THE INTER-STATE PARK. DALLES OF THE ST. CROIX. (Written by Warren H. Manning of Boston, former Secretary of the American Park and Out-Door Art Association.) Wisconsin is a great and prosperous state that has grown from almost a wilderness in a little more than fifty years. The citizens may well be proud of its advanced position in many matters that pertain to public welfare. It is not, however, keeping pace with other states in the acquirement of public reservations for the benefit of the people. It is true that there are great areas of wild land accessible to the public by sufferance of owners, but such land does not belong to the public, and the natural beauty that draws the people to them is being destroyed so rapidly for private gain that they will soon become unattractive. It is the duty of the state to reserve such peculiarly attractive natural conditions as are represented at the Dalles of the St. Croix, and to preserve them in such a way that there will be no intrusion of in harmonious conditions. Tɔ do this boundaries must be fixed at points where all evidences of habitation shall be shut out from those who go to enjoy the wilderness of the reserve. On the Wisconsin side of this reservation, this boundary should be carried a little beyond the top of the first range of hills running parallel to the river. It is within this area that many of the most interesting conditions of the Dalles are found, for through this area are the wild and picturesque remains of an old river channel which has broken its way through great masses of rock upon which are now fine trees and a remarkably attractive flora. There are comprised, mostly within this area, a flora containing at least seventy-five species of trees and shrubs and two hundred and twenty-five different species of herbs, a remarkable showing for an area of this size. The geological conditions are also particularly varied and interesting, and the topography and flora taken as a whole presents peculiarly favorable conditions for re-establishing native animals that are fast becoming exterminated. Such a reservation, if properly protected, will become the breeding ground for game that will stock all the surrounding region. It is the duty of a state to prevent destruction and to preserve for the benefit of the people such peculiarly interesting and attractive localities as are here represented, especially where, as in this case, they are so accessible, and especially as the land is of very little commercial value. Furthermore, the state would be disloyal to the educational interests which it has done so much to promote if it did not save for its students this unusually favorable opportunity for the study of the natural sciences. To indicate how much this reservation is appreciated by men from other states who are thoroughly familiar with public reservations and beautiful landscapes, attention is called to a resolution passed by the American Park & Outdoor Art Association which held its second annual meeting in Minneapolis in 1898. This association is made up of park men and others interested in the improvement of cities, homes, and public reservations, a Committee of which visited the reservation. A resolution was passed by the association expressing an appreciation of the work that had already been accomplished towards securing the Dalles of the St. Croix as a forest reserve and urging the acquirement of the additional land necessary to preserve the reservation and its views from the introduction of inharmonious objects. Printed by request of the commissioners. INTER-STATE PARK OF THE DALLES OF THE ST. CROIX RIVER. (Prepared by H. D. Baker, Secretary, St. Croix Falls, Wis.) Just below the falls of the St. Croix the river has eroded through a remarkable upheaval of rock of pre-glacial origin, forming a deep canyon for a considerable distance, which, with the effects produced by the erosion of prehistoric tributaries of the river, the beautifully wooded bluffs (running back on the Wisconsin side to 1,400 feet above the sea level) as a background, and a charming lake fed by springs lying just at the foot of the bluffs, combine to form a most picturesque locality. This canyon (which is equally interesting and beautiful on the Minnesota side), with its immediate surroundings, constitutes the "Dalles of the St. Croix." The "Glacier Gardens" are among its most noted features-footprints in the rocks, the many pot-holes or wells, made by the whirling, surging water keeping the fragments of rock and cobble stones in motion. Large numbers of these wells have been excavated; some contain a yellow drift, like that of the Red River valley, and others a dark red drift, similar to that found in Lake Superior. The names of some of the other interesting formations are: Old St. Croix Fireplace (the coloring of this is remarkable), the Devil's Chair, the Kitchen, Bakeoven, Sitting Room, Pulpit, the Cross, Old Man of the Dalles or Sentinel, the Cave, the Gopher, the Hammer-Head or Two-faced Man, Desk Rock, Echo Rock, Eagle Nest Point. The plant life in and about the Dalles is said to be the most varied of any one place known. The moss-covered rocks and logs are likened unto beautiful mats so varied are their colors. All the different vines of the northern climes are found here. Among the trees are the pine (white, Norway and jack), cedar (red and white), spruce, fir, birch, willow, butternut, linden, poplar, the maple family, ash, walnut, mountain ash, elm, oak, ironwood, cherry, hickory, and the junipers, larch and Canadian yew. Flowering plants, such as the moccasin flower, the golden rod, blue harebells, roses, bluebells, jacks-in-the-pulpits, columbine, honeysuckle, blue gentian, anemones, asters and lilies grow in abundance. The fern family is represented by the walking and bulb fern; and among her mosses and lichens is found the prickly pear cactus. In the summer of 1900, students of the University of Minnesota visited the park and found over 1,000 varieties of native plants growing there. The Inter-State Park is 50 miles from St. Paul, 30 miles from Stillwater, 40 from Hudson and 26 from New Richmond. During the summer steamers run from Stillwater, Minn., and St. Paul to the park. From western Wisconsin the park is most conveniently reached from Stillwater by steamer, or from St. Paul by train, Northern Pacific road to Taylors Falls, Minn. From eastern Wisconsin, by the Wisconsin Central or Northwestern railroad to Chippewa Falls, the Omaha to Cameron, and from there by the Soo road to St. Croix Falls. The first move of the legislature to acquire this beautiful spot for a park was by the enactment of chapter 315, laws of 1895, which provided for a commission to investigate the matter and report to the governor the probable cost of the lands desired for the park reservation. The legislature of 1899 appropriated $6,500, and in 1901 it added $7,500 to this amount to be used for buying the The park contains 900 land required, and to defray other necessary expenses. acres, 300 of which is situated in Minnesota. The remaining 600 acres is now owned by Wisconsin, excepting three tracts owned by private individuals, which are in process of condemnation or other means of acquisition. |