The morning call., 1893-01-14
YOSEMITE'S PERIL.
Carving Natures Fair
Landscapes.
THREATENED BY MONOPOLY.
Hopes Expressed That the Beautiful
Valley VIII Soon Revert to
National Control.

THAT the recession of Yosemite Valley
is necessary for the preservation OF that
beautiful natural garden is growing more
apparent every day. Vandal hands are
rapidly converting it into an orchard of
stumps and ragged wales of haggled under
brush.'
Thus spoke DR.. George F. Shiels, who
lately returned from trip through this
magnificent garden Of natural scenery. He
spent three weeks in the valley with
party of friends, and while there saw
many evidences that the place Is being
sadly mismanaged. The few people re-
naming 10 the park are loudly protesting
against the errors or worse in the official
management of the valley.
A few are not having anything to say re-
gardlng the manner In which beautiful
groves and natural arb0rs are being de-
spoiled by the ak of the amateur under
brusher." These are the ones who will be
benefited by the introduction OF artificial
attractions that ruin grand effects. In time
they hope to make the valley close corpo-
ration and exhibit its grandeurs for revenue.
80 long as the government OF Yosemite
IS In the hands Of men who can be approached
by designing schemers," continued Mr..
Shells, lit will be mismanaged In my
opinion, and in the opinion OF every one
who has the welfare of the place at heart, it
would be good Idea to turn the valley over
TO national control. That is the only way
in which its g0ries can be preserved.
"The unskillful handling of shrubbery is
shown in various places entirely destroying
natural effects and giving many of the mead
0wS the appearance of wel-kept lawns.
Modern gardening Is not needed there.
Nature does the work far more artistically
than man could do it, and nature should
not be disturbed nor handicapped. 1t is my
hnn hat lbs ltaxr mil 70
the Government and not fall into the
clutches OF monopoly"
There are very few people In the valley
now and those who are left are being gradu-
allysru out. Some had privileges and
were conducting hotels and retreats in
small way, but the agents of the more pala-
tial concerns, conducted in the interests Of
monopoly, make matters decidedly interest
Ing both for the prOpriet0rs and their pat
rons. The injured ones assert that the
Southern Pacific is at the bottom of their
troubles.
Companies backed by the Southern Pa
cifc control some of the stage lines and I'M
less something is done to head the octopus
off 1t will soon be running daily trains
through parts of the valley accessible
to the iron horse. Then Yosemite would
indeed be wondrous spot. There would
be nothing like it on the face of the earth.
nor under it, either, for that matter.
Imagine an eating station at the foot of
Inspiration Point, where the enraptured
tourist could get out and purchase hard
boiled egg. How it would please the artis-
tic eye to see the most magnificent garden
on earth dotted with red water tanks. carved
with the monographs of Weary Mike"
Buffalo Kid" and others Of that brand of
humans? But that is what the valley would
come TO il the corporation had its way.
AT the more pretentious hostelres the
roughly clad pilgrim who might pass for a
ranchhand off on vacation is accorded
seant courtesy. In fact, the treatment he
receives is such as TO drive him to one of
the secOnd-class places where at eventide
the hirelingS from the marble halls come
down, get full and raise rumpus. which
drives the tourist away in disgust.
From this it appears that moneyed per-
sons only are welcome to the sights, and the
more money they have the more ferveut the
welcome. What the Southern Pacific does
not want Is of but little use to any one else
The mismanagement Of the valley clearly
invalldates the stipulation made in the act
of cession of 1864. when Congress stipulated
that said State California; shall accept
this grant upon the express conditions that
its premises shall be held for public use,
resort and recreation, inalienable for all
time"
That this agreement has been violated is
well known, and a large majority Of the
people in Fresno. Marlposa and MERGED
counties are in favor of the National Gov
ernment assuming control of Yosemite
Valley,