The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-02-19
OBJECT TO A REDUCTION.
A CUT IN THE YOSEMITE VALLEY
APPROPRIATION UNDER
PROTEST.
WHILE THE SIERRA CLUB AND SEN
ATOR MCALLIsTER WILL Rem
DER ASSISTANCE.

The Yosemite Commissioners and dele
gates from the Sierra Club held an ex-
tended conference in the Mills building
yesterday. The subject under discussion
was the proposed cut in the appropriation
for the proper care of the Yosemite from
$14, 900 to $1,000 year. As the Sierra Club
wants number of improvements made on
the floor OF the valley it was asked to send
committee to confer with the COM
mission.
The club was represented by Professor
George Davidson and Senator McAllister
OF Contra Costa, while George B. Sperry,
Henry K. Field, ]. III. O'Brien, c. G. Clinch
ana Max Goldberg of the commission were
present.
Professor Davidson explained that the
Sierra Club wanted a landscape gardener, a
competent engineer or competent archi-
tect engaged to report upon the proper
method of clearing the Yosemite Valley
and keeping 1t in proper trim from land
scape point of view. He further pointed
out that one set of people wanted to see the
valley covered with trees and brush while
others wanted the brush cleared off, the
trees thlnned out and the place made
picturesque. The Indians, according to
the professor, in early days always cleared
away the brush in order to guard against
lre, and that fact he considered an I'M
answerable argument in favor of the plan
advocated by the Sierra Club. He urged
the commissioners to at once appoint a
landscape gardener to visit the valley and
make the necessary suggestions.
IN reply, Commissioner Sperry referred
10 the TACT that proposal to cut the allow
ance made to the commission from $14, 600
10 $i0OO had passed the Assembly and was
now before the Senate; that it took all of
the original amount to support the com
MISSION, and reduction would be fatal to
proposed improvements. Last year it cost
$5UOo TO keep the trails and roads in proper
order, and besides a bridge that had been
swept away during the winter storms had
10 De replaced. ALI the buildings in the
valley are State property and they have to
De kept IN repair or else no one will lease
them. The employees have also to be paid
ana In consequence the commission barely
came out even.
II the appropriation is cut down to
$1ooo, concluded Mr.. Sperry, 1--WE will
nave 10 leave lot of necessary work un-
done, ana any improvements in the line
suggested by the Sierra Club would be out
OF the question:
general discussion ensued and it was
hnally decided that the commissioners
ana the delegates from the club should
VISIT Sacramento in body next Thursday.
senator McAllister has promised to assist
III every manner possible to nave the ap-
preparation increased instead of cut down.
The commission however, will be satisfied
II the. Legislature will only make the APP
preparation for the next two years $28, 000
Ii that is done and there should be any
surplus the amount necessary to carry out
the views of the Sierra Club, in regard to
improving the floor of the valley, will
be expended.
When the members of the commission
and the delegates from the Sierra Club
reach Sacramento next Thursday they will
at once call upon the Finance and Ways
and Means Committees and will use all
the influence in their power to have the
appropriation maintained at last years
figure.