Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1880-12-23
SECRETARY SCHURZ' REPORT.
The National Park...Some Sensible
Suggestion as to Road and Other
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Ofs5O,OOO Recommended.

of $4,000 Recommended.
:, We are indebted to Secretary Schurz for
<, copy of his annual report which is probabl,
: the best prepared departmental paper of tn
. year 1t covers eighty-odd pamphlet pages
. and embraces many features of interest, som,
s Of which have heretofore been referred to in
l these columns. In the report the Territories
OF Utah, Wyoming, Dakota, and Idaho are
treated of at some length and to their advan.
. tage. Montana is passed wholly unnoticed
for the reason, probably, that through some
negligence in Montana, no information was
furnished or report made to the Secretary
as was done by the Governors Of the other
Territories named. Secretary Schurz, who
personally visited the National Park last
autumn, makes some valuable suggestions
and recommendations looking to the improve
ment and protection of Wonderland. His
description of the region and other matters
referred to are of interest We quote from
the report as follows
The building of the Utah & Northern
railroad has made the Yellowstone National
Park more accessible; and it may be assum-
ed that the number of visitors would now
rapidly increase if the park itself were pro-
vlded with facilities Of travel The original
intention of Congress in reserving that inter-
esting region from sale or other disposal was
| undoubtedly that it should become popular
place OF resort by the people of the United
States. This was wise measure but per-
soaal inspection convinced me that much re-
mains to be done to give that measure the
desired effect
Yellowstone Park covers an area of 5000 |
square miles. Its western part contains the !
largest known geysers in the world, far grand |
er than those of Iceland, California, New Zea-
Land and FOrmosa; and hot springs of signal |
beauty and remarkable mineral properties |
1t is in this respect certainly the most inter-
esting region ON this continent, and perhaps
ON the face of the earth and the medicinal |
qualities OF its waters, so far only in part an
alyzed and ascertained, may render it one of
the most important restorative resorts for the
afflicted. At the same time it presents noun
tam scenery OF peculiar beauty, north, west,
and south OF Yellowstone Lake: while the
grotesque rock formations and the intense
colorlng OF the grand canyon of the
Yellowstone river present spectacle
III the highest degree grand and
unique. 80 far, the larger part OF the park
has remained an almost unbroken wilderness.
A wagon road has been constructed from the
Mammoth Hot Springs, near the northern
border, to the geyser basins, distance of
about So miles, which, however, is rough and .
in grading. The Shoshone and
Yellowstone lakes, the magnificent falls of !
the Yellowstone river, and some of the most ,
interesting mountains and valleys are acces-
Slole only by trails and bride paths, in part )
Of difficult passage There is not single ho-
tel IN the park to accommodate travellers .
and While stage line has been established =
10 take visitors to the geyser basins, they are :
e1t there without any further means of con- :
1eyance. To accomplish the object for which 6
ne reservation was intended, it is indispen-
aoly necessary that the road connecting the
nammoth Hot Springs with the geyser ba-
lns should be greatly improved; that wagon o
Dads should be constructed from there to 4"
'hosh0ne and Yellowstone lakes: that ,
'rldge should be built across the Yellow
tone river above the falls and that further g
ystem OF wagon roads should be laid out in ~
ne direction OF the mountain ranges It is =
lso necessary, IN my opinion, that the de- ~
artment be authorized to lease little tracts
land at different points Of interest to pri-
ATE persons willing to erect hotels under
och regulations as may be devised for the =,
rotectlOn and convenience of the public. h
ne law as 1t stands authorizes this depart
lent to conclude such leases for ten wears
ut 1t Will be difficult to find responsible per- -;
'ns willing to erect suitable buildings on so -
mort tenure. Only one proposition of this
ind has reached the department would
leretore, recommend that the department be
athorlzed to make the leases for term of
least thirty years, upon such conditions as,
the discretion of the Secretary of the In ro
rlor, the interests Of the travelling public W,
ay require W. W.
have no doubt that if the territory of the On
'rk were disposed of by sale or otherwise to On
lvate persons, private enterprise would on
on furnish all the conveniences necessary no
lthout any outlay on the part of the GOV ca.
nment; but it IS also probable that under Fx
Gu circumstances the travelling public We
ould be subjected to tolls and extortions of w,
annoying and burdensome O nature that -,
ereby the original intention of Congress W.
ould be virtually defeated and the park be- . 8
me place of resort only to persons oflarge
cans. l deem it, therefore, important if ~,
intention with which the reservation
IS originally made is not to be defeated. od
az the government retain control of the .
rE but If it does, it is also the plain duty
the government to take such measures as oh,
necessary to make it accessible to the
ople To this end an appropriation for
xt year of at least $4,000 for the construc- COR
n OF suitable system of roads and bridges cor
uld seem advisable. . 1or
would also make the following recon-
A.,
FIRST That board Of three competent ago