The San Francisco call., 1896-10-14
GRANITE HOTEL
FOR YOSEMITE
One to Cost Between $4,000
and $4,000 to Be
Built.
The Project Broached by Gov
ernor Budd to the Com.
mission.
DILEMMA OF THE VALLEY.
Short of Accommodations for Tourists.
A Bid That Excited Wrath.
Awards Of Privileges.

All the so-called hotels, cottages, tents
and other makeshifts provided for the ac-
commodation of visitors to the Yosemite
Valley are to give way in the near future
to a handsome, imposing and fireproof
structure. to be built at a cost of about
$4,000 of granite to be quarried in the
valley. This project was developed yes
terday at the meeting of the Yosemite
Commissioners during the discussion OF
plans to provide for the accommodation
of visitors to the valley.
J. J. Cook, the former lessee of the
Stoneman House, gave it as his opinion
that the fire had been caused by the wood
imbedded in the concrete chimneys be-
coming charred and afterward breaking
into fame. There was no fire, he stated,
in the hotel for seven hours before the
building was discovered to be on fire. He
added that it had been on fire four times
previously.
Since the burning of the Stoneman
House there is practically no accommo-
dation for tourists and during the dis
cussion of that subject communication
from Secretary Sheehau to the Governor
was read. He said these projects regard
ing the accommodation of visitors during
the coming. season had been considered by
the committee on tenementS and build
ings:
First-The rehabililating of the old Hutch
ings house opposite the Sentinel Hotel.
Second-The guardians Office could be reno
vated and repaired and converted In to twelve
or fourteen sleeping-rooms by constructing
partition through the center.
Third-The Shining house, in which Mr.. At
kinson lives, could be fitted Up and converted
into cottage for guests with little expense.
Fourth-The Sentinel Hotel will require adj
ditional baths and heating apparatus and toi-
lets must be provided for the outlying build
ings
| entirely new cottages in the vicinity of the
Sentinel Hotel
Continuing the letter said:
| Should this needed work be delayed until
next spring it is extremely doubtful il the re-
! pairs and improvements could be made in
| time to accom- modate next seasons travel in
| the valley. 1t is therefore deemed case of
urgency, and your views upon this subject are
| earnestly solicited
| To his the Governor had returned the
| following reply:
Your favor of September % to hand. I be-
! lieye as does Commissioner Clinch, that esti-
mates should be made by q competent archi-
tect of the cost of the alterations suggested by
| you together with rough draughts thereof, for
| the guidance OF the commission. would not
/ have detail plans, specifications or estimates
| made until the board had knowledge of the es-
| timated cost, and would contract with an
architect, before his trip of examination, as
| to the cost OF the preliminary work.
| A. b. Glasscock, the lessee of the Gen.
| tral Hotel, suggested that his place be
| improved so as to afford the desired ac-
| commodation. He stated it would not
cost to exceed $500 to do the necessary
work of raising the roof and making other
! improvements to increase the facilities of
| l,,Sil prrf he
would not listen to. He had bad enough
of guesswork estimates.
Then Governor Budd made suggestion
which apparently caught the fancy of
every Commissioner.
| II am in favor of granite building that
can be constructed from stone right on the
ground" he said. IL don't believe it
would cost more than to build an equally
| large hotel of lumber up there in the
mountains, where the hauling of the lum-
| Der costs more than the lumber itself"
Commissioner Sperry said that granite
| structure with 100 rooms could be put up
| at q cost of $4,000 to $50 900. He sug-
gested that plans ought to be secured to
enable proper presentation of the scheme
| to the Legislature when an appropriation
was asked for. Such q plan, he stated
| would not cost more than $3.50 or 5000.
Resolutions of euiogy OF John H. O'Brien,
deceased member of the commission,
were adopted.
Awards for the next year were then
| made. The first bid read raised a small
whirlwind of wrath and Indignation.
James McCauley, lessee of the Glacier
| Point Hotel. in a written communication
recited that he had built the hotel seven
| teen years ago at cost OF $500; that the
State had spent $500 recently in improv-
| ing his property, and that he would spend
| $1,000 more if the commission would give
him lease for ten years at $50 year and
agree to pay him 5000 for his equity at
| the expiration of the lease, or some sum
| to be fixed by appraisement.
This so stirred the Governors wrath
| that he declared McCauley would have to
abandon both his claim to any compensa-
| ton for his equity and his lease The
other members, however, thought he
ought to be shown some consideration,
and the matter of the claim was referred
| to the committee on finance. He was
| then granted a years lease of the prop
| erty for S100 for the term.
Other leases were granted for wear in
each case, as follows: To Coffman & Kene
new, for the livery privileges IN the valley.
$3.50; to the Yosemite Stage Company. for
operating stage line in the valley. $50:
to Mrs. Cavagnaro, for keeping a store.
$120. Several other minor privileges were
also granted for year, after which the
commission adjourned.
After the meeting Governor Budd stated
ne would, in his message to the Lepisla-
ture call attention to the proposition of
the granite hotel for the valley.
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The Quinn Brothers Here.