The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-16
THE YOSEMITE.


CALL reporters have e icited8from per-
sons, who may fairly be considered repre-
sentative, opinions which are nearly unan
imous on the necessity of recediDg to the
General Government the Yosemite reserva-
ton. When the proposition was first sug-
gested its opponents appealed to State pride
to defeat it, 1t was said that it was humili-
ating TO confess that we could not manage
a park which had been given US. Critics
were asked to have little patience, and
then they would see what thing of beauty
could be made ont OF the Yosemite by the
unaided exertions of Californians. The
idea of retroeession was denounced as I'M
patriotic. Well. years have passed, and
what is the result? The Yosemite is be-
coming more haggard and more desolate
every season. Stage companies and third
class hotels are making money out OF 1t,
strangers are disguised and citizens are
ashamed. There is a Board OF Park Com
missioners who get no pay. and who ADJUST
their labor 10 their remuneration. DARK
whispers Of underhand pTofits are current;
no one knows whether or no they have any
foundation. Certain it is that if the present
regime lasts, nothing will endure OF the
beauties of the park but those features
which vandalism could not destroy.
Sooner CT later the whole of the western
slope of the Serras should be Government
reservation as a pleasure ground for the
American people. The land is of little
value for purposes of agriculture and the
trees are 100 valuable and too useful 10 be
converted into lumber. But as a pleasure
ground it would be unequaled on this CONT
nent or in Europe. Were it properly
poiiced, provided with few good hotels
and protected against the TaVages OF shep-
herds and IUmbeImeD, it would be a place
that would compare with Niagara and excel
the Yellowstone People would come from
all parts of the ord to spend August there.
1t would be a theme for the poet. NOvelists
would choose il as a background for ro-
mances. Mr.. Hill has already exploited its
pictorial resources. Men of science would
20 there to trace the latest stage Of the eyo-
luton of the mountain uplft. He who COM
pares what it might be with what it is-an
unkempt wilderness of broken bottles, lunch
baskets, orange peel. half.burned trees.
torn branches, roads full of ruts, and bare
places where the sward was once smooth
and green-cannot hesitate in deciding that
whatever becomes Of ii it ought not to re-
main under its present management
Over and above the questions Of scenery
and of a decent regard for the preservation
of natural beauties the practical question of
agriculture in the San Joaquin Valley is in
YOlyed in the transfer. The growing dimi-
mutton in the volume of the streams upon
which that valley depends for irrigation is
becoming alarming Men still live who can
remember when the San Joaquin River was
nayigabie for vessels of considerable burden
for a considerable distance; it is now moth
ing but muddy creek running through a
swamp. its eastern continents the M0ke-
lumne, the Stanislaus. the MERGED, the
Fresno and others, carry much less water
than they used TO contain, and their dmi-
mutton has compelled The farmers Of the
plain to resort to expensive schemes of irri-
CATION. The sources from which these
streams derive their supply are gradually
drying up in consequence Of the neglect of
forests in which they lie. a thorough
system of sffoTestati0n, with a careful
nursing Of the native trees which survive,
such as might be expected under army
management, would largely increase the
water supply and consequently the produc-
ton of the San Joaquin Valley But what
can be expected from State Commissioners
who hold office temporarily and are not
paid, and who do not see the Yosemite more
than Opcp q Vpar2