The San Francisco call., 1895-11-24
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
JOHN MUIR REVIEWED.
TOURIST DU MERE SAYS THE UNDERGRoWTH
OUGHT TO BE DESTROYED. 81

OUGHT TO BE DESTROYED.
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. %. 1885,
Charles NJ Shortridge Esq, Editor The San
Francisco Call, City. / have read with interest,"
the letter of John Muir, published in your
issue of November 20, and was strongly lm-
pressed with two points. i. e.: Mr.. Mulr III
writing was influenced either by prejudice or
theory. y
His argument is plausible and likely to i'm.
press the uninformed, yet it is wide from the
mark. People who speak from personal
knowledge can inform Mr.. Muir that the Yo-
semitic Valley, during the time he praises 1t
for cleanliness and attractive condition, was
owned or claimed by various parties who
made attempts toward cultivating the land
and keeping down the underground, but since
the State took control, and nature has pre-
vailed without guidance. it has become
frowzy and unkem pt, which Mr.. Muir thinks is
caused by politics instead of policy.
The underground of the valley bottom
should be burned regularly, then it would be-
come q beautiful park, as the people intended
it should be- But such condition cannot be
hoped for until more practice, and less theory
is adopted by those in control. 1t, is we'll
enough to talk about "wild wood" "tangie
wood" brake, bramble and natures primitive
beauty. 1t sounds well and looks well in print,
but the practical application thereof estab-
fishes the evil to which Mr.. Muir calls atten-
tion The same remarks can be made OF the
great park outside OF Yosemite Valley. 1t is
and misappled artistic conjecture; When the
mountainsides were covered with shepherds
the dead wood, pine burrs and grass were
burned each year and no particular cana damage g
many reports to the contrary, both pubic ana
private.
Continuation of this practice would turn the
whole forest into park, now that the heros OF
cattle and sheep are debarred. Inc ground
would become clean and fresh; the trees stand
like great columns, with branches arching
overhead, making truly great natural cathe-
dra.
The truth of this statement can be proven by
comparing any portion OF the present forest
where fires have removed the under6rush
with that portion protected by United states
troops. The first, with fresh grass ana unoD-
structed view, is pleasure, to the eye. Inc
oad is uncouth, uncombed. difficult OF ac-
cess and general disappointment
Instead of soldiers TO keep fires out OF the
park they should be detailed for police duty,
to debar stoekmen only, and be REINFORCED
with hundreds of woodsmen 10 de-
stroy the dead wood and underDrusn
This would give the State a pleasure-ground
that could not be surpassed on earth. on the
other hand, the present policy, If continued, in
few years Will accumulate quantity OF
undergrown that when fired(which no number
OF United States troops ON guard can indefi-
nitely prevent) will undoubtedly destroy the
standing timber and our great park become a
desolate waste; all because few men who
know little of woodcraft think a natural park
requires no attention or direction by the hand
OF man.
The "tangle-wood party" will probably con-
tinue to influence both the Yosemite and Sc
quota Park managements until they are burned
out, and will then claim it occurred from neg
lect, but the true cause will be aslnlne stu
pidity.
Mr. Muir is generally accredited as first class
man in his business. but his letter indicates
that practical woodcraft is not one OF his
specialties. A. DU MERE, Tourist.