The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-01
IN THE SIERRAS.
Mountain Pictures Shown
on a Screen.
A CLUB OF GAY CLIMBERS.
Professor Jordan on the States Duty
in Preserving Natural Beauties.
Newly Elected Directors.

Although the Sierra CLUB OF this city Is
only year old it already numbers over $50
members and expects to treble this figure
in the next six months.
1t is first of all club of mountain climb
ers; secondly. an organization whose pur-
pose 1t is to explore and render accessible
the mountain regions of the Pacific Coast,
to publish information concerning them and
10 enlist the support Of the Government in
conserving the natural features of the
Sierra Nevada Mountains.
The annual meeting was held Saturday
at the Academy Of Sciences and an excel
lent account was given of the clubs work.
This work includes a map of the Kings
River and Mount Whitney, now in press,
the compilation of a table of attitudes of
lakes and mountains in the State and the
preparation of papers specially dealing with
the fauna and fora and physical features OF
the high Sierra.
In the absence OF John Muir, Professor
Jordan of the Leland Stanford University
delivered the opening address.
He spoke strongly of the need OF club
like this. to combat the influences of human
greed. The Alpen Club and Juristen-
FOreniDg have their counterparts in this
organization. but unfortunately something
more Is involved than the peep-shOw bust
ness or struggles against rocks and storms
1T Is one of the peculiarities of Amer
leans" said the professor, 80 convert into
cash everything that they can get hold of,
regardless OF the next generation and its
needs. w hat has posterity done for us !?
That is the question cynically asked.
There are men OF this generation who
might well be sons OF the Goths and Van
dals. As these people treated the Roman
churches SO the modern utilitarian is treat
ing Gods first temples. fhe river of gold
flows out and the river of whisky flows in.
What is the story oil the fisheries of the Sac
ramento and the Columbia; what Lie story
OF the seals?
Happily there is rising feeling that
the many have some rights which the indi-
vidual should not invade. Such feeling is
shown in the setting aside of parks, the
Yellowstone, Yosemite, etc. But the diff
Guilty is in holding these against private
greed
Flowing. sheep pasture, lumber, water
power. mining, hunting, railroads.&c. these
Interests claim rights.
Tine duty of the Sierra Club, as under
stand, is to stand between California
scenery and California greed.
he latest thing Is the idea of improving
the Yosemite with geranium gardens, red
fires, electric lights and skirt dances.
The Yosemite, in its natural grandeur,
is good enough for Miller and John Muir.
1t is good enough for you and me.
Let Us build roads and approaches; let
US build huts and places of refuge for the
waytareT; let us make nature accessible,
but let US leave natures beauties alone"
Professor Saenger of Berkeley followed, AS
soon as the applause had subsided, and said
that the club has been more instrumental
in preventing entertainments on Yosemite
than any other organization. and in one
year has done more than has been accom-
pliShed by years Of unorganiZed remon-
STRANGE. He spoke of the patriotic services
of John Muir Olney. McAllister and others
in the same connection.
The club" said he, intends to erect at
small cost certain block houses or places
of refuge, or camping-houses at such places
as Lake Tahoe and other gems OF the high
Sierra.
The finances of the club are in good or
der as there is balance in hand of 1874 81,
with a number of good members who have
not yet paid up" Laughter.]
The following list OF directors was an
nounced as elected: John Muir, pres ident;
Elliott McAllister, secretary; Warren
Olney. W. W. Price. Joseph lie Conte. Pro-
lessor Saenger, George Is. Bayley, John
W. c. Armes, in the absence of Mark 3.
Carr, read the latter's fascinating story of
Crater Lake, Or, an ideal descriptive com
bnation OF Indian legend and sublime ma
tural scenery.
This was followed by paper on Roads"
In which +. Dana showed how the capacity for
road-buildiDg separated civilized men from
savages, and be also stated without hesita-
ton or fear that in the matter of road con-
structon this country is only beginning to
measure up 70 the European standard.
AT the conclusion of Mr. Dana's paper the
treat Of the evening was afforded to the
members. IN the shape OF admirable lantern
slides. about sixty in number, taken last
summer by Theodore S. Soomons, accom-
panied by an explanatory lecture by Mr..
SOlomons. in which lie showed remarkable
know ledge of the phenomena of the glacial
age, 10 which the carving of the Sierra
scenery owes its existence. These pictures
exhibited with as much accuracy and
minuteuess OF detail as any painting hereto
fore exhibited the peculiar desoate and
deathlike appearance of the high Sierra
scenery-a ruined world, such as the moon
has been described. Most of the slides
were OF almost inaccessible regions not be-
fore illustrated.
The subject specially calculated by the
lecture was the evidence of the former ex-
istence OF an immense glacier in the upper
canyons of the Tuolumne MERGED and San
Joaquin rivers. A very graphic description
was also given OF the shrunken remains of
the glaciers at present existing on the slopes
OF Mount Ritter and Mount Lyel.
The lecturer finally conducted his audi
enee down the San Joaquin, past the famous
minarets. and into wonderful Yosemite
like valley, entirely unknown except to
wandering sheepmen. A rock was exhib-
tied which seemed the very counterpart Of
El CAPTAIN,