The record-union., 1892-01-11
A SCHEME TO UNLOAD UPON THE
GOVERNMENT.

On several occasions the RECORD
UNION has, in the discharge of its duties
to public interests. pointed out the need
for watchfulness being maintained upon
the several corporations operating wagon
roads into the Yosemite Valley, because
of the claims that in their names have
been pressed against the State, and the
source they appear to be of frequent as
saults upon public funds. If it shall be-
come necessary we will again recite their
histories, in order to quicken public con-
Germ.
The present purpose is to point out a
new and the latest scheme to bleed the
Government in behalf of some Of these
roads, and to call the attention Of whom
soever it may concern to a bill now pend
ing in Congress, and which we are of the
opinion should receive the support Of the
people, and be urged to passage, the effect
of which viii be to undo some wrong
legislation and to check the rapacity of
the Yosemite wagon and stage road COM
panies.
The Federal Government has reserved
10000 acres lying around the Yosemite
Valley, in addition to the $4,000 acres
granted to the State, in trust for the pres
ervation of the valley itself This re-
serving act was step in the direction of
making restitution of the valley to the
United States Government For fully
fifteen years the Commissioners admins
tering the affairs of the valley have
labored with Congress to secure a grant
additional to the original cession, to in
clude the catchment area of the waters
feeding the falls in the valley.
1t was found that the upper courses of
streams feeding the falls, the Yosemite,
Bridal Veil Falls Creek and the MERGED
were being pastured with sheep and being
burned over every fall in order to in
crease the area of the ranges. Of course
such denudation of upper slopes has a
well-known and inevitable efect-the
SHOWS, exposed to the early spring and
summer sun, melt rapidly and convert
the streams into the character of tor
rental rivers. The soil, being unpro-
tected, cannot retain moisture and feed it
gradually to the brooks, the heritage viii
not make deep roofing, the earth be-
comes packed and the waters go speedily
over it down the slopes. Hence freshets
in the spring and dry beds of streams in
the summer and autumn.
But under the pretense of granting the
lands upon the upper courses of the
streams, which in the valley form their
confluence with the MERGED River, there
was granted a region equalto OO,O00 acres
of land lying west of the valley, though,
as a matter of fact, the catchment area of
the upper courses of the streams lies on
the east. There was, therefore, no good
cause for the grant as made, and no tena-
BILE apology of any kind could be made
1t was at the time. and has been to this
date, matter of wonder to most people
as to what intent Congress entertained in
making the grant in this direction. But
surprise ceases when it is pointed out that
three stage roads enter the Yosemite
Valley, all from the west-the Coulter
vile. the Big Oak Flat. and that of the
Yosemite Stage and Turnpike Company.
The last-named road has about twenty
five miles of its line within the limits of
the new grant. Now will appear the in
huence that was behind the grant-the
come to the front as claimant against
the Federal Government for payment for
road built oUer Government property.
And this, Notwithstanding the fact that it
has always been constructed over Gov
eminent property, and that it was built
with perfect and full knowledge that it
trsversed Government soil, and was La
bic at any time to any of the exigencies
that might move the Government to
take the land into close keeping. The
Coulterville road is already making
damages against the United States, and
the Big Oak Flat Road Company can be
depended upon to follow the example of
the others.
But these will not be the only claims to
sssail the treasury. Property
who hold private claims. timber claims,
lands patented to them by the Govern
ment, mining rights within the limits of
the reservation, have for a considerable
time been engaged in the initial steps of
forming a syndicate to present to Con-
gress their private claims, but upon just
what basis it is difficult to perceive. Now
all that Congress has done to set in mo-
ton these schemes to realize at the ex-
psnss Of the Government is to reserve