The morning call., 1893-01-07
YOSEMITE VALLEY.

1t is clear that the Yosemite Valley has
suffered grievous deterioration of its charms
of scenery since it came into the hands Of
the State of California in 1864. The valley
was presented to the State by Congress as a
thing OF beauty, to be preserved through all
time for the lovers of nature. Instead of
being preserved ii has been deSecrated
The Commissioners have not done their
duty in restraining the depredatons and
disfgurements of the yandalS aud the eXtoT-
tons of the commercial horde who have
converted the valley into a preserve for
their own profit. A visitor to the valley,
instead Of enjoying n peaceful fortnight Of
rest is harassed by daily irritations, because
the hotels, the touts. the stable people, who
toll for coin, will not leave him alone. lie
leaves Yosemite wondering why it is oh
ligatory so much yulgarity and commercial
depraYity ard worldlness should be asso-
ciated with a mountain solitude which,
as far as man can divine. was intended by
nature for an earthly paradise There is
law enough on the statute books TO keep
the valley paradise. The laws are monu-
mental. in fact, In their purity of purpose
and wisdom of foresight. But if they
are not administered they might as
ors, hote-keepers, stablemen, ranchers.
cow-keepers and cam; ers are allowed TO do
as they please, what is the use of the State
going through the farce of policing the val
ley? The timber has been hacked and
hewed in disgusting way to give hotel
views; the underbrush has been burned and
scared; the roads ale infested with troops
of cattle and horses kept ter the profit Of
their owners; the wild flowers are eaten
down as so much heritage or plucked as
specimens Nature has been defiled under
present management. and there should be
an end of it. If this is allowed to go on the
valley will By and by be converted into O
polluted wreck of nature.
The recommendation that the valley should
be turned over to the Federal Government
is eminently wise. Already the Government
has control over the outer margin of the
park which surrounds the valley. and the
duties of administration are In the han DIS Of
an officer Of the army ana a troop of cav
airy. i faith in the integrity of any one
to whom duties are intIusted can be reposed
anywhere it surely can be reposed in the
officers OF both our army and navy. They
at least, from the permanency Of their pro-
fessiOnal career, are above the temptations
which beSet politicians liable to come and
go. and lacking in knowledge and back
bone. An army or naval officer viii
not sully his honor by trucking, and when
be gives an order he sees that it is carried
out Il is in this way that the levee and
breakwater or dam construction work in
trusted to the United States engineers has,
in general. been we'll and honestly exc
cuted. As Falstaff puts it, Honor pricks
them on" and the politicians have slender
opportunity to prick them off," Were the
Yosemite Park in the charge of the Federal
Government there is good reason to believe
that the vandalism which has been proceed
ing apace would cease. The State of Cali
fornia would be relieved of a costly care
which it appears to be incompetent to under
take, and the lovers Of nature might soon
find Yosemite regaining its charms.
We have some positive knowledge of the
good administration obtanable by intrust-
ing national parks to the care of United
States officers. The Yellowstone Park and
the Arkansas Hot Springs are examples.
ana it can hardly be doubted that the man
agemeut of affairs in the Yosemite Valley
would be equally satisfactory.