The sun., 1893-03-26
THE YOSEMITE VALLEY.
IT'S RECEssToN RI CALIFORNIA UNDER
CONSTELLATION.
why the National Government Should Take
Charge or This Pleasure Ground-some
Csit,cisnss ON Its Management.

/ trtenSurc aSrnund-SOmN
| Cratpctsnss on Its Management.
WASHINGTON, March 25-During the past
winter, project has been set afoot at sacra-
mepto to cede back to the United statea
the Yosemite Valley and tho Mariposa Big
| Tree Grove, granted to California nearly
| twenty nine years ago
The expediency o. this recession has some
times been discussed in Congress. not only on
| account Of com plants mado against the man
agcment Of the grant. but also because vast-
| Iv larger national park has now been created.
completely surrounding Yosemite Valley. so
| TINT It is better In every way to include the
| latter IN the national pleasure ground. Il is .
| veIcome sign therefore. thnt this proposal OF
| recession is taken up In California Itself. and
| urged by prominent men there. There should
| be no appenl to State pride In opposition 20
tho transfer. The magnificent gorgo would
still be a part OF californ.a's glory. The case
| is like that OF the other national reservations
| In that State. including Seduoia. Grant. Sierra.
San Gabriel and San Bernardino Indeed, It
would be for the interest Of California to make
| over the Yosemite Valley to the United states.
| since while it would remain as available to all
| hcr people as before. and quite as great an at
traction to visitors from beyond the State.
she would be wholly relieved OF the cost OF its
| maintenance.
Oa the 22d OF September 1890. the Senate OF
| TO report whether the lancs granted TO Cali
| fornia by the act OF Juno 30. 1884 had been
| .spollatcd or otherwise diverted, IN whole or
| in part from the public use contemplated By
| the grant," and. II 80. how this public use
| could be restored and spolat!on prevented.
| The Secretary. in reply. showed that the
| grant IN question included the Yosemite gorge
| at the headwaters OF tho Merced about fifteen
miles long. and stretching back about one
H. fr-, tln In aID IDn n nrnctHtpa
oach side OF the valley. and also the Mariposa
| Big Tree Grove: and that the grant was upon
condition that "the premises shall be held for
public use. resort. and recreation. shall be In
aienable for oil time: but leases not exceed
ing ten years may be granted for portions OF
said premises: all incomes derived from
| leases OF privileges to be expended In the pre-
| servation and improvement OF the property or
the roads leading thereto. The premises shall
be managed by tho Governor Of the State.
with eight other Commissioners to be APP
pointed by him. and who shall serve without
compensation" This act was accepted by the
Legislature. April 2, 1856. and Com missioners
were appointed to manage the reservation.
Proceeding to the inquiry of the Senate. sec-
rotary Noble presented the following state
ment OF the results reached by him:
First-As to the Yosemite proper
There has been very and indiserminate de.
"a Bridge ns enss {. a ns .na 70
some It would 70 !. ID. for ths plough
fr
susGs sSHs S
aisSnss writing isss states .ss. within three
!? q ;s.
sSS
'ss5 .s ~ ssIi; .n.n
ten: as to destroy i. great many. rare plants which
IL S.ns
s a. :sn s.sss
ns Il k:s. n.s
sn up mSds he as valley.
ma .:sss x.
room FOR Ways ier are the main csirsss paths across
& s ,a sn % @ 20 aHSf sn S
to 3. 's be sy y he
q;
Thts have been % ,hssH hssas.s
ss ss. e %
.fs SS1s rs.ened the res. and .hrnS. ana
% cut hss s, .na
ths seeds for SEPARATION to tors!sn lands
n Ss sFoSs 0ss sn
the Board Of Managers would have induced them to
wonderfui trees.
1t further appeared from this report that
these acts Of spoliation and trespass had long
been going on. and were the fruit OF .
settled policy Of tho management Thus the
Commissioners. in their report for 1886 5-86.
recommended that all the available land ON
the floor OF the valley should DO put to tho
cultivation Of grass for hay. to the amount Of
loo acres. for the augmentation OF the reve-
nues OF the State" Since there are 1.141.53
acres on the floor OF the valley. nine-tenths Of
as es another ropors
%
fenced and put to grass il grain. nd and advised ADVISED
g., seeding ths valley from we'll to wall with use
cluded that the provision Tor leasing portions
OF It, Wsoh 81 was ~ INTENDED sGmnly as
tSs not he Hs aFSse
up Tor farm OF stock raneh rom 0s wSeS sa
Improvement, fund should be realized. and
.HSf ane ana aver.
siGn Of. Of It from the SontemPlSted public uses
ns ahna 70 the the
Thu s..s n:. sssR sSs s.
s1:ss %'; s,i.' z:
S ssSS o;;s "s y
IL a.:
np this valley; that great many rare plants which
To botany have DESTROYED IL mot exter.
minated by plolghnE and pa:turng the valley: that
tue mhnaRement has fallen into the hands "A inonop.
oy and no competition seems to be permit ed In hotel
accommodations. transportation facilities nor In fur
nishing provender for the animals OF tourists; tho
man road The middle OF the valley has cossd
and that the unenclosed port of the valley Is paS
,ursh by ihe stock Of the stable and transport
men, almost to tho exclusion OF tho ANIMALS OF the
tourists or visitors.
Major E. y. Weigel. special land inspector.
reported only last October as a result OF his
Tour OF Investigation. that Ito judge by the
Merced Mariposn, and FRESNO counties. q
large majority OF the people would be In favor
OF letting tho government Of Yosemite Valley
rovert to the national Government" He
found that 1t was not intended to Till any more
some clearings already made. with a view to
iiessening the dangar OF fires. there had been
muti!ation OF natural beauty" Efforts at
rais railroad i monopoly Of travel and exorbitant