276 PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 



known as Jasper Pool. This represents the greatest thickness of the 

 exposure in Iowa although on the Dakota side of the Big Sioux the rock 

 has been quarried to much greater depths. It seems much to be desired 

 that along the natural bridges of Jackson county, the Wankon Sphinx, 

 the great drift boulders of the central plains, this little tract might be 

 conserved as a state monument, and so with the larger phenomena in 

 a series of state or national parks might make accessible to all posterity 

 the evidence of the activity of geologic forces, past and present, and keep 

 before our eyes the uplifting, broadening, educative beauties of the 

 realms of nature. Iowa has a group of beauty spots which she may well 

 hold in esteem and to care for them and insure their perpetuation will 

 increase the feeling of pride with which every lowan regards his state 

 and so will add in every way to the state's resources and attractiveness. 

 Iowa Geological Survey. Iowa Academy of Science, Vol. XXIV, p 133. 



CONSERVATION OF NATURAL SCENERY IN IOWA. 

 By B. Shimek, Botan.st. 



Unfortunately the idea of the preservation of small portions of our 

 state in a natural condition is commonly associated in the minds of 

 many of our citizens with the thought that it is chiefly a desire on the 

 part of hunters and fishermen to save their preserves, or with the other 

 thought that it is a sentimental desire, more or less selfish, to keep these 

 beauty spots for the enjoyment of those who have leisure. 



While neither of these concepts does full justice to the cause, both 

 are worthy of consideration, and both should receive attention in connec- 

 tion with other arguments in favor of the preservation of certain por- 

 tions of our state in a natural condition. The preservation of our fish 

 is a matter of interest apid importance not only to the sportsmen but 

 to the many people who use fish for food. In order that our fine native 

 fish may thrive it is necessary that the waters be kept clean and whole- 

 some, and this can be done only when the borders of streams and lakes 

 are left undisturbed by stock or plow. Especially is it desirable that 

 wooded bluffs and slopes be not denuded of their forest covering, both 

 because of the effect on erosion and on tributary springs. 



The preservation of our native birds and some of the animals is be- 

 coming more and more a matter of importance. Our useful birds must 

 have breeding places, and for this purpose tracts of prairie, forest and 

 swamp should be set off, not merely for the purpose of propagating game 

 birds, but that all of our useful birds might find shelter. Some of our 

 native animals also contribute to the food supply, but even more and 

 more restricted, and the time must soon come when fur-bearing animals 

 will be propagated and protected. For this purpose suitable grounds 

 are necessary. The skunk must have wooded banks, the muskrat re- 

 quires swamps and banks of streams and these and similar places would 

 be furnished by the preservation of such tracts as are here contemplated. 



