Mr. Curtis, With all due respect, if the DNR or whoever is performing this "project" does not own the property on which they have undertaken it, they should cease and desist. The burning off of the grasses and weeds will ultimately bring the destruction of the memorial monuments erected over those pioneers' graves by their loved ones. The monuments are also considered private property in most states. If Jack Briles is correct and the land title is in the Lutheran Church of that area, then the Church's private land rights have been violated, not to mention a possible constitutional violation of the doctrine of separation of church and state. While I would agree with you our nation has lost much to growth and progress over the past 200 years of it's expansionism, we must never lose sight of our precious freedoms that make this nation so great. The Church purchased or received the title to this ground and until that title is deemed to have failed or has been legally transferred, the state has stepped on the toes of it's freedom. I personally believe that by using a cemetery to undertake this project of conservation of the plant life you mention, those who claim it is being done as a memorial to the settlers and pioneers must be aware of the irony of such a memorialization. It was, after all, those same pioneer citizens who moved West with so many others and, through that movement, inadvertently caused the loss of the vegetation of which you speak. Sounds more like these dead pioneers are being punished for being participants in those losses. Better that some vacant land be found for this cause. I believe the dead and the monuments erected so they may always be remembered should be treated with the same respect as when their loved ones were still here to ensure that condition. Respectfully, Sue Silver California ----- Original Message ----- From: "Howell Curtis" <hccu@voyager.net> To: <INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, September 28, 2001 9:30 AM Subject: [INPCRP] Cemetary Barren > The casual observer might think Cemetary Barren to be a mess, but to > one who studies plants it is a wonder to behold, a microcosm of a > grassland ecosystem that at one time comprised an estimated seventy > thousand acres in Harrison and Washington counties. Today there is > probably less than a hundred acres left of this prairie which supported > herds of bison, elk and deer as well as many species of small mammals > and birds. Cemetary Barren is the most diverse of the barren remnants > with well over one hundred species of native forbs and grasses. The > bison and elk are gone but this precious remnant should be preserved > for future generations. In my opinion it is a fitting memorial to the > early > settlers and to those who are buried there. > > Howell Curtis > > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== > Blessed are the Elderly, for they remember what we will never know. > >

Dear Ms. Silver, I see no evidence that the gravestones are being damaged by fire. In fact, the fire may prevent the growth of lichens that can be an instrument of degradation. If the Church owns the land then why was the cemetery abandoned years ago? If the IDNR hadn't instituted the annual burning program, the cemetery would have been taken over by bushes and brambles long ago. Another point I would like to make is just how was the cemetery taken care of in the past, before the annual burning program was started. It couldn't have been very intensive or the prairie plants would have been killed out. Could it be that our forefathers knew something that most of the members of this forum don't? Maybe they recognised it as the special place that it is and let nature take its course. I don't know but that is a possibility. I would like to know how that someone who is dead can be punished? If you can explain that to me I would be glad to know. The plants could be taken to another area, either by digging them up or collecting seed and then planting the seed, but it wouldn't be the same. These plants have grown toghether in a symbiotic relationship in this plot of land for hundreds or even thousands of years. They were here before the first settlers came and probably before the Indians were here. It is highly unlikely that this symbiosis could ever be duplicated. Respectfully, Howell Curtis Sue Silver wrote: > Mr. Curtis, > > With all due respect, if the DNR or whoever is performing this "project" > does not own the property on which they have undertaken it, they should > cease and desist. The burning off of the grasses and weeds will ultimately > bring the destruction of the memorial monuments erected over those pioneers' > graves by their loved ones. The monuments are also considered private > property in most states. > > If Jack Briles is correct and the land title is in the Lutheran Church of > that area, then the Church's private land rights have been violated, not to > mention a possible constitutional violation of the doctrine of separation of > church and state. > > While I would agree with you our nation has lost much to growth and progress > over the past 200 years of it's expansionism, we must never lose sight of > our precious freedoms that make this nation so great. The Church purchased > or received the title to this ground and until that title is deemed to have > failed or has been legally transferred, the state has stepped on the toes of > it's freedom. > > I personally believe that by using a cemetery to undertake this project of > conservation of the plant life you mention, those who claim it is being done > as a memorial to the settlers and pioneers must be aware of the irony of > such a memorialization. It was, after all, those same pioneer citizens who > moved West with so many others and, through that movement, inadvertently > caused the loss of the vegetation of which you speak. Sounds more like > these dead pioneers are being punished for being participants in those > losses. > > Better that some vacant land be found for this cause. I believe the dead > and the monuments erected so they may always be remembered should be treated > with the same respect as when their loved ones were still here to ensure > that condition. > > Respectfully, > > Sue Silver > California > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Howell Curtis" <hccu@voyager.net> > To: <INPCRP-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Friday, September 28, 2001 9:30 AM > Subject: [INPCRP] Cemetary Barren > > > The casual observer might think Cemetary Barren to be a mess, but to > > one who studies plants it is a wonder to behold, a microcosm of a > > grassland ecosystem that at one time comprised an estimated seventy > > thousand acres in Harrison and Washington counties. Today there is > > probably less than a hundred acres left of this prairie which supported > > herds of bison, elk and deer as well as many species of small mammals > > and birds. Cemetary Barren is the most diverse of the barren remnants > > with well over one hundred species of native forbs and grasses. The > > bison and elk are gone but this precious remnant should be preserved > > for future generations. In my opinion it is a fitting memorial to the > > early > > settlers and to those who are buried there. > > > > Howell Curtis > > > > > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== > > Blessed are the Elderly, for they remember what we will never know. > > > > > > ==== INPCRP Mailing List ==== > Please do not send queries through this list.