The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-20
The Mountaineer and Writer
Says That the Valley Is
Wrecked.
"DOWNTRODDEN AND DEsOLATE"
He Tells What He Saw and Wants the
Government to Take Back the
Valley.

The opinions and declarations of John
Muir will cat q good deal OF figure in
the promised controversy over the ways
OF the Yosemite Commissioners regarding
the valley and the proposition to cede the
valley back to the National Government,
and Mr.. Muir is anxious to start cam
paign to carry out that proposition, as
we'll as to secure further protection for the
National parks and big timber reservations
of the Sierras.
The familiarity of the president of the
Sierra Club with the situation regarding
these things and the unselfshness OF his
motives will hardly be denied by any who
differ from him. He has no personal
quarrel with the commission or any one
else. He spent a large part OF this sum-
mer exploring the Yosemite and other re-
gions, including the Hetchy Hetchy Val
ley, the headwaters of the Tuolumne and
so on, finding out how the splendid reser-
vations were being cared for, neglected or
destroyed, and he has come home with
some important ideas which he vigorously
expresses.
AS to the Yosemite, he says that it has
become frowsy, barren waste through
the destruction of the luXuriant and I'M
equaled natural growths and bloom OF the
valley floor as the result OF neglect and the
lack of intelligent care and adequate pro-
lection. He wants the valley taken out of
small politics and given to the care of a
power that will intelligently plan and
effectively execute what is needed to pre-
serve the incompatible valley as the gar
den of gardens which nature made it.
Last Saturday Mr.. Muir told what he
knew and thought of the Yosemite Val
ley, and this is what ] ohm Muir said:
During recent summer tour of the
Yosemite National Park which lasted sew
eral weeks l especially observed its condi-
ton as result of it's care and protection
by the military authorities for the lasc
three years and contrasted it with the con-
dltion of the forest reservations to the
south Of the park and with the Yosemite
Valley.
1.-The contrast effectively demonstrates
not only the propriety, but the necessity,
l might venture to say, OF extending the
military authority over not only the forest
reservations, but also over the Yosemite
Valley, which is within the bounds Of the
wonderful beautiful park, and naturally
forms a part of it, if its wonderful beauty
is to be preserved and made available for
the enjoyment of the world
1.-THE care of the National reservation by
the military has been a complete success.
/ was delighted to find that since the cav
airy have successfully kept out the sheep
and prevented destructive fires the forests
are taking on their old beauty and gran
deur. Before the cavalry gave protection
the floor of the forest was naked as COR
raj and utterly desolate. Now, with the
restoration of the carpet of flowers, grasses
and other small undergrowths, it is like
garden in the fneness and richness of
its beauty. The streams now flow clear
again in their bloom-bordered channels,
the lilies ring their bells around the
margins of the meadows, and the whole
blessed region is az inspiration and joy.
ION the contrary the forest reservations
are still being overrun with sheep, and are
as dusty, bare and desolate as ever they
were, Notwithstanding the Government
notices posted along the trails forbidding
the pasturing OF sheep, cattle, ETC., under