The San Francisco call., 1896-04-02
.ClL|FoRN|ANS ROASTED.
Century Magazine Comments on
Yosemite Valley Mis-
management.
RECESSION OF THE TRUST.
Tyranny and Greed of the Yosemite
Ring - Scandal of the
Situation.

ho OChtuAy NAdSoHAhC III "A PiAi o6eAAA
takes up the subject of Yosemite Valley
management by the State of California,
and advocates a surrender of the trust to
the General Government. The article in
the editorial department of the magazine
is under the heading, "Plain Words to
Californians." Following is q synopsis OF
the plain talk:
1t is announced that during the month of
May OF the present year there will be held In
the city of New York unique and Significant
exposition, consisting entirely of the products
sighted and unpatriotic policy which has con-
trolled its railway system California would
to-day be as we'll known in New York as any
State of the Middle West, and it is in keeping
with the commercial enterprise OF its people
that In spite of such discouragements they
boldly undertake to send across a continent
comprehensive exhibit OF its imperial re-
sources. 1t is q scheme in which Americans
may well take pride and to which
they will wish the widest publicity and the
highest success. From the days of the gold
hunters an air OF romance and adventure mas
been associated with this region as with no
other part of the country; and those especially
who have visited this wonderful and beautiful
State, and whose Imagination has been touched
by It's possibilities OF good to the race, can
never divest themselves of personal interest
IN anything that touches its honor or its pros
perity.
Among the exhibits a prominent place will
doubtless be given TO photographs of the un-
rivaled scenery of the Yosemite Valley and its
enylrons, as well as OF the scarcely less wonder
full canyons of the lower Sierra But it is GER
tain that one of the exhibits will not be
comparative series of views of the fioor OF the
valley, showing 1t as it was and In Its
various stages of deterioration through the
disastrous course of improvements which have
impaired its former beauty-a state OF affairs
which has come about in part innoeently
through lack OF knowledge of the proper
method OF procedure, and in part through
strongly intrenched system OF tyranny and
greed known as the Yosemite Ring.
No traveller will consider this matter of
merely local interest. John Muir, the Alaska
and Sierra explorer. has well called the Great
Gorge the worlds Yosemite Valley. and its
degradation in any respect is as much mat
ter OF general concern as would be the deface-
ment of the pyramids. In January, 1890, the
Century called general attention 10 the de-
structive tendencies at work-a condition of
affairs long notorious in the State.
At intervals since we have noted the con-
tinuance of the amateur system of manage
ment. That the widespr criticisms in and
out OF the State have had no deterrent effect is
evident from the observation made by Mr..
Muir Muir during last st summer. In reading his re-
itself, which technically is held by California
i'll trust for public use, resort and recrea-
tion inalienable for all time, has since
1890 been surrounded by National
park thirty five times as large, which has been
under military control; and that adjoining
this park on the south, extending along the
range, lies the Sierra forest reserve of over
100000 acres, which for lack of similar
supervision is being desoated by sheep, by
fire and by the ak, as were the enyirons of the
Yosemite before the establishment of the
National Park"
The Century then quotes the observations of
Mr.. Muir regarding the management, and
recon mending a recession of the trust. The
magazine, proceeding with its own comment,
says:
that should enlist the support of every
public spirited Californian 1t is idle
TO waste time in considering the causes
of the valleys deterioration. The scandal of
of the present situation Is well known. The
State accepted the trust from the Nation in
1864, butt its servants have not observed the
fundamental condition of the cession. If the
ing, it is not half SO humtliating the
continuation of the scandal. And why
should the suggestion be humiliating
Continually in every State systems of admin
istration which do not work well are being
changed. The commission system has not
worked WE'LL whereas, side by side, the system
Park-the very source OF the Yosemite water
falls. Why should not this treasure of nature
have the same admirable protection?"
One word in conclusion If secession is to be
accomplished at the next meeting of the Cali
fornia Legislature its advocates must organize
and bestir themselves now. If Mr.. Muir is not
cordially supported in this effort to redeem the
valley, and remove a blot upon the State, let
not Californians any longer boast of public
spirit or resent the charge of absorption in ma
terial progress.
JOnn +. Sneendn, secretary OF the
Yosemite Commission, was seen last even
ing and asked what he thought of the
proposition to surrender the trust to the
Nation. He said:
Anything would be better than the mar
row and stingy policy which the State is
now pursuing in appropriations for the
care of the valley. Barely enough money
is allowed to keep the bridges and trails
in passable condition. 1t might be to the
advantage of the State to give up the trust.
Under Government control liberal allow
ance of money might follow and much
good be accomplished.
When asked if the subject had been dis
cussed in the board, he said: mo, the
commissioners have not talked over the
proposition. l saw the Governor yester-
day, and he suggested that full meeting
of the BOARD should be had before the an
nual meeting in the valley next June. We
have had no meetings this winter. Mr..
Field, chairman of the executive commit
tee, has been laid up for some time with q
broken leg, but he may be able to come TO
his office"
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