The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1883-01-17
TIE Park.
What Uncle Rufus Hatch Has to say Abou
It's Lease.

The matter of the propriety OF leasing
the National park is under discussion IN
congress, and is q subject of such inter-
est in this section that we republish the
following extract from a letter by Rufus
Hatch to the New York Sun.
There have been extraordinary mis-
understandings and misrepresentation
concerning the scope and purpose OF
these leases, II the objects of these
leases. Northumberland Sheridan,
who made a journey through the park
III September, accompanied by General
Sackett, Mccullough the tragedian, and
cavalrymen, has made a report of his
journey to the wal department. In it
he says he regrets to learn that the gov
eminent has leased the park to private
parties, and expresses the somewhat sin
gu]ar belief that it has o been placed
in the hands of private parties for money
making purposes, from which claims
and conditions will arise that may be
hard for the government and courts to
shake OFF, 1t is evident that he has
never seen the contract or the proposed
leases or he never could have harbored
such q dread, if indeed he could imagine
any form Of mortgage, lien or other OBJ
legation being acquired by us against.
lands which the government holds by
right Of eminent domain and has dedi-
Gated to the public use. He says he
would like to see the park controlled by
government officers. 1t is now controlled
by a government officer, the park super
lntendent, appointed by the secretary of
the interior. Does General Sheridan
mean military officers? IF SO, how
would it look to have a colonel as the
hotel manager, a couple of elegant lieu
tenants as clerks, a sergeant or two in
charge Of the dining room, and a COM
pany of private soldiers acting as hall
bops or dining room walters, all in full
uniform with waist belts and swords or
sword %hayonets? The real trouble with
the National park is that the policy of
the government toward it, hitherto, has
been %niggardly and mean. In the mat
ter Of the preservation Of game the
course Of the government has been
equally at fault. There is but n game
keeper in the park, Mr.. Yount. He has
asked yearly that some assistance be
given him, to enable him to control the
tourists as well as the skin hunters, who
have recklessly killed game, either for
pelts or for pastime. But year after year
he has had to contend single handed
against these nimrods of both the old
and new worlds. The lessees do not ask
merely that the government shall give
them leases for money making purpos-
es,' but they also ask the government to
clothe them with some sort of authority
or responsibility by which they and
their employees may aid the government
officers in the preservation Of the park
and its denizens from s%poliation.. We
propose, it congress does not now embar-
rass our operations, to have one or two
handsome hotels openin Junenext, with
an equipment Of stages, mountain Wag-
ons, saddle horses, camping outfits, and
guides for the use and service Of tourists.
Under the terms of the lsases and con-
tract these hotels and all the service
rendered will be under the practical SUI
pervision. of the secretary Of the interi-
or, and all that is done by US must be
first subject to his approval, from the
architural designs of our hotels to the
fixing Of the schedule Of rates to be
charged for every item of service. We
propose, if not impeded in our work, to
give the American people accommoda-
tons such as have been never known in
the wilderness Of any other land, and
well worthysof Americas great national
park, the grandest pleasure resort on
earth.O
Mr.. Conkling, as the constitutional
adviser of the National Park Improve
ment company, is perfccting a plan in
his mind to have the park organized into
a sort Of government within itself, by
the appointment of three commission
ers, one of whom shall be vested with
Judicial powers. It is a fact that the
park is taken from the territories Of
Montana and Wyoming, and it would
be difficult to determine to what terrific
rial court a criminal could be held to
answer. BY the practical operation Of
Nj. Conkling's plan, a crime committed
within the limits Of the park would be
amenable to the law as administered on
the reservation, as in the case at the Hot
Springs.