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REPORT ON ALLERTON PARK 
On May 14, more than 200 people attended the hearing on Allerton Park, held 
by the Corps of Engineers in Springfield. During the first hour, Corps 
representatives showed slides explaining the various water levels of the 14 
different plans which have now been proposed. 
Following the Corps' presentation, 19 comprehensive papers were read by those 
who advocate saving the park. S. Charles Kendeigh, zoology professor at the 
University of Illinois, was the first to speak; and he was followed by repre- 
sentatives from the botany, entomology, art, biology, and engineering depart- 
ments. Papers were also presented by the National Audubon Society, the Soil 
Conservation Service, the Izaak Walton League, the Piatt County Board of 
Supervisors, the Springfield Park District (which would be damaged by the dam 
and dredging), and the I.A.S. 
This was definitely a pro-Allerton meeting, with only one real opponent having 
spoken, by the time I left for home at 10:15, after over three hours of hearings 
Bruce Hannon presented 80,000 bound petitions which lay in full view on the 
stage as he spoke. Mrs. Clyde Titus, of the McHenry Chapter of the I.A.S., 
headed the petition drive in her county; and helped add 10,000 to this list. 
Among other pertinent facts presented, was a study of wood-ticks which was 
the basis of a vaccine to prevent spotted-fever caused by ticks - which was 
made in Allerton Park. An allegation that only 'weed trees' grew in the 
Allerton bottomlands was refuted by a study which showed that 75% of the trees 
were virgin forest, and some cutting had been done a century ago on the re- 
maining acreage. 
On June 4th, the State proposed a "Waterways Alternative" which is composed of: 
1. The originally authorized Oakley project. 
2. A tributary impoundment on Friends Creek. 
3. The purchase and recreational development of 22,500 acres 
along 100 miles of the lower Sangamon River. 
4. The requirement that Decatur go to 98% advanced sewage 
treatment instead of receiving massive dilution from the 
Corps' proposed Oakley project. 
On May 29, the University, the City of Decatur and the State of Illinois 
agreed to support the "Waterways Alternative". 
But, the Corps of Engineers has not agreed to the State's plan. Nor have 
the Illinois Legislators committed the necessary $10 million State share 
to the Oakley project. 
With these hurdles remaining, conservationists are worried that the Corps 
might precipitate back to their most recent destructive 640 feel elevation 
Oakley project. 
Alice Palmer 
LIGGEN. Praizxie St., Galesburg 
TV_ TOWERS KILL 5500 BIRDS - On September 26, 1968 there was a disastrous 
kill of migrating birds at one of Nashville, Tennessee's TV towers. Over 
5400 dead birds were picked up at one tower and 160 from another. 

