The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-05
SAVE THE FLORA AND sEOUOIA
The SpoIiatiun Seen in the Valley by
LADY, Camper.

a Lady Camper.
l have read Mr.. Robinson's letter on the
abuse of power by those who are permitted
to run the Yosemite as a money-making en-
| terprise, solely in their OWN interest and TO
| their own profit, and can verify as an eye
witness and from my own experience as a
camper at various times and seasons in'the
valley many Of the impeachments he brings
against its present management.
The Yosemite Valley is getting fast shorn
of its magnificent procession Of rare flower
| ing plants
Animals which, according to express con-
tract with the residents when given thsir
leases should be stabilized are continually
left to roam about for pasture Cows, for
instance, ara allowed to wander and feed
! on the heritage without restriction and, as
! they feed, 10 eat the flowers which would
| otherwise mature and fructifY, casting their
seed for reproduction next year. This pro-
| cess, in the case of animals, is not a
! promising one, and ii is grievOus to see
| these animals wandering along the banks OF
| the beautiful Merced. doing untold havoc
among the rare eXotics which grow wild
| in so few parts Of the world. To those who
have travelled and seen these plants in other
countries reared with the greatest care, and
! treated as the greatest treasures, the sight
/ of this careless destruction OF natures
! bountiful profusion is beyond measure dis
! tressing.
1t is also a great deprivation to those who
! love nature to be obliged 10 abandon some
! Of the most lovely positions for ping on
/ account of the refuse frequently lett in
beautiful fertile spots by these animals.
/ have been constantly alarmed in my
/ walks by the passage at a gallop along the
! roads of the valley of troops of horses and
mules, numbering from fifty to one hum
! bred, without saddle or bride, being driven
/ over the road helter-skelter In clouds of
! dust by one herder. They go in this way to
/ or from some distant pasture gTound-this,
also, in distinct violation OF the contracts
made by those who own them-t0 feed the
| animals in their stalls on the products of
| tile pasture-g grounds set apart for this pur
! pose.
As 10 side paths have yet been made for
the use of pedestrians, this use of the roads
| is most dangerous 10 them. But what is
/ worse. in addition, is the fact that these
/ horses are being sent to deVOur wholesale
the rare plants and beautiful flowers that
are the glory of California, and especially
! OF the osemite Valley.
Throughout the San Joaquin Valley the
mYriads of fowers-which grow only In
! California 10 such grand pr0fusiOn and
/ Misunderstanding been almost eXtermi-
mated by the cattle ranch and the farm. Is
| II necessary or desirable that the same
| processes shall be permitted 10 operate In
| allowed 20 perpetuate themselves for pos
terity? This determination proceeds, no:
| with the consent of the laws, but in direct
opposition 20 the enactments procured by
faT-Seeing scientists aud Dature-lOYing en-
| thusasts for their preservation.
In. addition TO the question of the ex-
termination OF the fora. is il merefu 10 the
animals who preserve this monopoly of
mOnstrOus fees QrOm 50 to SO day for
their owners to journey up and down these
mountain trails with heavy burdens all the
Iivelong day, and then to be forced to
wander all night for the sustenance neces-
saTy TO preserve life?
1t is the saddest Of sights to view the
SLOVENIAN House, as seen from Glacier
| Point, standing in surroundings that look
like an old lumber patch, and sadder still
to descend and walk round the grand cUOs-
sal stumps that viii long stand in testi-
mOny Of the rude vandalism, which, with
out IemOrse, removed from the lovely valley
some OF its grandest denizens, trees which
had there held their own from the earliest
centuries of historic times. Why were
these mOnarehs OF the forest felled?
Again, low er down in the valley, not far
from the Yosemite Falls and near the cold
cabin, one asks oneself with sigh who
laid low the heads Of the forest kings, now
only indicated by the great stumps, still
solid as rocks aud immOyable as fortresses
and which, but for the ak, would have
gaddened the eye for centuries with their
verdure aud their sublime proportions.
Let US preserve the fora OF the Yosemite
and let US preserve the trees which have
taken centuries to develop in their presence
and whose heads taper toward heaven in
solemn beauty and Ia mute appeal for pres
ervation from ruthless and wanton des!ruc-
ton.
These monster stumpsl "These poor
dumb mOuths" should long since in their
mute testimony have appealed to the sense
and wisdom of California to rise and stay
the progress Of destruction and replace the
authority which has inaugurated the desc
Grafton Of one Of natures lovelieSt strong
holds before it has been totally denuded OF
its pristine grandeur A LADY CAMPER