etree ely BON eB. U. i Eels N 11 
Of course, there is no question about this area being worth saving; how- 
ever, the opponents to parks and conservation have an entirely different set 
of values. In this case, the “growth and development” group believe that the 
proposed park area is the only place left for an industrial harbor. It is true 
that the places left in the Alton-East St. Louis area for either parks or harbors 
are few; but so far, industry has everything and the public has NOTHING — 
although we, the people, supposedly own the river! 
There is still hope that concerted action on the part of all of us can 
save this historic and scenic mile of Mississippi shoreline. If this happens, we 
will still leave 580 miles of Mississippi shoreline in Illinois for those who be- 
lieve that private ownership of riverfronts will meet the best needs of the 
state and nation. 
In recent weeks we have gained hope from the fact that some people in 
Missouri are becoming active in preserving the confluence area on the Missouri 
side. The point of land between the two rivers is not developed as a residential 
and industrial area. However, the U.S. Corps of Engineers is readying plans 
for an extensive levee building program all along the Missouri River. Per- 
haps some levees should be built, but it certainly is not necessary or wise to 
build levees so close to the rivers as to ruin the flood-plains and destroy the 
woodlands still growing along the shores. 
The Corps has made two different levee plans for the first 90 miles of 
the Missouri River. The first plan, drawn in June, 1963, shows the proposed 
levee back a reasonable distance from the rivers, especially at the confluence 
itself; but a revised plan, drawn in June, 1965, moves the levees closer to the 
rivers in many places. At the confluence, the proposed levee is shifted near 
to the banks of the Mississippi River, instead of allowing for two miles of 
flood-plain, as provided in the 1963 plan. Need one ask which version is based 
on the best engineering concepts —- or common sense? 
A planning group in St. Louis County has proposed a Lewis and Clark 
Regional Parkway. This parkway would provide several thousand acres along 
the shores of the Missouri River and include some land along the Mississippi 
at the confluence. Of course, whatever we could get in Illinois would be con- 
sidered as part of this parkway. Because there are vast acreages on the Mis- 
souri side that have not been ruined by industrial, commercial, and residen- 
tial blight, it seems possible that we could obtain a park area that could have 
national significance and, consequently, National Park status. 
A few people have been working diligently on the park project, but it is 
becoming obvious that they have reached the limits of their effectiveness. The 
time has come to let your elected representatives, both in Springfield and in 
Washington, know that there is state-wide interest in, and demand for, a 
large park at the confluence of the two great rivers. In Illinois, Governor 
Kerner is the key man. All of us should let him know that we want him to 
give proper consideration to the Lewis and Clark Expedition and to com- 
memorate the beginning of the trail with a memorial park of adequate size — 
one thousand acres. 
The following people should be contacted if you care to promote a Lewis 
and Clark Park in Illinois or as part of a confluence parkway: Governor 
Kerner; Conservation Director William Lodge; and the Director of Economic 
Development, Gene Graves, all of Springfield; State Senator Paul Simon, 
Troy, and your local state representative; Senators Douglas and Dirksen; 
