USA > Indiana > The Indiana centennial, 1916; a record of the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of Indiana's admission to statehood > Part 3
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LUSK HOMESTEAD
HOLLOW
COVERED
ROCKY
THE NARROHS TI BRIDGE
DEVILS ICHBOK
LENGTH OF CREEK IN PARK 2 MILES
CREEK
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Map of Turkey Run
א A
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TOTAL OF 288.37 ACRES
Run
CAMP GROUND AND PARKING SPACE
Turkey
- Canor
IN WOODLAND OF 40 ACRES
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THE COMMISSION'S ACTIVITIES
The preservation of large or moderate sized tracts of this kind abounding in primeval forests, beautiful streams, water- falls, cliffs, gorges and wild life, will be a fitting memorial to the era of the Hoosier Pioneer. They would prove to chil- dren and youth an educational asset of great interest and value. They would constitute delightful recreation centers and health preserves for all the people, for all time. Good roads and the rapidly increasing facilities of transportation would soon bring these parks into ready accessibility for people even of modest means.
That the suggestion of State Parks as a Centennial me- morial has met with spontaneous and enthusiastic support, is evidenced by the numerous appeals to the Indiana Histor- ical Commission in behalf of the movement. Petitions bearing upon the subject have been presented by such organizations as the Indiana Academy of Science, the Indiana Forestry Association, Indiana Audubon Society, the Indianapolis Cham- ber of Commerce and other well known organizations.
State Parks would not only be a splendid present day ex- pression of appreciation of what the Hoosier forefathers wrought, but they would have a high civic value, both in the present and in the future. Through the State Parks should come a strengthening of the common bonds of citizenship and neighborly association, for in these parks the people will meet upon common ground.
While State Parks are needed for their recreational and health giving value, the argument for them upon sentimental grounds is just as strong. The great hard wood forests, at one time the greatest of the world, have become almost a tra- dition. 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 hard wood trees for future generations to see what Indiana was like a century ago.
Likewise each year is witnessing the destruction of cliffs and gorges of extraordinary beauty, of which there are a goodly number in the State. Two concrete examples may be given in support of this contention. A few years ago the citizens of Greencastle and students of De Pauw University revelled in the beauty of Fern Cliff, a charming haunt for
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class and family picnics. Its fern covered cliffs and cool springs are now a blasted waste, the rock doing service as ballast for a railway. Twenty years ago Fitch's Glen was the beauty spot of Cass county, where Logansport people took visiting friends-a wonderful little glen with verdured cliffs and a trickling water-fall. But it likewise has fallen before unsentimental commercialism, and is serving the ends of the practical as ballast for railroad. Was this community econ- omy? Putnam and Cass counties have suffered irreparable loss by the destruction of these scenic tracts, which should have served the people of these respective communities for all time to come.
Sentiment calls loudly at this time for the preservation of certain historic places, associated with the birth and growth of the Commonwealth. A quickened historic conscience in this Centennial year suggested especially the purchase and preservation of the Old State House at Corydon which was accomplished by the state legislature in 1917. Let this won- derfully artistic and well preserved old building be hallowed as the birthplace of Indiana, just as the whole Nation rever- ences Independence Hall as the birthplace of the Republic. There is a pre-eminent fitness in making this a part of the Centennial Memorial.
In connection with any plan for state park development it should be borne in mind that certain departments of the state's official machinery are already occupied by work of a related nature.
The State Forestry Board is calling attention to the waste- fulness in forest destruction and the great need of reforesta- tion which will insure great commercial advantages in timber, moisture retention and flood prevention. They operate the State Forest Reservation of two thousand acres-a beauti- ful park area on which forestry experimentation is being car- ried on in a most commendable manner.
The work of the Fish and Game Commissioner points to the extreme desirability of maintaining the purity of Indi- ana's wonderful lakes and streams and of keeping them well stocked with edible fish. It shows too the need of large game preserves for all sorts of wild life; which especially will in- crease the propagation of birds, not so much in the interest of the nature lover but for the incalculable service as insect
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destroyers they will render the farmer, gardner and horti- culturist.
Sanitary science is shocked at the nauseating pollution of beautiful streams everywhere, and calls loudly for their pro- tection, purification and beautification.
The public conscience is awakening to the realization of our extravagant wastefulness of natural resources and finds expression in the popular slogan of conservation. Educa- tional enlightenment is arousing the people to the necessity of applying scientific principles by expert control in the con- servation of our natural resources.
