West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1891-03-26
A NEW NATIONAL PARK.
Tho Grandsst Pleasure Grounds
In America.
Yosemite valley In California the Hoay.
OF tho Spacious Preserve
Devoted 60 the
People.

Devoted 60 the
Peopis.
Probably few people east OF the Rocky
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
pletoiy surrounding the Yosemite VAL
ley grant OF 1864 and about thirty times
- large as that grant. 1t takes In no.
only tho entire watershed OF the MERGED
river region. rs defined by the encirciing
mountain range which includes Tuo-
luinne Peak and Cathedral Peak on the
north and northeast, Mount Lyell with
It's superb glaciers on tho east and Bucna
vista Peak on the south; but IL en- braces
also the noble Ietch IIotchy valloy, itself
second Yosemite, and the magnificent
Grand canon OF the Tuolumne, with fits
massive walls and domes. and it's oas-
cadcs uncqualled In volume OF wator by
those OF any othor canon In tho Sierra
IL crosses the Tuoiumne meadows and
annexcs tho splendid range that con-
tains Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs and
The Mono pass. 1t has saved from tho
lumborman and the saw-mili the Mono
groves
OF big trees, and has secured Lake
Eleanor. In short, II has brought with
In Its protecting area all that needs 20
be reserved in that region OF natures
marvols.
Tho history OF this achievements says
the Now York Sun, is interesting. Tho
grant Of Yosemite valley TO California n
quarter OF century ago, ito be held for
Mi In
mistake. Tho valley should have been
retained under the charge OF the In
torior Department for tho same pur-
poses, like the Yellowstone Park, since
1t was Intended for tho whole country.
Such disposition OF It would b ave nado
Its custodians directly responsible to the
general Government, and would have
secured the aid of Congress for its caro-
and improvement.
Aftor timo another mistake In the
Yosemite grant became apparent. The
area conveyed had not boon largo
enough. and the valley was menaccd by
the industries gradually approaching &c.
Tho surrounding forests were falling
under the axe, saw-mills were busy
among tho great trees, enormous herds
OF sheep were pastured on tho mount
herbago and shrubs, while the woods,
when cleared OF their more valuable
timber, wero sometimes burned so a.
70 destroy the underbrush and improve
the pasturage. Even where tho fres
were not intentional, the presence of
the industries led to enormous destruc.
ton from this source through Careless
ness and accident All this meant not
nlxrr L..
jestic and exquisite than tho Yosemite
valley, but the diminution of tho won
dcrful falls In this valley during the
season whom they are most visited. since
the cutting Of these forests was sure 10
lead to an earlier melting of tho SHOWS
1t was plain, also, that these surround
ings for many miles ought to be joined
to the Yosemite tract rs portions OF a
uniform system, tho magnificent setting
of 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. A heated
controversy arose, but IL at least became
clear that should the proposed enlarge
ment OF tho park DO made It must not
be done with continuation OF the orror
OF 1864, but new National park must
be founded. bill for this eularge-
ment had been drawn by Mr.. c. D.
Poston, cx-dologate from Arizona. but
It did not include even tho whole OF the
watershed OF tho Yosemite. GoEoral
Vandover's bill, introduced last March,
made up somo lacks. yct was issclf too
limited in scope 1t happened that Mr..
John Muir, the California naturalist,
and Mr.. X. U. Johnson, of tho Century
Magazine, had camped together In that
region, and at the request OF the latter
Dir. Muir had sketchcd out tho bound
aries OF National Yosemite park as IL
ought to BIO. These greatly extended
boundaries were advocated by Mr.. John.
son before the committee OF Congress.
and wore approved as amendments 70
the Vandeyer bill, and the measure as
thus revised was passed by the House.
Under the urgent personal work Of it's
supporters II was CONQUERED In by tho
Senate at the very end OF tho session.
In this way the present magnificent
area, measuring from forty TO forty.avo
miles east and west, it's eastern outline
being irregular. and about thirty-sevon
north and south, was secured 70 tho
country as public pleasure ground.
While the original grant of the Yo-
somite valley and the Mariposa Big
Tree Grove 20 California In 1864 remains
undistuFbcd IL Is not unlikely 20 be
placed eventually under the National
management OF the far greater park
which surrounds It, Tho second SEQ
ton Of tho act brings tho new park
under the exclusive control Of tho Sec.
rotary Of the Interior; and the provis-
ions Of this control are similar TO those
OF tho Yellowstone Park. II is probable,
therefore, that like tho latter it will DO
put iD the custody Of troop OF regular
cavalry.
There was second act passed at the
same session, and approved on tho 10th
Of September, creating another park in
California. 10 sets apart for National
uses tho tract containing tho Tuiaro
County big troes, and this also IS under
tho control Of the Interior Department.
Accordingly tho wOndorfu1 soquoia
groves Of Tho Sicras, both IN Mariposa
and Tularo counties. within and without
the new National Park. arc now ado.
quatoly secured. But mention Is also
faH fF b.