2 T HE. A UeD-U BON Bs bel bee 
average budget of the Department of Conservation per biennium is $20,- 
000,000; this is less than 1% of the total Illinois budget. This state continues 
to spend money elsewhere at a fantastic rate. Lacking a humane, realistic 
birth control program for mothers on A.D.C., this state is spending over 
$8,000,000 a month on relief programs. 
Population stabilization would enable society to develop more adequate 
programs of assistance than mere “hand-outs.” 
The new federal Land and Water Conservation Act will eventually 
bring Illinois about $4,000,000 annually. However, it will be about four 
years before this level is reached. Illinois will be fortunate to obtain $400,000 
in 1965 as the program gets under way. Some Illinois land could be obtained 
through gifts if Illinois citizens and corporations were so inclined. Somehow, 
preservation of natural areas and recreation land has never reached the 
“status” of a gift to a hospital, church, or university. Mr. Arthur Holst of 
the Forest Park Foundation of Peoria has revealed how over 3,700 acres 
of land have been acquired by three counties, mostly by gifts. The DuPage 
County Forest Preserve District has also received gifts of land from gen- 
erous donors. 
The Illinois Audubon Society, for a variety of reasons — some of them 
not very adequate — has never developed a network of sanctuaries as 
some Audubon groups have done, notably in California, Pennsylvania, and 
Florida. The Maryland Ornithological Society has obtained 57 acres of land 
with an old stone house, a second abadoned 53-acre farm, and is in the 
process of raising $8,000 from its members to buy 107 acres of rolling 
woodland. The Massachusetts Audubon Society has just purchased 300 
acres of salt marsh; it owns several sanctuaries and has just opened the 
Stony Brook Nature Center. The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology has 
just purchased 126 acres of land with a stream. The Rhode Island Audubon 
Society owns at least two sanctuaries, one of 450 acres donated in 1941. 
Many states have passed vigorous, far-reaching programs to add to their 
recreation and conservation holdings. New York has passed a $100,000,000 
bond issue. New Jersey, California, Connecticut and Florida have passed 
similar programs. Last fall, little Rhode Island passed a $5,000,000 land- 
acquisition program. Recently Pennsylvania approved a $70,000,000 ref- 
erendum , and Minnesota and Wisconsin are obtaining new lands through 
an increase in cigarette taxes. Ohio has approved a $25,000,000 program and 
Washington State, already replete with beauty spots has passed a $10,000,000 
bond issue. 
If Illinois is to adopt a similar program, conservation clubs, garden 
clubs, sportmen’s groups and Audubon societies will have to work more 
vigorously than ever before. Funds will have to be raised for printing and 
publicity ; speakers will be needed before service clubs and church and 
Civic organizations. It is not too early to begin some serious planning about 
our share of this task. 
Our Chairman for State Conservation Affairs, Mrs. Nina Stutzman, 
with several other noted conservation leaders, is serving on the Board of 
Directors for GAIN. If you would like to serve as a “sponsor” of this new 
Citizens’ Committee, you are invited to write to them at Room 907, First 
National Bank Bldg., Fifth and Adams St., Springfield, Ill. 62701. You will 
receive full information regarding what will be expected of you and how 
you' can recruit others to the cause. 
615 Rochdale Circle, Lombard, III. 60148 
