The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-20

en]oymentS OF these wonders Will De lar
less after the vegetation is destroyed. How
many people would go to Del Monte by
the sea and how long would they stay were
its lawns and gardens trodden into barren
sand and dust? The only places where
the wild plants of the valley can now be
found III all their beauty are up on the
benches and in hidden recesses of the walls
that are not accessible to animals. The
idea of turning the worlds Yosemite Val
ley into pasture and bayfield,, and at the
same time holding it for public use, resort
and recreation, inalienable for all timep
Not single horse or COW should be al
lowed to eat and trample the flora OF the
valley. 1t was given to the State for
higher use. Hay and grain in abundance
can be hauled into the valley and sold to
the owners of the saddle-trains and to
campers at moderate prices at stables and
corrals provided by the commission.
fence would be useless and the
wild vegetation would be gradually
restored. Since the running fires have
been kept out of the valley the underbrush
requires much expensive attention, but this
work should be done under the direction
of landscape artist-for haphazard, un-
skilled grubbing in these gardens will not
do. The banks of the river wasted by
spring floods also require attention, and
the roads need sprinkling during the visit
ing season, etc. But all this requires con-
siderable appropriations by the Legisla-
ture, and, Judging by past experience, will
not be easily obtained. AS far as the hotel
and saddle-train management is con-
cerned but little fault can be found. The
charges are reasonable, everything consid-
cred, but the valley itself is rapidly going
from bad TO worse.
at seems to me that the way to secure
competent and pro per management is to
take the valley out of politics. 1t is regu-
lated by State Commissioners appointed
by the Governor, some of which no doubt
are to some extent political creditors.
Perhaps most of them mean we'll, but they
don't know how and don't hold their
offices long enough to learn. 1t is the sys
tenn that is wrong. The board is changed
constantly, and if one board acquired
some knowledge and adopted policy they
would not have time to carry it into effect
before new set of politicians would be
in. The Commissioners differ all around
as to what to do and how to do it. and
there can be no permanent and competent
policy carried out under the present plan.
Then the commission has small appropria
tons to use, and this is largely because
the people don't care what becomes of the
valley or are not confident that money ap-
propriated would be applied to the best
advan tage.
"The solution of the whole question, it
seems to me, is to re-cede the valley to the
Federal Government and let it form part
of the Yosemite National Park, which nat
urally it is. 1t is the heart and gem of it,
and should at least receive as much care
and protection as the park surrounding.
Ii the valley were returned to the control
of the United States Government, it would
be under the care of the military depart
ment, which would RICHLY carry out all
rules and regulations, regardless of ever
shifting politics and small plans of inter-
ested parties for private gains. One man.
agement is enough, and management on
the Government basis would be better than
one ever fiuctuatlng with the political
pulse. If that were done, the State would
not be called upon for dollar. Nearly all
the members of the Sierra Club with whom
have talked favor putting an end to this
political management. Only those people
pecuniarily interested in roads, franchises
and other little jobs are opposed to it, as
far as l have found out, though even those
would be benefited by the change through
increase OF travel. This, l am strongly
convinced, is the right way, and the only
one that will secure for the valley the pro-
lection, regulation and restoration it so
badly needs.
at gave me exceeding pleasure to find
that people were going to the valley and
the mountain regions about it in rapidly
increasing numbers. I found this year 100
people in the mountains to where one was
to be found ten years ago, and was sur
prised and pleased to find now and then
companies of girls, some being parties of
sixteen and twenty, tramping merrily
along with the sparkle and exhilaration of
the mountains in their eyes, attended by
wagons carrying their outfits. People
should be encouraged to go to the noun
tains in summer to enjoy the blessings
there.
This is the main object of the Sierra