Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 May 1916 — 200 BEAUTY SPOTS CAN BE MADE PARKS [ARTICLE]

200 BEAUTY SPOTS CAN BE MADE PARKS

Indiana Is Very Rich In Material For State Parks. The Indiana State Park committee has received from Edward Barrett, state geologist, a list of about two hundred beauty spots widely scattered over Indiana, which. Mr. Barrett says, could be readily turned into state parks. His list covers scenic tracts of land, all of them large in extent and inexpensive to purchase; stretches of scenery in a number of rivers; a dozen or more beautiful waterfalls are in the list, and it includes many of the lakes, as well as the sand dunes along Lake Michigan. In southern Indiana most of- the waterfalls are found, those’ especially notable being Eel River fails and cataracts on smaller streams. Up and down the Ohio river there are great stretches of wild hills which form beautiful scenery as charming as can be found in some of the mountainous states. V yandotte and Marengo caves are desirable treasures that 'should be taken over by the state, and good highways extended to them so that the public can revel in the rich beauty of these places. j

Along several streams in the state are gorges and canons wild and rugged that are beautiful scenic spots. Many of the lakes in the state would lend themselves to park purposes with good boulevards along their shores. The State Park committee, appointed by the Indiana Historical commission, is endeavoring to raise a great fund by public subscripting to purchase as many of these places as the fund will permit, and turn them into state parks. They are to be a centennial gift of Indiana people to their state, to be.(enjoyed by the people of the present and by the generations that are to come. The committee has selected only one spot which will be purchased first. It is Turkey Run in Parke, county, doubtless the scenic wonderland of Indiana, and it has been chosen as the first park unit because it is to be sold at public auction on May 18 to close an estate. Prompt action on the part of the public in sending in subscriptions is necessary for this reason. The subscriptions may be sent through local newspapers, county state park and centennial committees, or directly to the state committee. Room 80, State House, Indianapolis