The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-10-20
THE YOSEMITE.
Something In Regard to tho Yosemite Ma

something In Regard to tho Yosemite IVA
tional Park Bill.
EDITOR OF THE CALL-Dear Sir:a In the
Alta OF october 3d. in a short article on the Yo-
semitic watershed referring 10 the Yosemite Ma
tional Park Bill, occurs this sentence:
The BILL before il was reported by Mr.. HoF
ma OF The Land Committee, was amended go as
to except all private holdings. This was done
for the obvious reason that 10 extineuish The pr
vate titles which the Government has conveyed
would have cost several millions OF dollars"
am in position 10 say with authority that
while the Alta is correct as to the reason for the
omission OF private holdings from The operations
of tue bill, there Is no basis for the statement
that The bill was amended" in this regard. The
fact is That Tie exception was In The first draft OF
the bill, in support OF which had the honor 10
appear before the Public Lands Committee oil
the HoGse. There were other amendments TO
tie bill during its passage, but they related 10
the periphery OF the park. At one time II was
tacity agreed in the committee that the park
should be extended TO the Nevada line. but The
committee were convinced that such an extension
would make an lncongI uous territory on TWO
slopes of the Sierra, and dOubly difficult TO pa
troll. and that IL would involve the risk OF com.
plicatiOn between The Government and owners OF
mining rights. for which risk there would be no
adequate compensation OF additional natural
scenery adapted to park purposes. The present
limits aie substantially those OF Mr.. Muir as pro
posed in The Century for August and September,
the divergence being due TO the necessity OF fo.
California. ] hese limits were very carefully ana
laboriously worked out 10y the aid OF the Lana
Office map, and even The field notes OF The Gov
eminent surveyors.
Tie above statement Is due 10 those friends OF
Yosemite reform WHO have worked assdu0uSly
FOR the passage OF this bill, aud whUneg at any
time, have had an intention OF precipltatlng
conflict between Government patentees and Inc
park, as a reader OF the Alta article would inter-
VIII you permit me 10 add That lie passage OF
Mr.. Plumb's resolution for the Investigation OF
The Yosemite Valley by the Secretary OF the In
terror, gives an opportunity TO lie true friends OF
the Yosemite In California 10 make thorough
oyefhauing OF affairs III the valley. Ii some pub
lc-spliIted citizen OF California should teel
enough interest in the preservation OF the valley
which can only be effected By the aid OF the pest
expert advice and direction, he would be able TO
accomplish The object by furnishing The means
for The employment OF some such man as MI
Frederick Law Olmsted or Mr.. Sargent OF The
HaIvaid Botanical Garden, either OF whom
would be able TO recommend plan for the iu-
tufe conduct OF the landscape operations III the
valley. which would set standard below which
the Commissioners would not dare TO 20.
The resolution OF inyeStieaiion gives Califor-
mans an opportunity TO say whether they ihlnk
lie Yosemite Valley great enough to be treated
on the highest principles OF forestry, or whether
they are content TO have 1t treated on the I'M
scientific and amateur principles which have
already seriously injured II and which now die
tate further policy OF slaughter, which the first
expert IN the country has declared Will. IL car
ried OUT, result in "a calamity TO The CIVILIZED
world" Nobody blames any member OF the
commission for lacking expert knowledge Of
forestry. What Is blamable is that they should
undertake difficult Landscape operations without
the advice of those who have that knowledge.
The opponents of reform have command OF
financial resources, While the friends OF reform
are comparatively POOR. Who Will helD the
OF movement for obtaining better state OF
affairs through The next Legislature? Very re-
spectfully yours,
ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON.
u. frff Tg1D