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to get things is to take something belonging to all the people, such as a park. 
Dr. N. C. Lavardsen of the State Teachers’ College at DeKalb discussed 
nature areas for schools, pleading that new school buildings going up every- 
where should not be set in a “desert” of land carefully cleared of all trees, 
shrubs, and other natural features, bulldozed and flattened, and planted to 
grass. Aside from necessary ball diamonds and the like, certain areas should 
be left in the wild as outdoor laboratories and places of recreation for the 
children, he said. He showed slides illustrating his appeal. This project is 
one being fostered by a committee of the Nature Conservancy. 
Dr. John McGregor of the University of Illinois anthropology department 
noted we have little or no control over archeological sites here, contrary to 
most other countries; they belong to the person who owns the land. He said 
the U.S. had 15,000 Indian mounds in the 1880’s, while now it is hard to 
find any. The stepped-up highway program promises to be a big encroach- 
ment on those left. In Illinois a protective group has been formed of in- 
terested universities, the Chicago Natural History Museum, and the Archeo- 
logical Survey of Illinois. They have requested the State Highway Depart- 
ment to give them a chance to examine archeological finds in the paths of 
new roads. They do not expect opposition to their plan, but if help is needed 
they would like support from conservation groups. 
The Miller Meadow site for a Chicago branch of the University of Illinois 
was attacked in a strong talk by Roland Eisenbeis of the Cook County 
Forest Preserve District. Explaining that the increase of leisure time and 
growing population in the Chicago area means an even greater need for 
“open spaces” such as the forest preserves provide, he said the district must 
think of the future as well as hold on to what it has already won. Law pre- 
vents the district from selling any of its land, and it has fought off a tre- 
mendous number of encroachments over the years, even including the federal 
government. It objects to the U. of I.’s plan for this reason, as well as for 
the fact that it is too far from Chicago, and too costly a ride for the average 
student, as shown by the survey of sites made for the university. He de- 
fended the planting of corn on Miller Meadow by saying it was only wise 
policy to get revenue from the land until the district gets enough money to 
develop it; planting also keeps it workable. 
As a rebuttal, a statement of Dr. David Henry, president of the Univer- 
sity, was read. He mentioned that the forest preserves could acquire com- 
parable land elsewhere, whereas no other site was as suitable for the uni- 
versity. Mr. Eisenbeis replied that there is no “comparable land elsewhere” ; 
he said Miller Meadow is part of an overall plan of development to serve 
the increasing number of people in the area. He asked for backing from 
the groups represented. 
Mrs. C. F. Russell, I.A.S. director present as a representative of the De- 
catur Audubon Society, spoke on the Smokey the Bear project of fire pre- 
vention being carried out by her club, and also on the litterbug campaign 
being waged by her garden club. She offered help to any other group in- 
terested in either project. 
At the business meeting, a plea was made for material for the Council’s 
periodical Bulletin. It was decided to hold next year’s meeting in October 