Further argument is superfluous to show the intimate and interdependent relationship of these practical problems in conservation. Do not the facts speak strongly in favor of co- ordinating effort and concentrating administrative control, perhaps under a Conservation Commission ?
Charged with the unusual responsibility of appropriately and adequately celebrating the centenary of Indiana's admis- sion to the sisterhood of States, the Indiana Historical Com- mission would have been recreant to duty, had not some effort been made in the name of the citizenship of Indiana, in 1916, to leave a worthy and permanent Centennial Memorial. Accordingly, at the regular meeting of the Commission in January, 1916, a formal motion was passed in favor of in- augurating a movement for State Parks. The selection of a chairman of the Park Committee and 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 es- tablish 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, accord- ingly, 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 cam- paign for funds were Sol S. Kiser and Mr. Leo M. Rappaport, as well as Dr. Frank B. Wynn.
The result of their efforts is set forth in the following re- port by the Chairman of the Park Committee. The fruits of their labor give eloquent testimony to their untiring efforts
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THE INDIANA CENTENNIAL
so abundantly rewarded; and afford abundant evidence also of a generous and patriotic Hoosier citizenship, which re- sponded nobly to the call of the hour.
REPORT OF PARK COMMITTEE
OF THE INDIANA HISTORICAL COMMISSION.
By Richard Lieber, Chairman.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, November 25, 1916.
Indiana Historical Commission, City.
Ladies and Gentlemen: I herewith beg to submit my report as Chairman of the Committee on Indiana State Centennial Memorial.
The first meeting of the Committee was held March 18th, 1916, since which time our activity has never lagged. We were spurred on to im- mediate 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 song birds, 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 Lusk family carefully preserved from the lumberman's axe.
We immediately began an extensive campaign for funds and in this were materially assisted by the press of the State. We sought the opinions of leading Americans concerning our enterprise and received most en- couraging replies from such men as President Wilson, Governor McCall of Massachusetts, Theodore Roosevelt, Vice-President Marshall, Senators Kern and Taggart, Stewart Edward White, Ellery Sedgwick, Editor of the Atlantic Monthly, Lyman Abbott and others.
The actual work of gathering funds commenced in April. A joint Committee of the Indianapolis Board of Trade and Chamber of Com- merce 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 con- tributions to the State Park Fund. This resulted in the organization of some volunteer committees in the State at large. I am pained to ac- knowledge, however, that the citizens of the State generally did not respond in a manner which can possibly be compared to the liberality of the citizens of Indianapolis. I believe, however, that this was due to the fact that the Committee was in closer contact with Indianapolis than other communities in the State, and that with a better knowledge of the facts and circumstances in connection with the Park movement, adequate funds can still be raised throughout the State.
Upon the day of the 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 bidder. 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 its
Views of Turkey Run
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McCormick's Creek Canon
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activities and then and there determined to acquire Turkey Run notwith- standing its apparent failure. Negotiations with the Hoosier Veneer Company continued all summer and fall and finally on the 11th day of November, the property was purchased for the sum of $40,200. Figur- ing 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, con- cluded 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 us that McCormick's Creek Canon 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 cost would not exceed the appraisement. Due to the enterprise and civic spirit of the citizens of Owen County, this property was acquired and will go down into 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 we were 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 efforts, they would eventually aid us financially. These men more than redeemed their promise. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Association donated the sum of $5,065 and Mr. Arthur C. Newby, whose share of that contribution was one-fourth, gave us in addition thereto the sum of $5,000. Furthermore, he has aided the Committee actively in the col- lection of funds to an extent that would have meant failure except for that assistance.
During all our work we were supported by the active and sustained interest of Governor Ralston, and I wish to take this occasion to extend to him the thanks of our Committee. Furthermore, I am particularly pleased to acknowledge the most valuable assistance rendered by your acting chairman, Dr. Frank B. Wynn, who has made the work of our Committee his own and who actively participated in all our activity. Much of the success of the work of our Committee is due to his great zeal and circumspection.
I feel that this report would be incomplete without giving the views of our Committee on State Parks generally. Established upon a broad and substantial basis, Indiana State Parks would not only memorialize the past but would build for the future by practical conservation. They would distinctly point out the desirability of preserving trees, of protect- ing birds and animal life. They would constantly be a great public
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lesson in conservation and show the folly of prodigal waste of Indiana's superb natural resources. They would impress upon the public mind that wastefulness of Nature's beauties and treasures is out of harmony with the spirit of the time, progress and the needs of Indiana's new century.
