The record-union., 1896-11-11
YOSEMITE AND Big TREES.
The Commissioners Make Their Biennial
Report
What Has Been Done the Last Two
Years, and What Should
be Done.

The biennial report of the Commits
sioners to manage Yosemite Valley
and the Mariposa Big Tree Grove has
been received by Governor Budd, and by
him transmitted to the State Board Of
Examiners.
The report relates that the meager
appropriations made by the last Leg
5slature for the care of the valley and
grove confined the Commissioners, in
the matter of expenditure generally, to
the maintenance of roads, trails,
bridges, hotels and other buildings, and
to keep the same in a state of repair.
The extraordinary work done has been
the rebuilding of the Pohono bridge, be-
low the Bridal Veil Falls, which was
washed away by a frashet in 1894 and
the construction of a bridge at Cascade
Falls and another across the Merced
River opposite Ell Captain. Other neceS-
sary work done was the extensive re-
pairs to the Glacial Point Hotel Cost
ing about 81 800, the building being
unfit for occupancy; the opening of the
road from the stables to the Sentinel
Hotel, and repairs to other hostelries.
ECONOMY PRACTICED.
by the commission during the past year,
the report continues, must necessarily
be followed during the forty eighth
fiscal year, inasmuch as the appropria-
rions for the forty-seventh and forty
eighth fiscal years were reduced nearly
one-half from appropriations of former
years The funds at the disposal of the
Commissioners, including the amounts
cd f,-pr reAY1fS
the valley are now only about S11 900 a
year.
MALICIOUS REPORTS.
The report relates that buildings may
be burned, bridges destroyed. the big
trees be endangered ami winter storms
disfgure trails and roads, with no funds
on hand to meet such an emergency.
The report continues in these words:
This action of the Legislature was,
in our opinion, due to reports of mali
Cious or ignorant persons who were
constantly nlisrepresenting in person on
the floors of both houses, or by letter,
the condition of the valley and it's man
agement. The Commissioners were
even accused by legislators with charg-
ing extortfonate toll rates on roads
leading to the valley and encouraging
such people should have known that the
commission controls no roads outside of
the Yosemite Reservation, and charges
no toll over roads within it. The toll
rates in question are fixed by the
Boards of Supervisors Of the counties
which they traverse"
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
At the annual meeting of the board
ecutive Committee was abolished by
the adoption of amendments to the by
laws, and Governor Budd, President of
the commission, appointed Committee
on Finance and Accounts, the duty of
which is to audit and approve all
claims against the commission, and in
quire into the sources of revenue.
INSPECTION BY BOARD.
At the last meeting held in the valley
the Governor made a thorough inSpec-
1ion of tine valley and grove and all
other property belonging to the State
under control of the board, and inquired
into all affairs and business appertain-
ing to the grant. In this he was as
sisted by the other members of the
board, and as a result many reforms
have been instituted which, the report
credit of the State and prove beneficial
to the interest not only to the property,
but to the thousands of people who an
nually visit the valley and grove.
REFORM MOVEMENTS.
ANY semblance of pooling between
hotel proprietors and stage companies.
the report continues, has been stamped
out; competition in transportation to
and from the valley has been encour-
aged and actually established: charges
for horses and carriage hire have been
reduced and generally regulated, and
provision has been made for the better
accommodation of campers who annu-
ally visit the Yosemite. a patrolman
visits the various camps several times
daily and directs visitors as to import
ant rules and regulations and also rem
ders them assistance and advice. A
meat market and bakery have been es-
1ablished, and arrangements have been
made by which campers may purchase
hay at cost. Pastures have been in
closed with portable fences for the ac-
coYnmodation Of the animals Of visitors
and all wire fences have been re-
moved. These reforms, it is thought
by the board. tend to benefit campers
Doth in purse and matter of general en-
Joyment.
TOO MUCH UNDERBRUSH.
The attention of the Legislature is
called to the fact that entirely too
many young forest trees and too much
shrubbery are spreading over the floor
of the valley, and unless ample appro-
priations be provided for clearing the
same serious damage TO the property
will result. The underground is CON
sider-ed q fearful menace to the safety
and beauty of the landscape scenery
in the event Of fires getting started.
ROADS AND RIVER.
The Bureau Of State Highway Com
nissioners visited the valley in June.
1895. and made an examination of the
roads and river banks with a view Of
improving the same. 1t was found that
Of the twenty-five miles of road I'm
the valley. at least fifteen miles were
heavy with sand and dust during the
greater portion of the summer season.
and the bureau recommended that the
roads be paddled with finely pulverized
sedimentary deposit found in the val