tracts and to prevent vandalism as well 

 as to enforce the state fish and game laws. Iowa Conservation,, Vol. 1., 

 No. 1, pp. 6-7. 



STATE PARKS AND PUBLIC WELFARE. 

 By G. C. Morbeck. 



All normal persons crave some form of recreation, and require relaxa- 

 tion from the more or less strenuous life they are living in these times. 

 Most of them are interested to a greater or less extent in nature in one 

 or several of her numerous manifestations. They enjoy the trees, the 

 flowers, the hills and vales, beautiful scenery, animal life, the awe inspir- 

 ing natural objects, as well as the minor interesting things to be ob- 

 served in the great o>ut-of-doors. Healthy recreation is a great asset to 

 any community. We are living in an age when playgrounds are de- 

 manded, not only for the young but for the mature as well. In the larger 

 towns and cities play has a regular place in the curriculum, and is 

 supervised by competent instructors. For older persons no form of 

 organized public recreation is provided. 



A well developed system of state parks, well located, properly equipped 

 and supervised, will supply this much desired need. We have in Iowa a 

 large number of various sized tracts, generally wooded, which are well 

 suited to park purposes. Most of them can be acquired at low prices at 

 the present time. 



To bring these latent recreation grounds within the reach, of the 

 people of Iowa is a public duty. To safeguard- the 'health and provide 

 wholesome recreation for its citizens is of the utmost importance. Mil- 

 lions of dollars are spent annually by the people of the country in seeking 

 health, recreation and pleasure in the various natural beauty spots of the 

 nation the national parks, national monuments, national forests and 

 other places of lesser importance. The interest in these government re- 

 sorts is growing rapidly, as it well should. The wonders of nature here 

 found are incomparable. All who can should behold them; having seen 

 the giant trees, the great seas of granite, the roaring waterfall, the glis- 

 tening glaciers, the gaping chasms, the spouting geysers and the numer- 

 ous other unusual natural phenomena, one does not usually return; yet 

 each year the lure of the wooded hills and the falling water is strong 



