The record-union., 1897-12-22
YOSEMITE ROAD MATTER.
TEXT OF MIR. DE VRIES' YOSEM.
ITE FREE ROAD BILL.
A Commission Raised to Examine,
Survey and Report Upon
the Matter Promptly.

The following is the full text Of the bill
introduced by Congressman DE Nrles
of this district on the 14th instant, 10
prepare the way for the Yosemite lree
wagon road, concerning when the
Record Union has so frequently
commented and in the campaign Ior
which il led the way, under the con-
viction that the Government IN 1ustice
to all the people should build ROAD
over its forest reserve into Yosemite
Valley, to be free, and by the best
grade and shortest route and built af-
ter the best method
A bill to examine, determine and report the
facts necessary to the esta pnsH u nenI lNal Oh
free public highways into the Yosemite
National Park, anu apptOpridtlnS
moneys therefor.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House
OF Representatives of the United States OF
America in Congress assembled,
That the Secretary OF War be, ana ne
hereby is, authorized, ana within ten uay
after the passage of this Act required, 10
select and appoint three Commissioners,
TWO of whom shall be members OF the En-
gineer Corps of the regular army OF the
United States, who shall act herein With
out additional compensation, and one OF
whom shall be a duly licensed and practlc-
ing engineer and q member of the Cali
fornia State Bureau OF highways, tne
last to be compensated by per diem or
not more than SlU per Qay, ana the pOWeiS
and duties of which said commission ShaH
be- as early as practicable and prior TO the
first Monday in December, A. D., 1898, TO do
and report as hereinafter provided.
Section 2 That said commission shall
proceed to examine, determine and report
to Congress the lengths, geographical ana
actual, widths, elevations, comparative
and actual: grades, average. highest ana
lowest; ownership: cost of construction
and the items constituting such; present
actual value; rates of toll charged there
upon; annual and aggregate tolls collected
thereby; annual and aggregate cost or
maintenance thereof and the items conStl-
tuting such; the courses and directions
thereof: the conditions thereof, and the
length of season each is open to travel and
actually travelled by the public or closed
by reason of snow or otherwise, OF each
of what are known as the Big oak tlat
toll road, the Coulterville toll road, the
Wawona toll road. and the Tioga road, all
being roads in and about the Yosemite Ma
tional Park of California
Section 8 That it shall examine survey,
and report to Congress the lengths, geo.
graphical and actual; widths; elevations,
comparative and actual; grades, highest
and lowest; ownership of the routes; prop
able cost Of construction and items con-
stituting the same; probable annual cost
OF maintenance thereof and the items con-
StiIuting the same; the courses ana dlrec-
tions thereof; the length of seasons edch
may be inaccessible to the public for travel
by reason of snow or otherwise; a proposed
wagon road leading from point IN said
valley down the Merced River to point in
Merced County or Stanislaus County, and
OF another proposed wagon road from a
point in said valley TO point in Tuolumue
County and of another proposed wagon
road from a point in said valley TO a point
in Mariposa County, all in said State. and
o. a proposed wagon road connecting the
eastern terminus of said Tioga road at
Tioga or thereahouts with point at pres
eut accessible to travel by wagon road IN
Mono County in said State. and OF wagon
road from Hetch Hetchy Valley in the
Yosemite National rark TO the most ac-
cessible point on the highway leading into
H. a0f no y
practicable wagon road into said Yosemite
Section 4 That said commission shall
have prepared map showing said
Yosemite Valley. the Yosemite
National Park and the surround
ing country. and trace thereupon the varl-
Gus roads mentioned and proposed in ac-
curate detail and report in detail all of the
aforementioned facts relating thereto,
the acquisition of the best attainabie free
public highway or highways into the Yo-
semitic Valley. California
Section That said commission is here
by authorized and empowered TO employ
all necessary labor and do all acts and
things necessary to comDlete, efectual
and speedy accomplishment of the pur-
poses of this Act.
Section 6 That for the purpose of carry
ing out the provisions of this Act the sum
of So 900 be. and the same is hereby appro-
priated out of any money in the treasury
not otherwise appropriated, to he used
and expended for the purposes OF this Act.
In letter 10 the 1lecOFu- MON,
transmitting the full text of the bill,
Mr.. DeVries says:
After visiting the various points of the
Park during the summer, consulting with
various persons of the State, observing the
comments of the press. taking the advises
OF the State Department of Highways and
Of the Yosemite Valley Commissioners, /
have come to the conclusion that the only
fair solution Of this question is embodied
in the bill. The commission viii gather all
the facts relating to this matter and when
these are gathered in detail and laid be-
fore the public and Congress, as is provided
by this bill. by competent commission
do not apprehend that there will be any
serious difficulty in determining what will
be the best route and solution of this prob
lem. ] have made member OF the State
Department of Highway Commissioners of
California a member of the board by rea-
son of the fact that II is necessary TO con-
suit the State authorities in that they may
have to build a road or roads connecting
with the Federal Governments work II
YOU have any suggestions to make in the
matter 7 should he very pleased to receive
them and any Endorsement of this emil
nentlv fair plan which YOU may offer Will
certainly go a long way in securing its
passage through Congress.