The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-05-07

..,css and the slope OF the mountains
~ "a have left but little room for paths LOT
nedestrians up this valley; that great
many rare plants which were new 10 po-
tsny have been destroyed, IL not eA'u'
minated by ploughing and pasturihs ,ns
valley: that the management mas
info the hands OF monopoly, anu no
counetitIon seems TO be permitted "
hotel accommodations, transpol.as.sJer
facilities. nor in furnishing Plos' oa5
for the animals Of tourists the ,iai' 49,,
up the middle Of the vaiiey nc, ortion
closed and that the Jnenclosed poluos
=, r. valley Is pastured by the stu"
~ the stable and transportation in.n
oIrrost 10 the exclusion OF the d"i
OF the tourists or ,isltors- H., ,ord In
Meier y y Weigel a special iaho ~,
snector reported last october, as .sH 49,
~ his tour OF investigation .na.
t,,dea nv the utterances OF indl'iuua'5,
here az we'll as In Merced, Mariposa anu
Fresno counties. large maJorl.y VI ~
neople would be In favor or ietune -. ~.
Government of Yosemite Naliey $3.50
- tho national Government" lie louiIu
,Sat ~ was not intended to till any mort
erof,nd for meadows or planting put tna.
4, some clearings already made, WIN
,da,v 10 lessening the danger OF hres,
there had been "a mutilauon Oh na,ui az
beauty" Efforts at railroad monopoly Oh
travel and exorbitant prices were aiso
spoken Of. t,,,, ,oortbs
A later report, made only few months
ago by Captain John ). Stidger' a spe-
cial Land Office agent, presents 'heSe
facts:
"Speculation. traffic and gain are the
dominating features of the management.
The floor of the valley presents the ap-
pearance of poorly managed cattle
ranch. About $50 acres are fenced Win
barbed wire, posts and rail, picket, poaru
and brush, and the mountain SIDES Delns
used TO complete the inclosure. Ihese
Enclosures are used for hay meadows
pastures for horses and mules, cattle
corrals. hog pen and dairy purposes. The
remainder of the floor is the camping
ground of visitors, and when / was there
in August presented much the appearance
Of a deserted cavalry camp that had peen
poorly policed during occupancy. II TINS
is permitted few seasons longer the
floor will be despoiled OF all its beauty,
and its fora and fern growth will only
live I'm the memory Of the Oldest inhabi-
tants.
Agent Stidger spoke also OF the need
Of a camping ground and Of the eXhorbi-
tant charges for hay, for guides, and FOR
carriages. He said that the money APP
propriated by the State IS used in de-
stroying the natural, by trimming up
groves, making and enlarging meadows
and corrals, cutting trees that are in the
way and using them for cord wood. These
so-called improvements are destroying
the beauty of the valley, and the atten-
ton of the State should be called TO this
failure TO properly administer its trust
There should be no fencing permitted,
and no cutting and trimming Of groves
or trees, no attempt az the artificial"
Taking all this evidence together. and
making ample allowance for prejudice
and exaggeratlon. 1t seems clear that il
would be we'll both for California and
for the whole country. 10 cede back the
Yosemite Valley. Not only is a dual con-
troll there needless and absurd, but the
General Government now that II takes
care Of the great park surrounding the
valley, can relieve California from all
cost in the matter; can put the valley
under the charge Of its cavalry guard.
and can employ landscape gardeners of
the highest skill.-New York Sun.