etme) Ui BrO Neth U i ek eT TN 37 
VHAT CAN ONE MAN DO? 
‘ake a Look at the Goose Lake Prairie. 
by ED MULLADY 
Je often ask, “What can I do?” 
hen a conservation project needs 
oing. Alone, it is not always pos- 
ble to obtain what you set out to 
o, but by letting your views be 
nown to various organizations, it 
- sometimes possible to “achieve 
1e impossible.” 
Floyd Zebell, of Joliet, Ill., an out- 
anding conservationist from Will 
ounty and president of the Will 
ounty Sportsman’s Club, has been 
ficially commended by lLavern 
orenson, president of the Wesley- 
filmington Sportsman’s Club, for 
is outstanding work in helping pre- 
rve the area’s natural resources. 
Mr. Sorenson stated, “Floyd Ze- 
all came to Will County from 
ontiac in 1951 as a Conservation 
ficer. He joined the Wesley Wil- 
ington Club at that time, serving 
le club well in every office and the 
ounty organization as an officer for 
. years—presently being President. 
“While a State Conservation Of- 
cer, Floyd came to know the Goose 
ake Area. Recognizing its true 
mservation value, he fell in love 
ith the area. 
“He talked about it many times, 
_ various club meetings, to Frank 
elrose, waterfowl biologist, the 
linois Natural History Survey and 
| Many members of the Dept. of 
onservation. 
“Floyd made certain the state was 
ell aware of the existence of the 
oose Lake area. He first visualized 
a State Park area bounded on the 
east by the Will-Grundy County 
line, on the south by the Lorenzo 
Road, on the north by the Kankakee 
and Illinois Rivers and on the west 
by the present west boundary road. 
State officials always said no money 
was available for its purchase, but 
as long as it remained in the hands 
of the then few land owners and 
the main portion of the prairie re- 
mained untouched with only limited 
hunting allowed, it was serving its 
conservation purpose for the State. 
“Meanwhile, he waited until the 
time and circumstances changed, as 
he knew they would. While waiting, 
he became involved and was one of 
the leading persons in the struggle 
to save the Des Plaines Wildlife 
area. This required passage of 
special federal legislation. As a re- 
sult, the State acquired 2,200 acres 
for only $307,000. His role in this 
classic struggle is well documented. 
The legislation was researched by 
the Inter-University Case Program 
and the Brookings Institute. A book- 
let, Circular No. 71, entitled ‘Illinois 
Goes to Congress For Army Land,’ 
published by the University of Ala- 
bama Press, University, Alabama, 
is available for 50 cents a copy. 
“He also is to be complimented 
for his insight. He recognized in 1966 
the time had come to renew his ef- 
forts of his earlier dream. The 
States’ financial posture had im- 
proved, especially with the Federal 
Land and Water Conservation Fund 
Act. Industrial encroachment in the 
