The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-08-09
THE YOSEMITE PARK.

A bill is pending in Congress to transfer
the control of the Yosemite Park from the
State Government of California to the Sec
rotary of the Interior He is directed to
draw and publish regulations to preserve
from injury or spoliation the timber, MIN
eral deposits, natural euriosities and won
ders within the park TO protect the forests
and their denizens from destruction, to re-
move trespassers and to maintain order.
The bill is framed upon the lines oil the ACT
regulating the Yellowstone Park.
1t is not now necessary, i'll reviewing TINS
measure, TO take part in the pending con-
troyersv between the Governor OF this
State and the Park Commissioners on the
one hand and certain Eastern critics on the
other Governor Waterman and Mr.. Hecht
are of opinion that the park is as well man
aged as it could be. Mr.. johnson oil the
Century MdgdziRe-the last number Of
which contains an exhaustive article on the
subjeet-declares that it is disgrace to the
country and the State, aud that few years
more of the present management VIII de-
stroy the beauty and charm of one OF the
most interesting show-places of California.
Governor Waterman has attempted to break
the force of Mr.. Johnson's argument by
calling him names, but the public of this
slope do not seem to think that this style OF
rejoinder is conclusive. There are good
many persons besides Mr.. johnson who
agree with him in denouneing the manage
ment of the park. They were heard from
at the last session of the Legislature.
The bill now before Congress is, OF
course, slap in the face of this State. But
if the slap were deserved it would be child
ish to allow resentment TO stand in the way
of necessary reform. We ought in this
State TO be able to manage a national park
so as TO afford critics no ground for Gen.
sure; but if we do not it is surely the best
plan to cure the evil rather than waste oul
efforts in striking back at the critics. II
there is any chance at all that the Yosemite
is going to be bereft of its beauty by the
neglect or incompetency of its managers, il
is best that it should be placed in hands
which are sure to care for it wisely.
1t must never be forgotten that the office
of Yosemite Commissioner is unsalaried,
and that the Commissioners are performing
labor of love. 1t is doubtful if they can
be expected, merely for glory and sense OF
unselfsh duty, to devote as much time to
the park as its proper supervision requires.
The III anagement of so vast a tract Of land,
with Its varied attractions and its peculiar
scenery. is too important a job to be left to
volunteers. 1t requires taste, knowledge,
judgment, skill and frmness; and these are
qualities which command market value
everywhere. 1t is not fair, probably, to
expect that gentlemen will neglect their
business to travel to the Yosemite four or
five times year to discharge public func-
ton of SO grave a nature, without being
compensated for their time. And if it were
proposed at Sacramento to attach salary
to the office of Commissioner, everybody
would discover job in the scheme and the
bill would be killed.
When the general Government made over
the park to California in trust, thrty-siX
years ago, ''lo be held for public use, resort
and recreation" it conveyed the property
on the condition that the trust would be
faithfully carried out. If it has not been.
the trust could probably be revoked. If the
Legislature should be satisfied that it had
been abused, it would assent to an act oil
Congress to place the park under the con-
troll of the Interior Department If. on q
full review of the facts, the Legislature
should coincide with those high authorities
who declare that the park is being ruined
as it is, and might be saved if it were placed
in the hands eff well-paid Federal officials,
the required assent should not be withheld.