State Parks of Wisconsin 



Letter from President Charles R. Van Hise, 

 University of Wisconsin 



"Just as Parks are an imperative necessity to large cities, so when 

 a state becomes densely populated state parks will be equally im- 

 perative necessities to the people. To the present time a large part of 

 the area of the state of Wisconsin has been practically free territory 

 to be used by the people whenever they desired. These relatively 

 uninhabited areas have been the hunting and camping grounds, have 

 been the places where men and women could go for relief from their 

 cares and for life out-of-doors. As the state becomes inhabited to its 

 full capacity, this condition will pass away and practically the only 

 land which will be available for such public purposes will be the 

 lands owned by the state. Therefore while lands are still cheap the 

 state should acquire in its various parts a number of parks which will 

 be perpetually the breathing grounds to be freely used by the people 

 of the state. In order that this purpose be fully accomplished it will 

 be necessary that the state provide for not a single park, but a num- 

 ber, just as it is necessary for a great city to have not one park but a 

 number, so that each inhabitant may find some readily accessible 

 open spot. Thus it seems to me to be extremely desirable that the 

 state provide as soon as possible for several sites. The Dells, Devil's 

 Lake, Door County, Mississippi Bluffs, are all well located to serve 

 a considerable number of people." 



Charles R. Van Hise. 



[53] 



