Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-02-10
practicability of his scheme, or to demur
when it is presented in modified forn.
and in the meantime can commend it as
it is, to the better thought of the people
YOSEMITE VALLEY MANAGEMENT.

YOSEMITE VALLEY MANAGEMENT.
1t has been seriously proposed to extend |
the privileges for leases in the Yosemite
valley to twenty years, and to establish |
the rule that there shall be no exclusive
privileges granted. Do those who have
made this proposition TO the Legislature
realize that to do SO will be to destroy the
value of all privileges, of every character,
and make all service in the valley pracii-
cally worthless? Let them rehsct mo-
ment. The valley is far distant; it enjoys
but short tourist season it is at heavy
cost that it is reached; supplies are taken
in with difficulty, and are in demand for
but brief term. Dat of that season all
the profit that is TO flow to any enterprise
in the valley must come. These, then, are
the undeniable conditions. Experience
has shown that to secure anything like
ADEQUATE service and accommodations in
the valley few must be given exclusive
privileges. To admit all to like privileges
was once tried--as least the admission of
many. What was the result? The patron
age of TIE valley would not support the
many, and the privileges fell into the hands
of the few. But the few were blackmailed
into purchase, and in some instances
had to yield constant royalty to those who
remained out OF competition with them.
Fer instance, at one time, leases were
given to two butchers. There was just
business enough for one buteher-one or
the other must yield. The result was,
that GA" sold out to "B" for
constant premium Oh the business, and
that cost in turn "B sought to
charge up against his customers and when
checked il that practice by the Commits
sioners, was compelled to degrade the char
acter of the service-solely in order TO an.
swer the demands of "B." By the power
OF the Commission he was relieved OF the
incubus, and Immediately the quality of
the service became satisfactory. There is
business enough for one large coed hotel,
and no more. Why, then, should there be
two The Yosemite Commission have
very properly been invested with the
power to fix the rate of all charges for SER
vice in the valley, and SO long as they
have that authority there can be no injury
10 the public from exclusive privileges.
To open privileges to all is but to open the
door for the levy Of blaekmail upon those
who determine to remain by those who
locate the privilege to sell out. Any such
a system must deprive the valley of good
service of any character whatever. If
three saddle trains are licensed, it works
the exclusion OF fourth, and where that
is done it is based on the knowledge that
the patronage will not support four without
the imposition of intolerable rates. Wher-
ever there are more industries in the val.
ley than its patronage will repay, they
will adjust themselves to the situation by
the surplus number selling ont to the num-
Der that can possibly live. But that I'M
poses a new burden upon such as remain,
and the public will be forced to share it.
The experience of years in the manage
ment of the valley establishes beyond the
possibility of dispute these facts:
First-That ten-Year lease, as laid down
in the Act of cession, is ample, as chang
ing conditions make a longer leasehold
dangerous to the public good.
Second Exclusive grants of privileges
are absolutely necessary in order to enable
the Commissioners to enforce fair service,
and reasonable rates-and even then they
are not able to detect and punish all viola
tions, because of the remoteness of the
valley, and the transient character of the
witnesses but SO far as is possible the
rigid rules and restrictions of the Commits
zion in the public interest have been en-
forced in late years.
Third-Is is absolutely necessary that
the Commission shall exercise the right to
fix rates for service and punish for their
violation, and that power cannot exist if
the privileges are thrown open to all, and
are without restriction as to number and
extent.
Fourth-The Board is constantly impor-
tuned for privileges by large numbers of
people whom they know perfectly well have
neither the intention nor the means to
carry on the business they ask to establish,
and whose sole aim is to force those willing
to conduct like business, and competent
to do so, to pay the new grantee hush.
or combination money.
In the light of these facts it is TO be
hoped that no attention or consent will be
given to any memorial for abolition of ex-
elusive privileges or extension of lease
terms.