FIELD PLANTING Prior to this year, forty-six tracts, with a total area of 149.49 acres have been planted. This year three additional tracts of an area of 10.01 acres were planted. The total area now planted is 160 acres. The species planted are ailanthus, ash, catalpa, cherry, chestnut, coffeenut, cottonwood, elm, hickory, linn, locust, oak, tulip, sycamore and walnut. The forest park of seven acres now contains thirty-four beds with twenty-six kinds of ornamental shrubs. In addition, the park contains fifty-five species of native trees and eleven species of native shrubs. FOREST CLEANING No special effort was made at forest cleaning and spare time only was utilized for this purpose. INSECT DAMAGE However, this year No serious damage was done to the forest trees. the foliage of the oaks was eaten more than usual. The larva of the catalpa sphinx defoliated the greater part of the tracts of catalpa. The first appearance of the first brood was noted on June 20th. The first appearance of the second brood was on July 20th. FOREST FIRES No forest fire this year. GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS No new improvements were made. The "hill house" was put in good repair, cement walks repaired and all the roads put in first-class condition. RAINFALL AT RESERVE During the year the total precipitation was as follows: Sales at Forest Reservation and Experimental Station and remitted to State Treasurer upon recommendation of State Auditor $205 70 REPORT OF STATE PARK COMMITTEE Richard Lieber, Chairman ORGANIZATION AND work. The creation of Indiana State Parks in 1916 stands forth as the only lasting memorial of the State's Centennial celebration of that year. Connected in this manner with the past of our commonwealth, it was only fitting that the Indiana Historical Commission should have had such a large share in the perpetuation of tracts as State property which stand as natural monuments. They stand not only as landmarks of our State's history, not only as those of the entire West territory out of which Indiana was carved, but they will, with their ancient rocks, dells and giant trees, continue to preach a silent but mighty sermon to generations yet unborn of the struggles, hopes and ambitions of pioneer days. In advancing and bringing together the more or less indefinite suggestions of many public-spirited citizens, the Indiana Historical Commission said: "The Commission is convinced that the concensus of Hoosier opinion is that some dignified and worthy permanent memorial should be established in 1916. Of the various propositions suggested, none has met with such general and hearty commendation, or seemed so likely of successful accomplishment, as the creation of State Parks. Some of these might include tracts or buildings associated by history or tradition with the development of the State. Others should be selected because of scenic or primeval charms, thus preserving for all time some of the beauty spots and virgin forests which commercial invasion will soon destroy forever and which cannot be reproduced. "They would constitute delightful recreation centers and health preserves for all the public for all time. Good roads and the rapidly increasing facilities of transportation would soon bring these parks into ready accessibility for people even of moderate means. "While State Parks are needed for their recreational and healthgiving value, the argument for them on sentimental grounds is just as strong. The great hardwood forests, at one time the greatest of the world, have become almost a tradition. What would the nations of the earth think of a people who would permit the total destruction of the big trees of California? In like manner is not the obligation laid upon us this day to preserve some of the giant hardwood trees for future generations to see what Indiana was like a century ago? "Accordingly, at the regular meeting of the Commission in January, 1916, a formal motion was passed in favor of inaugurating a movement for State Parks. The selection of a chairman of the Park Committee and the determination of the plan of campaign were not determined until March, 1916. State Parks as above outlined will answer the requirements of sentiment, history, permanency, and usefulness. Without funds to establish such an undertaking, however, not a little courage and faith in Hoosier citizenship were required by the Commission in launching such a movement. It was determined, accordingly, to make the most practical test of public sentiment by an appeal to the people for subscriptions to the cause. Mr. Richard Lieber of Indianapolis was selected as chairman of the Park Committee. Associated with him in the active campaign for funds were Mr. Sol S. Kiser and Mr. Leo M. Rappaport, as well as Dr. Frank B. Wynn." (I. H. C. Bulletin No. 7, December, 1916, pages 25, 26 and 28.) The first meeting of the newly-appointed State Park Committee was held March 18, 1916. It was spurred on to immediate action by the fact that sixty days later one of the garden spots of Indiana, namely Turkey Run, was to be sold at public auction. Turkey Run is a paradise of rocky gorges, glens, bathing beaches and waterfalls, a retreat for songbirds and a garden of wild flowers. It has hundreds