The United States Government long ago won widespread popular approval in setting aside large scenic tracts, preserving them for all time against commercial vandalism and providing immense recreational grounds. They are on a very generous scale and show what Indiana might do on a smaller scale in the accomplishment of similar ends. National Parks like the Grand Canon, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Glacier National, because of their remoteness, are available only to those In- diana people who have time and means to visit them, but a system of State Parks would bring recreation grounds close home to practically all our people.
While State Parks present a new idea to Indiana, there are success- ful examples to be found in other states that place the proposed Indiana system beyond experiment. Massachusetts awoke to the importance of State Parks a score of years ago, and has since been preserving scenic seashore, river banks and wooded hilltops that had previously been privately owned. Massachusetts now has many parks from six to fifty acres in extent.
Maine has made a beginning in the same direction. A still more notable achievement in the State Parks is found in New York, especially in the preservation of Niagara Falls, in the great gorge of the Genesee River, a great reservation in the Adirondack mountains, and the Pali- sades along the Hudson River.
Not content with the National Park reservation within her borders, California has invested $250,000 in ten thousand acres at Boulder Creek to preserve a forest of redwood trees.
But Wisconsin doubtless holds the lead in State Parks. In the begin- ning park enthusiasts of that State made a systematic examination of Wisconsin's scenic resources with a view to placing the ownership in the public. One of Wisconsin's State Parks is in Door county, including 3,800 acres. The acquisition of five or six thousand acres of forest around Devil's Lake is under way and the Dells of the Wisconsin River, and another tract of some 2,700 acres along the Mississippi River are to be added to the State's system.
In all of these States, as it would be in Indiana, the chief purpose of State Parks is to refresh and strengthen and renew tired people, and fit them for the common round of daily life.
Other States, as doubtless will Indiana, have found that there is also a cash value in scenery, an income to be derived from excursionists, from special commercial privileges and concessions, and from fish and game, an income that can be turned toward the cost of maintenance.
In Boston's elaborate Metropolitan Park system is an example of possibilities within the reach of Indiana cities which they might follow on a small scale. The Boston system includes its own and that of thirty- seven surrounding cities, the system having established both parks and
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THE COMMISSION'S ACTIVITIES
connecting parkways, and highways for motor and other traffic. The Blue Hills reservation, twelve miles from the state house, has 4,700 acres; Middlesex Falls, five miles from the state house, contains 3,200 acres, this park being bordered by five cities; Mystic Valley Parkway, along lake and river of the same name, is a third of the larger areas in the Boston system. Many miles of rocky and wooded tracts are in- cluded, as well as great stretches of seashore. About $7,000,000 has been spent for lands for this system and as much more is going into development, the money being raised by State, city and town taxation.
Density of population in Europe does not permit the creation of ex- tensive parks. But every scenic spot, large or small, has been beautified, giving whole provinces the aspect of one large park in which are nestled villages, towns and even cities themselves.
The European long ago learned the material value of scenery. The ubiquitous red Baedecker is an eloquent testimonial thereof. Take little Switzerland, for instance. It has 16,000 square miles compared to Colo- rado's 104,000 square miles. We do not have to read "Tartarin on the Alps" to know that it is the most superbly ordered and highest dividend paying scenery in the world. It is well enough to speak of Nature's hygienic value, of its recuperative and recreative strength, but when one reflects for a moment that Americans alone-not to mention all the other nations-have left annually $50,000,000 in that little country, it is realized that scenery has an inherent cash value and that the so-called "Lungs" of a people have from a given viewpoint a most convincing resemblance to a fat purse.
In conclusion, I hope and trust that the small beginning we have made will have laid the foundation for a comprehensive system of State Parks which will not only stand forever as a token of the past, but which will bring health, wealth and happiness to our own generation and the many that will come after us. .
Very respectfully yours,
RICHARD LIEBER.
INDIANA CENTENNIAL MEDAL
(For illustration of medal, see frontispiece)
The Commission felt that a commemorative medal should be struck in recognition of the Centennial anniversary. To design such, Miss Janet Scudder, a daughter of Indiana whose reputation is international, was chosen. The result was a beautiful medallion, worthy of the artist and worthy of her subject.
The Indiana medal, done in low relief, gives on the ob- verse side a beautiful representation of Columbia welcoming the child Indiana in 1816. In the background, in semi-heraldic design, are seen the old Corydon State House and the Consti- tutional elm. On the other side is found an artistic adaptation of the state seal, refined of its crudities and made a thing of beauty.
The origin of the design for this seal is obscure. The first constitution provided for a state seal, and in the House Jour- nal of 1816 the design is defined as:
A forest and a woodman felling a tree, a buffalo leav- ing the forest and fleeing through the plain to a distant forest, and the sun setting in the west, with the word "Indiana."
