PUBLIC PARKS OP IOWA 285 



000 out of the fish and game protective fund, the executive council shall 

 have power to purchase or condemn land for such purpose and to pur- 

 chase and condemn land for roads leading to such parks. 



(2) The executive council is empowered and authorized on behalf of 

 the state to receive donations of lamd for either park or highway purposes. 



(3) The state treasurer shall have authority to receive and accept, on 

 behalf of the state, donations (cash) for either purpose. The donor may 

 specify the place and the purpose for which the donation is to be received, 

 used and expended, and that it shall not be used for any other purpose. 

 Every park has a definite purpose to serve and should therefore have 

 definite requirement. 



We have the start at least to acquire and to hold for the benefit of all 

 the people 'both the present and future generations and our influence 

 should be exerted so that it will become wide-spreading and far-reaching 

 so that anyone having in mind a beauty spot, a forest, a lake, or any 

 place which may pirove valuable as a future 'possession to the state may 

 realize that it can be donated or that it can be bought and donated to the 

 state. That such place will then belong to the people and that it will bo 

 held in trust by the state for its people. What grand monuments can be 

 established for those who were near and dear! What possibilities to 

 check any further action that would impair the beauty of such places! 



Our immediate duty is to see that we secure the appointment of three 

 good members for 'the board of conservation, who, with the curator of the 

 historical department, shall investigate places in Iowa, valuable as ob- 

 jects of natural history, forest reserve, as archaeology and geology, and 

 for considering the means of promoting forestry and maintaining and 

 preserving the animal and bird life in this state and for furnishing such 

 information to the executive council of the natural resources of the state, 

 so that the recommendations can be printed and furnished to the mem- 

 bers of the next general assembly; also to get its people to consider their 

 natural possessions, and to authorize the board o<f conservation as soon as 

 may be, the refusal of the most attractive reservations. 



A little can be done here, a little there and a little somewhere else, and 

 all gather together in a great current of public influence so that when the 

 state becomes inhabited to its full capacity it can boast of plenty of avail- 

 able land for public purposes, and that it belongs to all the people. 



Efforts should be made to acquire in its various parts a number of 

 parks which will be perpetually the breathing grounds to be freely and 

 fully used by all the people of the state. Let us arouse to the needs 

 which parks and people's playgrounds represent in the people's life. 



The Iowa Forestry and Conservation Association has shown a splendor 

 of vision and a quality of power and speed that iproved beyond expectation 

 during the last year. This was a most valuable constructive piece of 

 legislation, for in a short time likely the children of the city will find 

 in the woods and the public parks, the only opportunity within reasonable 

 distance of their homes to enjoy the beauty and restfulness of the forest, 

 the lake, and other peculiar beauty spots and which, should therefore be 

 permanent means of wholesome public enjoyment. 



Let the good work go on. 



