The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1891-02-12
A NEW NATIONAL PARK.
The Grandest Pleasure Grounds
In America.
Yosemite valley in California the Heart
of the Spacious Preserve
Devoted to the
Peonie,

mountains are aware that during last
autumna new National pleasure ground
larger than the State of Rhode Island,
has been established in this country
This spacious park is in California, com
pletely surrounding the Yosemite val
lev grant of 1864 and about thirty times
as large as that grant. 1t takes IN not
only the entire watershed OF the MERGED
river region, as defined by theenclrcling
mountain range which includes Tuo-
mmne Peak and Cathedral Peak on the
north and northeast, Mount Lyell WIN
it's superb glaciers on the east and Buena
Vista Peak on the south; but 1t embraces
also the noble IIctch IIetchy yalleyitself
a second Yosemite, and the magnificent
Grand canon of the Tuolumne, with lts
massive walls and domcs, and us cas-
cades uncquallcd in volnm" OF water ny
those of any other canon in the sierra.
1t crosses the Tuolumnc meadows ana
annexes the splendid range that con-
tains Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs anu
the Mono pass. 1t has saved from the
lumberman and the saw-mill the mono
mass, the MERGED and Tuolumne groves
of big trees. and has secured Lake
Eleanor In short. it has brought with
in its protecting area all that needs 10
be reserved in that region OF nature
marvels.
The history of this achievement, says
the New York sun is interesting me
grant of Yosemite valley to California
quarter of century ago ITO he held Tor
public use, resort and recreation. was a
mistake. The valley should have been
retained under the charge of the In
terror Department for the same pur-
poses, like the Yellowstone Park since
1t was intended for the whole country.
Such disposition OF it would have made
its custodians directly responsible to the
general Government and would have
secured the aid OF Congress for its care
and improvement.
After time another mistake in the
Yosemite grant became apparent The
area conveyed had not been large
enough, and the valley was menaced by
the industries gradually approaching it,
Tho surrounding forests wore falling
under the axe, saw-mills were busy
among the great trees. enormous herds
of sheen were pastured on the mount
aims and trampled and stripped the
heritage and shrubs, while the woods,
when cleared OF their more valuable
timber, were sometimes burned 50 as
to destroy the underbrush and improve
the pasturage Even where the fires
were not Intentional the presence OF
tue INDUSTRIES led to enormous destruc-
ton from this source through careless
ness and accident. All this meant not
only ravages in a region only less ma
;;cs..s and exquisite than the Yosemite
valley, but the diminution of the won
derful falls in this valley during the
season when they are most visited, since
the cutting of these forests was sure t.
lead to an earlier melting of the SHOWS
1t was plain, also, that these surround
ings for many miles ought to be joinec
to the Yosemite tract as portions of
uniform system, the magnificent setting
of a central gem.
While this project was under discus
sion some outcry was raised in Cali
fornia against the present management
Of the Yosemite valley itself, heated
controversy arose, but it at least became
clear that should the proposed enlarge
ment OF the park be made it must no
be done with continuation of the erro
of 1864, but new National park mus
be founded. A bill for this enlarge
ment had been drawn by Mr. c. I
Poston, ex.delegate from Arizona, bu
it did not include even the whole of tn
watershed of the Yosemite. Genera
Vandever's BILL introduced last March
made up some lacks, yet was itself to
limited in scope, 1t happened that MI
John Muir, the California naturalist
and Mr. r. L. johnson, of the Centur
Magazine, had camped together in tina
region, and at the request of the latte
Mr.. Muir had sketched out the bount
aries OF National Yosemite park as
ought to be. These greatly extende
boundaries were advocated by Mr.. Johi
son before the committee of Congress
and were approved as amendments
the Vandever bill. and the measure
thus revised was passed by the Hous
Under the urgent personal work of i
supporters it was concurred in 10y ii
Senate at the very end of the sessio
In this way the present magniice
area, measuring from forty to forty-fi
miles east and west. its eastern outli
being irregular, and about thirty-sev,
north and south, was secured to t
country as public pleasure ground.
While the original grant Of the
semitic valley and the Mariposa
Tree Grove to California in 1864 RENAL
undisturbed it is not unlikely to
placed eventually under the Nation
management of the far greater pi
which surrounds it. Tho second s
ton Of the act brings the new p
under the exclusive control Of the )
rotary of the Interior: and the pro
ions of this control arc simi Ut 10 tn
of the Yellowstone Park 1t isproba'
therefore, that like the lattice ii will
nut in the custody of \ troop OF reg,
cavalry.
There was second act passed AT
same session, and approved on the
of September. creating another par
California. 1t scts apart for Natl
uses the tract containing the Tn
County big trees, and this also is n
the control of the Interior Departm
Accordingly the wonderful seq
groves of the Sierras both in Mari
and Tulare counties. within and wit
the new National Park, are now
auately secured. But mention is
merited OF the philosophical gift
made by Mr.. Armstrong Of six hun
acres of redwood land on the mort
a L..