The design that was made has been generally understood as showing a rising sun with the buffalo fleeing to the west. It is not known who designed this seal nor is there any record that it was ever officially adopted. The sum of one hundred dollars was appropriated by the legislature, on December 13, 1816, to pay for a seal and press. On a slavery petition on file at Washington, dated 1802, is an impression of the seal of Indiana Territory which has the same general character. In modeling the seal for the medal Miss Scudder has followed the general design, which has been so familiar for a century.
While engaged in designing the Indiana medal, Miss Scud- der has also been at work on a medal for the United States Government, to be presented to the South American Commis- sioners of mediation between this country and Mexico.
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THIE COMMISSION'S ACTIVITIES
In order to meet as nearly as possible the demands or wishes of all, the medal has been issued in three forms. Nine hundred and eighteen medals, the first choice products of the dies, were mounted in an elegant little volume, containing seasonal chapters on "The Story of the Medal," "The Begin- ning of the State," "Some Milestones of the Century," and "The Indiana Centennial." Each copy was numbered and bears the personal autograph of the governor. The price was fixed at five dollars. To make possible and equitable dis- position of this limited issue, nine copies were allotted to each county for distribution. A general issue was then an- nounced of the same sized medal as appeared in the book, for one dollar. In the third place, wishing to bring it within the reach of all, and especially of the school children of the State, a smaller medal was struck to sell for twenty-five cents.
These prices were fixed solely with the idea of covering as nearly as possible the actual cost of the medallion, not a cent of profit having been received by any one connected with its promotion or distribution. While the Commission has not recouped itself for the outlay, it feels that in this commem- orative medal, it has contributed a thing of beauty and signifi- cance as a permanent memorial of our first century of statehood.
HISTORICAL PUBLICATIONS
The duty of overseeing the publication of Indiana Histor- ical material was assigned to a sub-committee consisting of James A. Woodburn, Charles W. Moores, and Harlow Lindley. The members of the Committee considered it to be the prov- ince and duty of the Commission and of the State, in harmony with the provisions of the law, to preserve the sources and materials of Indiana history and to make these available and accessible to readers, students and writers in the historical field. They held it to be the function of the Commission to make available to the investigator important documents from the archives of the State; to collect and publish and circulate in the libraries throughout the State the documents and sources of history which private publishers cannot afford to produce; and to make easily accessible other important ma- terials which can now be found and used only in rare places and with the greatest difficulty. The Commission, therefore, upon the report of its committee, decided to make a begin- ning in the publication by the State of a series of volumes re- lating to the history of Indiana. It is not designed that these volumes shall be the productions of any authors, or set of authors on Indiana history. They are to be primary rather than secondary in character; that is, they are to contain the sources and materials of history, such as official documents, messages, journals, papers, letters and reprints of valuable historical matter no longer available in print. With the small fund at hand ($5,000) the Commission has proceeded to publish volumes on the following subjects :
1. CONSTITUTION MAKING IN INDIANA.
This work was prepared under the editorship of Dr. Charles B. Kettleborough of the Bureau of Legislative Infor- mation. It consists of two volumes containing all important documents relating to Indiana's Constitutional history.
The first volume treats of the cession of the Northwest Territory to the United States and the organization and de-
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velopment of a Territorial government therein, including the governmental changes from the Virginia act and deed of ces- sion, the Ordinances of 1784 and 1787, to the admission of the State in 1816, covering a period from 1780 to 1816. The organization of constitutional government preparatory to ad- mission to statehood; the Congressional Enabling Act; the text of the first Constitution; the various attempts to amend that Constitution from 1816 to 1850; the Convention of 1850- 1851, the rules and orders and resolutions of the convention, and the text of the Constitution of 1851, are also included in this volume.
The second volume deals with the various attempts that have been made to amend the Constitution from 1851 to 1916.
The process of amendment and much of the essential dis- cussions concerning constitutional changes and other matters of historical importance have been added in extensive histor- ical notes by Dr. Kettleborough. These notes add greatly to the value of the volumes.
2. INDIANA AS SEEN BY EARLY TRAVELERS.
Many of the first books relating to Indiana were written by travelers whose aim it was to tell the Old World what the New World was like. During the first half century following the Revolutionary War many travelers came from Europe to visit the new Republic and to explore the frontiers of Amer- ica, and during the early decades of the Nineteenth century many travelers from the Atlantic Coast States made trips into the interior to learn of the possibilities in the newer regions.
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