22 



THE AUDUBON BULLETIN 



VIEW IN PINE CREEK VALLEY NEAR ROCK RIVER GAME PRESERVE 



Examination, and standing first in the list of 300, was given charge of 

 the territory of Ogle County and especially the Rock River region, which 

 so much needed looking after as to game and fish, and everything wild 

 found in nature hereabout. Having grown up by, in, and on Rock River, 

 he thoroughly understood the situation, and knowing personally the ones 

 already interested in the game preserve, he at once took up the matter with 

 Mr. Dittmar, who was quite ready to initiate steps for the establishment of 

 the Rock River Game Preserve. I enclose you a sample lease. You may 

 want to publish it in the Bulletin to show just what the landowners have 

 agreed to. The leases begin with the first of March, 1917, and run for 

 five years, with the nominal rental by the State to the owner of one dollar 

 a year. My son started to include the lands on each side of the river for 

 a half mile, extending from the southern boundary line of Ogle County 

 to the northern line. But some of the farmers who own more than the 

 land this close to the river, want their other lands in the preserve. One 

 man being away six miles is signing a lease because he desires the pro- 

 tection to his place. Others include as many as three farms, or all they 

 own. But, of course, there are those who will not sign. Some because 

 they think their rights are being taken away, and others because they want 

 to keep on shooting on their own land. There are now a number of 

 summer homes along Rock River ; and, to the credit of our summer resi- 

 dents be it said, they all want the preserve established. 



"Before my son left for the Second Officers' Reserve Training Camp 

 at Fort Sheridan, August 27, 1917, he arranged with Mr. Ralph E. Brad- 

 ford, the present Chief Game and Fish Warden, that I should continue in 



