Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-05-26
TIE STATE AND THE YOSEMITE VAL
ley

the comfort and convenience of visitors
adequately provided for, there can be no
doubt that it would bring millions OF dol
lars into the State annually, and that it
would be visited by thousands for the
hundreds that go there now. And it must
be recognized that when the United States
gave the Yosemite Valley in trust to Cali
ifornia, it was necessarily implied that the
State should throw open the valley to travel,
and that it should make it as accessible as
possible. An enterprising and enlight-
ened public ought long ago to have seen
that the ful6llment of these implied
undertakings was not merely question OF
good faith, but of business sagacity. The
Yosemite Valley possesses the promise and
potency of great treasure-breeder tor the
State, and, properly cared for, it would in
one year far more than repay all that it
would be necessary to expend upon it.
Hitherto, however, it has been most diff
fcult to interest the State in it at all.
Legislatures have turned deaf ear to all
solicitations, or when they have consented
to allow some small appropriation it has
been done so grudgingly that no real or
permanent improvements could be under
taken. No doubt some blame attaches to
the old Commissioners, who never seem TO
have had any adequate idea of the scope OF
their duties, and who allowed themselves
frequently to be bailed by obstacles which
little energy and persistence would have
overcome. But if the public had appre-
ciated the value of Yosemite from a bust.
ness point of view they would have COM
PEELED the old Commissioners to do better,
and would have given them the means Of
doing better. As it is, the valley has prac-
tically been ignored by the State, or treated
as though it was a sort of white elephant
which had to be taken care Of in a per-
functory way, but which was far more a
nuisance than a benefit.
The access to the valley has been
throughout heavy handicap upon its
value. The difficulties and the tediouspess
of the journey have acted as apositive pro.
hibition upon all but the active and healthy
traveller. And when the latter has sur
mounted these serious preliminary obstacles,
he has found at his journeys end very
meager and cramped accommodations, and
has had to put up with all manner of
makeshifts, not to speak of more inexcus-
able vexations in the form Of impositions.
But for the few rude trails which have
been constructed as speculations by outside
parties, there have been no means of ex-
aiming the wonders of the valley. Every.
thing has been left exactly as nature placed
it, and from beginning to end the arrange
ments have been more suggestive of the
slovenly, indolent Southern habits, than of
those of wide-awake, progressive and in
telligent community.
No Californian who is at ali sensitive
can make the Yosemite trip, in fact in the
company of strangers from other States
or countries, without having abundant
reason to feel ashamed of the parsimony
and want of enterprise which characterize
the whole attitude of the State toward the
valley. Of course it is never too late to
mend, but the corollary of this, that it is
never too soon to begin, holds good also.
The State ought not to lose any more time
in doing its duty to Yosemite. 1t ought
to see that the place is made easily accessi-
BE, to begin with. There has been some
talk of the construction of a railroad to
within thirty miles OF the valley. That
is one of the first requirements of the
situation With such a railroad the tourist
could enter the valley fresh and unfa-
tigued, and it would then become posi-
bic trip to persons OF delicate health.
Inside the valley there Is needed modern
hotel with all the comforts and convent
enoes which travellers need and look for in
these days. There is not mountain resort
in all Europe where modern enterprise has
lot provided for the traveller better than
in the Yosemite Valley. The State can
well afford to expend whatever is necessary
for the construction of really fine hotel
in the valley, and the next Legislature
ought to make the appropriation for this
work.
More and better trails are greatly needed.
The floor Ct the valley requires to be
cleared in many places of its heavy growth
of timber and underbrush, so as to afford
clear views of the lower falls and other
provided at convenient points along all
the trails, and at intervals there should be
shelter sheds to which tourists can retreat
to escape the frequent showers which occur
in that region. There are many other
much needed changes and improvements,
but the principle to be observed IS the in
crease of the comfort and pleasure of Wis
itors in every possible way. No question
of sentiment need be taken into account.
This is purely business matter. Tae
State can make the Yosemite Valley a
source of large revenue if it chooses,
and when it chooses and it is bound to
take the requisite steps both in honor and
self-interest. Ii the valley was made
thoroughly accessible, and telegraph line
was constructed to it, hundreds OF fami-
lies would prefer it as summer resort to
any other part of the State, and nearly all
who 60 there would stay much longer than
now In fact it can be made to bring
millions into the State, and therefore not
to utilize this opportunity must be regarded
as a symptom OF community stupidity and
want Of enterprise.
tbs sEE-sAw AT ALBANY.
The news from Albany is becoming very
tiresome. Every day it is gravely re-
ported that the Conklineites declare them.