The morning call., 1891-01-30
THE YOSEMITE PARK.

The Legislature at Sacramento is invited
to pass an act reconveying to the General
Government the Yosemite Park, which was
transferred to California a quarter of
century ago to be held for public use, resort
and recreation. The reasons for which the
reconveyance is sought are not generally
known, and it may be well TO explain that
complaints having reached Washington of
the spnliation of the park by shepherds and
hunters, and of its miSmanagement by the
Commissioners in charge, an act was passed
during the first session of the existing Con-
gress increasing the size of the park so as TO
embrace all its approaches, and provid-
ing that it be maintained ID all its native
beauty
The area included in the park, as estab-
iished by the act of 1890, embraces about
million acres of land. 1t takes in the whole
Yosemite watershed, the valleys of the
MERGED and Tuolumne, the Hetcll- Httchy
Canyon, the Mount Lycll Glaciers, the
Cathedral, Mount Gibbs, Mount Ord, the
principal groves Of seduoias, and several
lovely valleys 10 the base of the mountains.
No more beautiful or extensive pleasure
ground exists in the world IL is far more
magnificent than the park which was estao-
lished in 1864, and grander in every way
than the Yellowstone Park. Ii, however.
it is to preserve its attractions and escape
the vandalism which has nearly ruined the
present park it must be placed under
single authority and control. At present
the park Of 1864 is controlled by this State;
the new territory which has been added to
it is under the exclusive management of the
United States. 1t is intimated at Washing
ton that il California will return to tbs
General Government all the right and title
which it acquired under the act of 1854
Congress will appro pirate a sufficient sum
to rut the new park in shape, and troop Of
cavalry will be stationed in it permanently
10 prevent the destruction of the big trees
and the mutilauon OF the natural charms of
the spot.
This does not appear to be case for
State jealousy. 1t is the interest of Cali
fornia that the beauties of the park
should be preserved, to the end that we
shall have a show place unsurpassed
anywhere. The old park has been in
State hands for quarter of cen
fury, and it is agreed that it has been
badly handled. Numbers of trees have been
destroyed or mutila.ed; shepherds and
hunters have been allowed to build fires,
which have diminished the forest growth,
anu III consequence, lliC NabCA oOuaNCo
which supply the mountain streams, and
waterfails-spots which should be maryels
of loveliness-have been converted into IN
slightly wastes. Visitors to the park have
been repealed by insufficient accommoda-
lions ana eXorDitant charges Some of the
most beautiful resorts Look like picnic
grounds, whose most conspicuous features
are empty oyster-eanS and broken bottles.
That this has been the fruit of a quarter of
a century of State management will not be
denied by any one who has visited the park.
The question now is, whether it is not
time to put an end to this disagreaable bust
DeSs and to restore the park TO control
which has been tried in the Yellowstone
Park and found to answer. Uuder the man
agement Of the Interior Department and
with the aid of such skilled landScape-gar-
deaers as it would employ, the natural
beauties of the park would be saved from
the hand OF the vandal, and art would be
summoned to complete the WORK of nature
4 tr.op Of cavalry would protect the trees
from injury, and would bar the approach of
the sublime scenery to the marauder. No
more fires would be built 10 destroy forests,
and the present system, by which visitors
are robbed to put money in somebody's
pocket, would come to an end. Is it not
Caiilornia's interest to hasten such a
change?