of magnificent black walnut, oak, poplar and other stately trees, all growing in a primeval forest which the original owners, the Lusk family, carefully preserved from the lumberman's axe. The committee immediately began an extensive campaign for funds and in this were materially assisted by the press of the State. It sought the opinions of leading Americans concerning the enterprise and received most encouraging replies from them. The actual work of gathering funds commenced in April. A joint committee of the Indianapolis Board of Trade and Chamber of Commerce was appointed, and this committee held daily meetings during the period of active solicitation. By proclamation of Governor Ralston, the week beginning April 24 was designated for the purpose of making contributions to the State Park fund. This resulted in the organization of some volunteer committees in the State at large. Upon the date of sale of Turkey Run, the committee became a bidder and continued to bid until it came to the conclusion that it was useless to compete with a commercial confpetitor. As a result, the property was sold to the Hoosier Veneer Company of Indianapolis for $30,200. The committee, however, did not allow this disappointment to curb their activities, and then and there determined to acquire Turkey Run, notwithstanding its apparent failures. Negotiations with the Hoosier Veneer Company continued all summer and finally, on the 11th day of November, 1916. the property was purchased for the sum of $40,200. Figuring taxes and interest charges, the profit of the Hoosier Veneer Company was approximately $9,000. On the other hand, the committee, after making very careful investigations of the timber and land values, concluded that the property was worth all they had paid for it. While the committee was negotiating for Turkey Run, a committee of citizens from Owen County informed them that McCormick's Creek Canyon was about to be sold by the administrator of the estate of Dr. F. W. Denkewalter, the latter having spent a lifetime in acquiring the various portions of this scenic tract. The appraisement of the property fixed its value at $5,250, and after viewing this bit of scenery, the committee determined to buy the same, provided that the citizens of Owen County would raise one-fourth of the purchase price among themselves and would guarantee that the purchase price would not exceed the appraisement. Due to the enterprise and civic spirit of the people of this community, this property was acquired and will go down in history as the first link in the chain of parks to be established. It is due these people to acknowledge that if the citizens of all the counties in Indiana would show an equal interest in this movement, the State would before long be assured of one of the most magnificent systems of State Parks in the country. The failure to acquire Turkey Run at the time of the auction sale interfered with the campaign to gather funds, but our committee was assured at that time by the gentlemen constituting the Board of Directors of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Association that if we would persist in our effort they would eventually aid us financially. These men more than redeemed their promise. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway donated the sum of $5,065 and Mr. Arthur C. Newby, whose share of that contribution was one-fourth, gave in addition thereto the sum of $5,000. Through his active co-operation in securing funds Mr. Newby made the success of the project possible. During the work of our committee, we had at all times the lively and sustained interest of Governor Ralston. Together with our thanks to him, we combine those to the acting chairman of the Indiana Historical Commission, Dr. Frank B. Wynn, who participated in all the committee's work, making it practically his own. Much of the success of the enterprise is due to his fine enthusiasm. The Meyer-Kiser Bank acted as depository for the funds contributed, and made the necessary payments. (See Auditor's Report hereto appended.) When the papers for the acquisition of Turkey Run were signed, November 11, 1916, the committee was still short over $10,000. This amount it expected and subsequently did obtain from the State Legislature, which appropriated for the benefit of the state parks the sum of $20,000. This amount is, of course, entirely insufficient to carry out even moderate plans of improvement, but the committee thought it best to leave the future of the state parks in the people's hands and let them say to the next Legislature how much more should be spent on this public property. It is, however, necessary, in the opinion of the committee, to reinstate next season the former admission charge of 10 cents to the parks to help defray the expense of maintenance. Deeds to the two properties were turned over to the State on October 2, 1917. Now that these two beautiful parks were acquired by our State, the work of improving them was begun in the spring of 1917. Mr. R. P. Luke, who for six years previous to April 1, 1917, had held the lease to Turkey Run, was appointed by Governor Goodrich superintendent of Turkey Run and McCormick's Creek Canyon. Under his intelligent supervision, 32-11741 |