Cleveland High School - Beacon Yearbook (St Louis, MO)

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M. ff, H -. ig 10' f G 435 ,W T in' n vi i f-' ft if I -thu 1 ! iff.' i'Q'l XL K 3 'wg A TT T T V Y M' B 7 1 A am '-f ff, STATE PARKS By ETHEL JOHNSON iF? x S civilization advances, men realize the need of preserving natural scenery. This whole America of ours was once a wilderness, but as ' MXH . . . . . . ' Shir civilization advanced the wilderness disappeared, the works of nature giving place to the works of man-factories, homes, and places of business. Realizing the need of the preservation of nature's beauties, the state govern- ment has set aside state parks. When Daniel Boone blazed his way through the unmarked trail, Missouri was a vast forest. Today, Missouri is a state teeming with industry, yet she has often halted in her busy round of progress and set aside state parks for the enjoyment of her people. Missouri has one of the best state parks systems in the United States, including in all, twelve parks. Each of these parks provides for the amuse- ment and enjoyment of all through historical, legendary, and scenic features as well as hunting and fishing facilities. Among the prominent scenic fea- tures of these parks are large springs. The springs of Missouri are the most beautiful to be found anywhere, the waters being an unusual blue in color- moreover, some are not springs, but veritable rivers bursting from the ground. AIT of these springs are located in the Ozark Mountain region of Southern Missouri. The region is heavily timbered, a most desirable attribute for parks, and furnishes refuge for game of all kinds. Big Spring, located at Big Spring Park is one of the largest springs in the World. It has a How of 380,000,000 gallons of water per day. The stream into which it flows rushes into Current River which is one of the swiftest and most beautiful of the- Ozark streams. Another one of the interesting Parks is Sequoita State Park. There is a remarkable cave located in this park, containing a lake of water. lts stalag- mites and other wonders are said to rival those of the famous Mammoth Cave of Kentucky. Twenty-eighl

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,ffl x,,15i,4g I if 4,1 1, ij, iJ,,,,' AL . Du +4 W iw njllfgw rJMg.e:1ig,Z:M J'FmMim 41 243 12 2 1 . we f,5.4 w I m . . ,V ,awpmf 5521 ng- M an - 13 Y if 'f ' W , qv'2'tif?'V14, ,. fa, . 1 n in ami I v A -f It - U Q I ' 1 .. . . f- i .- Q , : X L ' , K - L .-r - E 5 ' 2 L ' I X ' ' N- 'L - ..- vie.,- W 1. -V - f-V - U B Meeting of Washington Irving and Kit Carson board and the stenographers complete this suite and are finished in an artistic manner. The office of the State Treasurer, the Superintendent of Education, and the General Board rooms complete the rooms upon this floor. The third story is the legislative floor and is in many respects the most attractive of the building. A mellow light from the cathedral glass gives a subdued effect while the great dome above is majestic. The assembly rooms are opposite each other. The Hoor space of the Senate provides for fifty senators, the House providing for one hundred and fifty members. There are ample galleries for visitors in both chambers and both are ,lighted by art glass windows that extend above the roof, a feature peculiar to the capitol. Both the House and Senate are provided with lounging or retiring rooms for the members. These rooms are among the most beautiful in the build- ing. The room for the Senate is furnished in oak, the one for the House in marble. Both are equipped with every convenience, such as leather divans and chairs, attractive carpets, and electric fixtures. Each lounging room is divided into two apartments, one large and the other small. Twenty -seven

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A lm , Y V g a zing : f y I mv- Il A -v Y tif 6 th or QQ' ik. 'l ! 5 .gf it-4' Q - xv v K X .4 It is altogether fitting and proper that Missouri has set aside a State Park in honor of her greatest literary genius, Mark Twain, at his birthplace in Florida, Missouri. Baker State Park, named in honor of Governor Baker, has been selected purely for its historical interest, for in this park is Stony Battery, a gap in the Mudlick Mountain Range, through which General Price led his troops in the Civil War. This wonderful state system of parks has provided Missouri with play- grounds for her people, where cares and worries may be forgotten in the enjoyment of nature's gifts to humanity. They have provided recreation for Missourians. Recreation, the word that means success, for without recreation there can be no content and without content there can be no success. Each of these parks is fully equipped with every facility for recreation. First, they provide opportunities for camping, so that people may spend several weeks in the open air and enjoy healthful living. Also, there are picnic grounds for the convenience of people who wish to remain only a day at the park. Secondly, the parks have fishing preserves. Many of the parks provide hatcheries for the propagation of all kinds of fish, especially rainbow trout which thrive in mountain streams. Thirclly, the parks have hunting reserves which are the joy of all sportsmen. Fourthly, they provide beau- tiful, natural scenery for the pleasure of the city people. Thus, the parks well fulfill their twofold purpose-to provide not only for recreation for lVlissouri's people, but also to preserve the beauty spots of nature for posterity. -i ' L' I 9 I Twenty-nine