New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-27
THE CARE OF YOSEMITE.
r1s REALITIES NOT MADE ACCESSIBLE TO
PEOPLE WITH SLENDER PURSE.
no PATHS-THE PICTURESQUE hO"'
DEEP IN DUsT-A LEGEND OF THE
CurtDpFN OF THE SUN.


ebod he Interested In the preservation OF their oeo"
uful valley which brings thousands OF people Ho"
abroad annually to their state to WONDER anu "u'I
i IN sneak too mildly. The reverence WITH ""i0',
Calfornians regard their great scenic tre ''Ic' anu
the desire which they have to see 1t nteihgehuy pre-
served for their children and the world, are al "aV
conId be desired II it shall be found necessary ~
MACE the valley SELF under the same care that no" 30
Interentlv preserves the game. the water sources anu
thc timber lands Of the National Park about H. IL 10 e
10 saw that nearly all enlightened CaliiornahS W'uiu
speed the change II is not the purpose OIL TINS ic'er -
nrovc that such u change Is unnecessary, nor YET 10
insist that for all future time the valley Is 10 DC
deprived of a more enlightened and progressive gov
erument but simply In presenting a few lacts auu
norsoral observations 10 enable the public more lu-
tcllIgenty to fudge the matter and to deciue u"
the Motley best suited to the welfare OF the valley
II had been my intention while camping on the
HIGH mountains 5000 feet above the sea, beyoHd
Yosemite to descend In time 10 Wanona ana 10 e','r
the valley bv stage In the regular tourist way, seeing
,he floor OF the valley and being myself Judge OF
the methods which govern the present owners OF
tie valley that is. the company Whlch co"''ois u'o
stage route and the hotels The fascination OF sleep
ing I'm the dry clear air In open camp iechne no cod
or inconvenience when below In the streets OF san
Francisco seal,kn sacqucs were desirable 10 thwart
tho August brcczcs the sight OF large game tle de-
ucous rides across the upland valleys. the wonderful
b.w trees, shribbcry and delicate flower Growths, the
great mountains rearing perpetual snow crowns sun
thousands Of feet above into the blue sky caused
nv willing feet 10 lingcr on the uplandS, ana my 'me
TO shorten perccptbly rs | entered thc Naiiey o"o
lovely afternoon on the regular stage By way OF III
spIratl)n Point where the first extended view OF the
valley Is gained It Is stock view, known to guide
hooks and worn tlroadbarc by description. but none
the less beautiful than when the eye o.
the first white spectator gazed down III
the pride Of discovery into the valley. Many
have before praised, and mono too highly inc me COM
dition OF tho horses and TIE excellent care tlat IS
taken OF them on this Yosemite stage road. nave
seen horses in the Yellowstone after hard days
,vol Turned ont IN the cold night air 10 encounter
heavy mountain shower lasting for hours. hn@
noticed their lean and distressngly worn appearance
hive driven behind exhausted livery horses in the
Catskils. and have walled mp the ot mountain ROAD
sooner than add tleir burdens. learning with as
ensf I'm each case that II the purpose to use up
the animals I'm n and buy In fresh stock.
More than all had wcpt tears nwardly over the
worn and miserable specimens Of the equine race
that drag the stages NJ the slopes OF fashionable
New Ork avenue. Never have seen horses 50
well kept 80 carefully managed. 50 intellgenty ur'
derstood private stables as are those on the
Yosemite stages The good condition OF these animals
goes far 70 reconcile travellers to the great expense
Of the trp into Yosemite. In proportion to the
time and distance the week In the Yosemite Is tha
most expensive that can be taken. II cannot pos
sbly be accomplished under 800. Fares In an1
out are $50 ~ this, Sl6 Is allowed for the rail
| road trip. Meals are 81 each Two nights must DO
spent AZ Wanona. and the fatigue Is so great thar
three night, are better Both the Wanona Hotel and
the two houses in the valley under the control %
the company do not say that the prices are ex7
ccs,vc considering the distances from which every
thing b" brought. but rs no cheaper houses are
allowed people OF moderate means arr practically
prohibited from entering the valley, except rs campers
with their own convenences
Tlsc great bar TO enjoyment when once IN the val
ley is the entire absence OF foOtpathS 10 points OF
interest The Commission + to blame for not devei-
opne the Of Its domain In this direction
The most nveterate English travellers can do moth
ing In tho Yosemite Even 10 the beautiful Mirror
Lake only a mile two from the hotel there Is no
footpati one must drive ththcr at an expense OF
n couple of dollars to the sunrise reflected In Its
famed surface when stroll hy the banks Of the river
md through the lonely woods would be enhancing
T. tie tourist. already Wearicd with TWO days
staging The reason why cannot use til
carriage roads for walking purposes Is that the long
rainlc.- season and constant travel render the roads
80 Irtolcraby deep I'm dust that pcde>tranlsm IS
practically impossible. The gentle sylvan beauties
Of the valley floor. contraSted they are with the
rugged grandeur above. the green meadows and
srrnhlcd trees would repay hours OF wandering In
pretty foopatls. The only OF getting To points
OF interest above the valley Is on mules and By trails
very well kept but nearly knee deep in dust and the
ground silt ~ the rocks The trails are wonderfully
carried mp the face Of precipccs In Hgzags fearful
10 contemplate Ladies' obliged 10 brave divided
skirts and IN ride fashion AT least down the trails
The descent f. trying 60 the strongest nerves and re
dures the nrmest head. To the strain of round
ing the sharp curves whore one IS balanced over
nrccipcr with 5000 feet OF sheer descent beneath Is
Impossblc OF course the entire livery arrangements
OF the valley IN one hand. and II would not serve
its purpose 10 have fooipnths. There IL one excep
ton TIP the glen of BunHl Fall rms footpaih by
the side OF the stream. Occasional glimpses IT the
great waterfall 400 feet above entce the wanderer
on The trip TO the foot of the fall. about mile. Is
one succession Of delight From the base OF the fall
one looks through n snowy. tumbling mass OF water
$50 feet in height TO the clear slide whore the
force Cf the carries the water clear OF the rock
some fifty feet before 1t breaks into the wonderful
shower Of sparkling crystals now called the Bnnal Fall
Ascending. ono comes through delightful spray to
the base Of a sugar pine rising 800 feet against the
white cataract asccndcd the ladder, placed up the
face Of the cn and while there realized as never be-
fore the grandeur Of nature and the smallneSs o man.
This + the oly excursion ali about the Yosemite
where one can be- alone In the presence OF nature
Even this Is prohibited. the ladders are marked
as unsafe and people are forbidden TO pass
over them pending the construction 10y the
state Of an iron ladder. which has not
been erected and probably will not be while It is 10
interest Of the monopoly 10 leave things as they are
Two miles II the travel TO Nevada Fall, which lice
above the little valley. cut of by this footpath.
II was the privilege Of the writer TO spend night ut
the little hotel at the foot OF the Nevada FALL and to
see the revelation that this water makes Of its beauty
10 the moonlight | had been beated on "Clonds
Rest some seven miles above the falls, 10000 feet
ahove the sea lingering watching the SHOWS turn 10
pink IN the sunset across the upper valley. Pan'ng
ut point where the whole food of gold and crimson
sunset seemed 20 gather. thence TO sprcnd a Naming
stream below me- bounded By the Liberty Cap and the
Half Dome through n gap In the rock between Half
Dome and south Dome, could see far below the
submits Of the mountains about the Yosemite, but not
into the valley already shroudcd In darkness. Here
listened TO legend told BY old Indian TO one Of the
early white visitors the old tale OF tn och-ahnuah
and Tssa-ack: