The morning call., 1893-01-11


The remedy proposed is to place the val
ley under the control of the General Govern
ment, by whom the policing of it during the
SUNNI eT season is even now done.
Yosemite is something more than corpo-
ration allotment or claim or trust; it is
more than an appendaGe of the Southern
Pacific Company; 1t is more than State
possession, governed by railroad ring or
sinecure officials. 1t is known and sought
IN be visited by thousands of persons in
Europe and the East who have only heard
of California as a country in which there
was once q gold fever and which is now
supplying wine and wheat.
Yosemite stands without a rival In the
world in the attraction Of summer verdure,
flowing streams and ..'.....'.'....''...'.'..'..:
sublmity. There is Yosemite Is some
nothing in the Alps
10 be compared with !: "'"9 "O'e
Inspiration Point.and than a railroad
."o e'"Ui". i"e'uo"'' appendG1e. ::
and grasses once
reached to the saddle Of the horseman. have
absolutely no similitude in the wide world.
But the biennial report Of the Yosemite
Commissioners. just to hand, seeks to dis
pose of the stupendOus problem of preserv-
ing Yosemite as nature left 1t in much the
same spirit as National Guard colonel
would deal with the question OF the uni
forms and buttons of the State militia.
The report Of the Commissioners begins
by noting "the need of thorough topO-
graphical survey of the Yosemite Valley,
locating its groves, springs, streams.
meadows, waterfalls. SUBMITS and other
great natural objects. and also the roads,
trails and permanent buildings"
Reference is made to the work done in
the previous year If effecting partial
survey of the Big Tree grove and making
map locating BY actual measurement the
principal sequOias and placing entire the
various groups which make up the grove.
These maps are displayed in the Office of
The commission" says the report, but 1t is
not indicated how few will see them there;
that is 70 say, how few will find the office Of
tie commission, save by a kind guiding
hand in close sympathy with a railroad
key"
The report goes on to speak of the en-
largement of the water service in the valley.
begun by extending a pipeline from the
StOnema2 House TO the Yosemite Falls
Hotel, with branches TO the guardians
office and the State stables. Along this line
standing bydrants were arranged in order
to supply water for sprnkling the roads.
whenever the funds of the commission VIII
permit that desirable addition to the CON-
fort Of visit 20 the valley"
The Yosemite Commission here seems to
be in the same fix as the State Board of
Trade, which is always prepared to do
something when the funds will permit"
Reference is made in the report to the
damage inflicted by the water, SHOWS and
foods of 1891 and 1892 upon the trails and
structure OF the valley. These damages
have naturally entaiied considerable ex-
pense and incidentally serve to account for
the high tariff at the otoneman House and
the other hotels in the valley. 1t is stated
for instance, that "in spite of all precautions
night storms seriously weighted the Stone
man House roof. and its stills and frame
were damaged, making necessary very
comprehensive repairs of the entire build
ing"
The commission next proceeds TO note
that "ths valley was originally forest
park dotted with open meadows"
1t is not here mentioned that the Commits
siOners have allowed fences TO be put up in
prominent places in front Of FL Captain,
Yosemite Falls. and other specially attrac-
tive spots; or that the Commissioners agree
with the Indians. who in matters of sub
Unity we're content to 'let we'll alone"
Nor is it mentioned that old landmarks are
being removed; that large oak trees have
been cut down, for what purpose nobody
knows; or that an avenue has been cut in
the neighborhood of the SLOVENIAN House
to give the guests better view.
But it is mentioned that "the presence of
many hundreds OF campers in the valley.
.............................a and of thousands of
The Co,,,,jssiou- tourists. and the in-
possibility Of polio
eFs propose Z" ing the entire place,
clear array the make it positively
necessary to clear the
"' brush off the floor of
''''''.''''''''''''''''''''' the valley"
II is in this very brush" that any one
with an eye 10 beauty sees as much of pic
turesqueness as there is TO be found else
where in the valley. Here are seen wild
flowers such as are not seen anywhere else
in the world and beautiful ferns and brakes.
But the Commissioners say clear off the
brush"
The Commissioners placidly remark that
during the year the States trusteeship Of
The grant was subjected to "as much adj
verse and captious criticism as usual" but
insists that the only attack meriting any at
tention was that Of the Secretary of the To-
terror, la which it was said in substance that
reports ana statements obtained from per-
sons Of good repute seem TO establish, as TO
the Yosemite Valley, that there has been
very great destruction OF timber there
some of which has been used for buildings
fences and fuel; some removed simply to
clear the lands for cultivation; a great deal
laid waste through earelessness and wan
tonness; that more than half of the valley
has been fenced with barbed- wire fencing.
and cultivated with grass and grain; that
these Enclosures have confined travel to
narrow limits between fences and
the slope OF the mountains. and
have left but little room for paths for pedes-
trians up this valley; that a great many
rare plants which were new TO botany have
been destroyed. if not exterminated, by
blowing and pasturing the valley; that the
management has fallen into the hands of a
monopoly, and no competition seems to be
permitted in hotel accommodations, trans
portatlon facilities, nor in furnishing prov
ender for the animals OF tourists; also that
the main road up the middle Of the. valley
has been closed"
There were some harder things In the
report of Secretary Noble quoted in the
Commissioners report. and which seem to
have given special umbrage to Governor
Markham. One paragraph reads thus:
Had Il not been Intended 10 presei We this beau
iiful valley IN It's primitive beauty, then u should
have been given for homesteads. When the
State OF California accepted The grant The
Yosemite was already famous for its most won
derfui scenery. The purpose OF Congress uu-
doubleday was o place II under the guardianship
OF the State as lie best means 10 secure the per-
petuaton OF its natural beauty and attractive
ness. The aulhOri y conferred by the grant 10
lease certain portions for terms not exceeding
ten years and TO apply the proceeds 10 beneficial
nNincnilN In.