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REPORT ON MEETING OF NORTH CENTRAL AUDUBON COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 11 
The report by Mr. T. J. Mracek, Chief Landscape 
Architect, Illinois Department of Public Works and 
Buildings, on ‘‘The Federal Highway Act of 1968, and 
its effect on Scenic Beauty’’ was the highlight of the 
program at the North Central Audubon Council meeting 
at Volo. 
A new idea, SELECTIVE MOWING, is part of the 
planned landscape design for scenic enhancement of 
highways. “‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder’, said 
Mr. Mracek. ‘For every person who enjoys the tall grass 
and the natural plants along the shoulders and 
embankments, ten people write to ask us why we aren't 
mowing and spraying and what are we doing with their 
taxes’’. Selective mowing and a scenic strip is an effort 
to please both factions. 
Before a highway is planned, regular meetings are 
held with representatives of the State Highway 
Department, Parks Department and the Department of 
Conservation, as well as everyone who would be 
affected. Roads are planned to be scenic, taking 
advantage of the contour of the land and fit the 
highway into the environment. The Governor’s release of 
$200 billion for the Highway Act has been a 
considerable asset to this new philosophy. 
Land has finally been acquired by gift and purchase 
to complete the Scenic River road along the Mississippi 
north of Alton. Several rest-stops and lookout areas will 
be constructed. There are 72 new rest areas in Illinois 
where 1,300 cars a day stop for relaxation. Adjacent to 
densely populated areas, some rest stops will also 
encompass a nearby camping area. 
The Highway Amendment allows for local zoning, 
and the government will accept local zoning as regards 
billboards and junkyards. There are over 700 junkyards 
in Illinois and the 1968 Amendment gives authority for 
screening them 1000’ from the road. There are 60,000 
billboards in inventory, within 660’ of Interstate and 
primary highways. The 1965 law bans them only from 
Interstate roads, and gives the State 5 years to control 
them, with the State paying the bill! 
“The Scenic Roads of Wisconsin’, a talk and 
color-slide program by Mr. Alan J. Rusch, Biologist, 
State Department of Natural Resources, showed 
Wisconsin's efforts, since 1907, to preserve their natural 
beauty, to save and enhance native plants and flowers 
along the highways, and to guard their ecological 
resources. 
Sylvia Troy, Acting President of Save the Dunes 
Council, in her talk on ‘‘Are the Indiana Dunes Really 
Saved’’, raises some disquieting questions. A nearly 20 
year battle finds increasing erosion and greater loss to 
another Steel Company, of the most valuable Dune area. 
Betty Groth, Vice-President |.A.S., gave an inspiring 
‘oeek’ in a four-season color slide visit to the Great 
Swamp of New Jersey, saved by us conservationists from 
becoming a Jet Port. 
Terry Ingram showed some marvelous slides and a 
program of the life of a red-tailed hawk. 
Dr. James Zimmerman was re-elected Chairman of 
NCAC. 
Alice Palmer, Chairman 
State Affairs Committee 
KK KOK OY 
REPORT ON STATE PARK INHOLDINGS 
An inholding is a privately owned area surrounded by or at least 50% contiguous to publicly owned parkland; such 
areas often present management problems to park personnel. The Illinois Building Authority reports that park inholdings, 
worth $1,845,100, total 3,308 acres of land in 17 different areas. 

