Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-04
YOSE MITE RECLAI MED
The Sheep Herder Driven Out and the
Park Patrolled.
Report of Capt. Rogers, Who, With a
Troop of Cavalry, is I'm
Charge.

Capt. Alexander Rogers of the fourth
cavalry and acting superintendent of the
Yosemite National Park, has filed with
the Secretary of the Interior his first an
nual report. Leaving the Preside May 8
of this year troop * of the fourth cavalry,
in command of Capt. Rogers, marched to
the park reaching there May q. One of
the first things done was to send notices TO
be put up in all the post offices anywhere
near the park to warn all possible tres
passers that the government authorities
intended to protect the park without any
trifling. Details under command of COM
missioned officers were at once sent out to
patrol the park In the southeastern part
of the park the snow melts early in spring
and sheep men drive their focks in there.
Five herders were caught, their hocks
driven out and the men admoniShed never
to appear in the park again. The patrols
now traverse the region SO frequently that
the sheep men stick close to the boundary,
and if they come in over the line keep
scouts out to warn them of the approach of
troops when they at once drive out. Three
herders were caught in the southwest cor
ner of the park and warned off. In the
northern part Of the park 10000 sheep were
driven off and fifteen herders captured.
The sheep country is extremely Tough,
and Capt. Rogers says special mention
should be made of the effective SEQ lting
done by Lieuts. Benson, Mcclure and Smed-
berg, who have penetrated regions never
before seen. and where the ground was so
rough horses had to be abandoned. Much
hardship is caused by the deep SHOWS which
make the high trails impossible until well
on in summer. Lieutenant Mcclure has
prepared an excellent typographical map Of
the park, which is regarded as the most &C
curate yet produced. 1t will be photograph
ed by the Interior Department. The few
cattle in the park are there under leaves.
Cattle do little injury. and the owners. as
rule, are Americans who take pride in pre-
serving the park as it is Two of the cattle
men have withdrawn entirely from their
leased land.
Game in the park is increasing. 1t is not
easy to catch people who shoot within the
boundaries, but it is believed little destruc-
ton of game IS practiced by tourists or
residents. The California fish commission
has planted 10000 eastern trout in the
streams in the park this season, and a
hatchery has been established there.
The proposition to cut down me PARK
along its southeastern boundary,as provided
in bill introduced in Congress by Mr..
Caminetti, does not receive Capt rogers
Endorsement. There are mineral resources
there but there are also many natural
beauties that should claim that the park
should include them.
The regulations governing the conduct OF
visitor1 have remained unchanged for TWEEN
ty or more years. Capt Rogers asks that
they be amended so to enable him to
require that visitors leave all firearms,
traps nets and tackle outside the boun-
DIARIES. lie also asks that penalties De IN
ed for trespassers. There are none now,
and all that can be done is to expel any
ore who commits any act Of trespass or
destruction. The greater number of tres
passers are Portuguese or Frenchmen of
the lowest order of existence, and they are
rough and lawless, showing no respect for
law that provides no penalty.
Under the influence of fear and force"
says Capt. Rogers, they are as meek
lot of villains as ever stole government
grass, and the knowledge that a few of
their kind had gone to prison for tres
passing on the park would keep most OF
them outside it's borders"
The report urges a Few and complete
survey: suggests that signs and boundary
marks be established. and indorses the
proposition that the government should &C
qUire all lands within the park that have
been patented to individuals.