Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-02-05

nissioners had intenCeS TO manage the vale,
70 the best interests of the people, but he be
lieyed they were human, aud had made mis-
lakes. His idea was that the people of fht
void should have the right to roam at large
over the valley. and he thought the Commis
sloners had ciIcumseribed the rights OF the peo
pie in that respect
George Barnes was examined by My. White
aad testified that he lived in Yosemite every
year for the past eight years. and had worked
lot Nh. Dennison, the Guardian year ago last
summer. lie had 10 wait three months Tor his
pay; That was little over the lime Goncher
sales they would pay it. LIE got SIS &
month, working on the roads, from April 10
November. he complained ABOUT not getIing
Els money sooner. as he owed for his board and
wanted to pay for it. He commenced work on
the y,h OF April and did not get any money nm
I'll June, when he got S75. He claimed there
was now due him ssh for work in 1857
Nr. White had q great deal of oifaculty in
getting an answer 10 the question, Have you
any complaint 70 make about anything that ee-
CURED before 1877" The witness could not
comprehend the question until the Senstor put
II III this form. Have you anything to kick
about before 1857 ~ when he promptly answered
mo-
Answering Mr.. Goucher he admitted that the
sS4 was Tor an extra two hours per day allowed
by the Commissioners because the men had
been worked ten hours per day instead of eight.
AT the suggestion of Commissioner Go;.eher
each man that had worked ten hours day was
allowed pay for two hours per day extra
z. ID Robinson took hand aud asked the
NltlSSS et2i2c tlQecllODS Wnlc0 QeEelOneO that
he had sold a claim of Sl55 fer $50
Charles b. Atkinson was the next wituess
called. He said he had worked in the valley
for the Commissioners. He was Foreman under
Guardian NcCord. His criticism was that the
management of the valley was not half strict
enough. He thought the valley should be gov
erned byironciad rules. The Guardian was not
vested with sufficient power EVERYTHING had IN
be referred to The Beard He said he did ret
know5what he was called for, and did not know
what he was expected to testify 10. There were
ninety.e ght acres seeded. The principal part
or the valley was nelosed, and that was the
best part OF the valley, simply because il was in
closed and cultivated. The timber that had
psen cut was for necessary purposes, cut in cut
otthe-way places, among rocks and where they
obstructed views If the fences were taken
away there would be no pasture for the public,
because 1t would sll grow up in perfect
thicket OF young pine aud brush. There were ct
least 2,o0 acres of good land in tie valley
Probably $50 acres were fenced He knew
everybody in the valley, and never knew any
thing 10 go on there that was not all straight
The management was as good a. could be ex-
cept that he thought the Guardian ought 10
have more discretionary power He never
heard tourists complain of any extortion from
any source, He had been there for ten years.
Great care had been exercised by the Commits
sioners in specifying which trees should be cut
More trees were cut in one place under the di-
rectlon OF NJ. Hutchings than under any other
administration. The timber for the hotel was
not cut on the grant, but on Government land
and sawed at q mill which was not on the graft
Without the system of exclusive privileges
there could be no saddle trains maintained
bis Judgment was that the service in the valley
could not be properly maintained without such
privileges Hay was delivered in the valley at
from $40 to eco per ton. The season commences
about the lst OF Kay and ends in July, and had
10 be Kept the whole year for this service
Answering questions by c. D. Robinson, he
said men were compelled to work ten hours a
day, but they We're paid by the hour. He had re-
resigned because Mr.. McCord wanted him to
drive the men, and he would not do it. He OBJ
Jected that aliens were given employment. The
commissioners never hired any Cinnamon
The committee then adjourned to meet on the
night of the l1th instant
All of the witnesses called were those whose.
names had been given to the committee by the
Examiner. They were called by the committee
the Examiners witnesses, until Allen Kelly
stated that they were not Examiner Witnesses
but witnesses whose names had been furnished
al the request OF the committee. A perIsal of
the testimony will show that none of the evil
oence even tends to show mismanagement on
the part OF the Commissioners
The Assembly Committee on Yosemite Valley
ana Mariposa Grove OF Big Trees held their first
meeting last evening, in room II, to begin the
investigation of recent charges in public print
against the management OF Yosemite valley.
The committee consists of Messrs. William NJ
Runcell, Chairman, OF Mariposa county: L. A.
rpllock, of Tuolumne county; c. NJ. Crawford
OF Lake county, John Gardner, of Calayeras
county and Henry Hook, of Contra Costa county,
Ihe witnesses so far subpenaed are George L
Sprague, of Groveland; n. s. stockton, of Mari
posa; j. n. Cathey, J. \ HennesSey, James
Grant and Miner Hillin, of Mariposa, and Wm.
II: Mills, of San Francisco. Judge Henry C.
Dibble and Hon. Z. G. Tully are the consulting
attorneys OF the committee, and Mrs. Z. G..
GOOD, clerk. There being no quorum present
and few OF the witnesses appearing at the meet.
ing last night, the committee adjourned until
TINS evening at $50, at the same place.