enjoy In iana THE QUESTION of a state's right to use eminent domain for the acquisition of land for conservation purposes took a strange twist in a recent ruling by a local judge in an Indiana Circuit Court. Condemnation proceedings had been instituted to acquire two pieces of land that were to be partially covered by water in a projected lake program. The attorney for the landowners contested the necessity of taking the entire parcel as contrasted to the portion that would be inundated. After nearly a year of legal enlargements, a ruling was obtained which, if permitted to stand, actually grants shoreline ownership to two tract owners out of the seventy-five parties that had portions covered by the projected lake. This ruling has done what no previous ruling concerning the state has ever done before. It takes the decision as to construction, development, use, and management away from the administrative branch of government and places it in the hands of the local courts. Obviously, (whether you are a lawyer or not) it was never the intent of the statute for eminent domain decisions, to have individual cases, to be determined by the local courts. Damages for taking is another matter, and one which is clearly best decided by local courts. On the other hand, when public funds are used by a state to provide a regional or statewide service, it appears that the administrative branch of government is in a far better position to determine what should be or should not be acquired in the public interest. In the acquisition of land for public use everyone should receive his just dues; and, by the same token, no one should benefit unduly by the program as a result of the expenditure of public funds. Boundary or acquisition lines are determined by an agency according to long range develop- ment plans for the maximum and best use of that particular acquisition. Maybe the best example of why the necessity of taking is clearly an administrative matter can be illustrated by citing a court ruling stating that the state highway could not take additional land that might be necessary for a cloverleaf or passing lane because the judge did not agree with the engineering plans. Can you imagine how our roads would look, or how fast we could progress, if local courts determined what should be the right-of-way? The answer is obvious. Planning for conservation purposes is no different; engineers, park specialists, biologists, etc., are in a much better position to know what is required for the development of an area than a local judge, subject to the pressures brought by locally prominent individuals and/or their attorneys. The repercussions of such an illogical decision could stymie any positive conservation program throughout a state for many years to come. Any public official has a greater obligation to his successors than any temporary relief that a short-sighted ruling might give. I think it goes without saying that the ruling is being appealed to the Supreme Court. The matter, of course, is time-consuming and further delays the development of a sound program of conservation. As I have stated before, land acquisition is one of our most difficult and trying problems in natural resource development. This problem is even more serious when such rulings are made by the courts, contrary to accepted law or fact. DONALD E. FOLTZ, Director Indiana Department of Conservation OUTDOOR INDIANA MATTHEW E. WELSH, Governor RICHARD O. RISTINE, Lieutenant Governor Commissioner of Agriculture INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION Donald E. Foltz, Director, Clinton Commission: Anton (Tony) Hulman, Jr., Chairman, Terre Haute John A. Hillenbrand II, Batesville The Hon. Paul D. Ewan, Lafayette Wilbur Yates, Vincennes DIVISIONS AND DIRECTORS Enforcement-Harold D. Raisor Oil and Gas-Homer R. Brown Engineering-Henry C. Prange State Parks-Kenneth R. Cougill Entomology-John J. Favinger Water Resources-Charles H. Bechert Fish and Game-Woodrow W. Fleming Accounting-Harold B. Smith Forestry-Robert D. Raisch Public Information- Geological Survey-John B. Patton Purchasing-Anthony E. Sheppard CONTENTS WYANDOTTE AND MARENGO CAVES IN CRAWFORD COUNTY ..... ................ 2 A NEW RX FOR OLD WOODLANDS ...... ..... 5 OUR NEW FISH PROPAGATION PROGRAM . .. 8 JACOB WHETZEL: FORGOTTEN HOOSIER ............ WE HELP TO PLAN YOUR VACATION .... 16 NEW SOGRA M ........................ ...........28 KNOW YOUR INDIANA BIRDS . 30 BEAGLE CHAMPIONSHIP TRIALS ............ Cover: Paper sculpture depicting vacationing family visiting George Rogers Clark Memorial at Vincennes. Sculpture and color photograph by George Paton Studios, Indianapolis. Vol. VII, No. 1 OUTDOOR INDIANA July, 1963 Published -monthly by the Indiana Department of Conservation, 6th Floor, State Office Building, Indian- apolis 9. Second-class mail privileges authorized at Indianapolis, Indiana. Out-of-state subscription $2.00. Change rate of address should be reported promptly. Permission to reprint any material in this pub- lication may be granted to responsible parties upon written application to the editor. *0 1~ HAffErS1 a©inay Caves IHm c~caawked CommayC MARENGO CAVE,' renowned for its "nature's paint brush." Cave Hill Ceme- beauty, is located near the town of Ma- tery, an unusual array of great numbers rengo in scenic Crawford County. It is of stalagmites ranging from white to forty miles west of New Albany, eighty- dark-colored marble in appearance which five miles east of Evansville and one-half seem to be "markers" or "tombstones" mile from the crossing of Indiana State standing on the slope of the floor. Roads 64 and 66. Accommodations at Marengo Cave in- This cave was formed by the slow clude a picnic area with good drinking removal of solid limestone by waters water, shelter house, rest rooms and sou- which seeped into the rocks along the venir shop. cracks and bedding planes. A subterra- Wyandotte Cave, a miracle in lime- nean stream greatly enlarged the under- stone, is entered by a natural cleft in the ground runways, producing the expan- side of a limestone cliff beautifully set in sive cavern which is seen today. Its spa- the midst of a scenic woodland. Located cious rooms, arched ceilings and many on Indiana State Road 62 in Crawford formations always make an interesting County at the town of Wyandotte, 30 trip through a natural wonderland full miles west of New Albany between Cory- of interest and awe. don and Leavenworth in the beautiful The temperature is 54 degrees con- Southern Indiana hills, it makes an ideal stantly. The cave is electrically lighted vacation spot. Accommodations include throughout and all tours are accompanied the Wyandotte Lodge - a modern air- by courteous and well-informed guides. conditioned motel, Wyandotte Cabins- The slight deviation in elevation through- modern cabins in a cool woodland set- out the cave makes it an easy, safe and ting, an attractive dining room and a pic- enjoyable tour for all ages. nic grove with outdoor grills. There are In the subterranean world of Marengo woodland trails for hiking and streams Cave you will be thrilled by many in- for fishing. Golf and swimming may be spiring formations such as The Rock of enjoyed at the Corydon Country Club. Ages, a mammoth formation 470 feet in Wyandotte Cave is said to be the most circumference and 30 feet tall rising from interesting cavern in America. As one the floor of the cave. Embellished by treads its stately corridors, he is amazed scores of icicle-like stalactites hanging in at the evidence of nature's patience and drapery fashion and numerous stalag- craftsmanship in the carving of its walls, mites standing in guardian array, the domes and subterranean rooms, as well Rock of Ages can well be called a monu- as nature's artistry in the weaving of its ment to time. The PillaredPalace, a rare beautiful and delicate formation. This and captivating sight of literally hun- unusual variety of formation is in the dreds of pillars stained and colored by shape of stalactites, stalagmites, helic- Page 2 * OUTDOOR INDIANA July, 1963 CRYSTAL PALACE Marengo Cave's most beau- tiful room. All types of formations are found here; stalactites, stalagmites, sta- lacto-stalagmites, flow- stones, etc. THE ROCK OF AGES World's largest group of formations is located in Wyandotte Cave. The base is more than 100 feet in circumference. July, 1963 Marengo and Wyandotte caves are located within a few miles of many vacation attractions as shown on the above map. tites, flowers of gypsum, calcite and ep- Wyandotte Cave is the only cave in som salt crystals. In fact, Wyandotte has America that shows every type of cave every form of cave formation as well as formation on one route. being the second largest cavern in the It has more of the rare helictite forma- world. It has been called the "most inter- tions than any other cave in the world. esting cave in America" owing to its The beauty of this delicate formation spectacular size and exquisite beauty. cannot be described. In many instances it Wyandotte has five distinct floor levels is found as delicate and white as shred- and twenty-three miles of explored pas- ded cocoanut. sageways-as well as many unexplored Wyandotte Cave is an old-age cave regions. Wyandotte is a dry cave, easy and free of hazards. It is a dry cave, of access. Vegetable matter will dry up although formed by an underground but never decay. river at one time. It is entirely of lime- When you see Wyandotte Cave, you stone and safer than the heaviest ma- have an idea of caves in general-as to sonry. Competent and courteous guides delicate formation, spectacular size and accompany all parties. subterranean beauty. Wyandotte Cave is naturally air-con- Wyandotte Cave has the largest under- ditioned.