The record-union., 1897-10-05
SHALL WE PULL TOGETHER, OR
APART?

Ex-Mayor Lukens of Pasadena says
that 5he movement to secure the con-
struction of good road into Yosemite
Valley over its own lands is a 'laud-
able one," but that it threatens seri-
ousIy "a much larger and more de-
are four roads now leading into the
valley, three Of which are toll roads,
leading toward the great valleys Of Cal
ifornia, and the other private property,
known as the Tioga Road, branching
off from the Oak Flat road at Crock
er's.
These roads the Government is be-
sought to purchase. on the ground that
they afford access to the Yosemite from
widely separated points of departure,
so that various sections are accommo-
dated, while the Tioga road will open
up to travel a scenic scope Of country
as grand as is the Yosemite itself. This
latter would also, it is held. by the
building of a gap of six miles. open
up a desirable route across the noun
tains. Finally, he holds, that one road
is insufficient
All this is plausible, but fatally weak.
Conceding, for arguments sake, that
it is true, as Mr.. Lukens asserts, that
the four roads can be purchased for
what it will cost to build a new one, it
still does not present the matter of a
good road in any more economic light.
No one ever knew anything to be sold
to the Government so cheaply that too
much was not paid for it After the
Government shall have purchased the
four roads, what then? Will we have
any better means Of access to the val
ley than now?
No. The idea Of the purchase pro-
moters is to put four roads into the
possession of the Government for the
benefit Of private purses, with the
vague hope. perhaps, that thereafter
the Government will improve all four
roads, and make them what is needed,
models. No one familiar with the poll
icy of the Federal Government viii be
deceived by such a plea The Govern
ment is not going to construct four
model roads into the valley. II is not
going to build any road beyond the
bounds Of its reservation. 1t is not go
to open up routes over the mountains
for its commerce. It never has done
any such thing. 1t has built outside
of its own possessions in one or two
instances for post and military pur-
poses. But in these railroad days it
no longer does even that.
The Lukens argument assumes that
the four roads are ideal in location,
grade and general suitableness, which
is sadly erroneous. 1t assumes that if
the Government should buy the four
roads it will have purchased something
valuable. whereas. the fact is that
within the forest reservation the
roads are on Government land, which
has not been granted away If it buys.
therefore, it buys what it really al
ready owns.
But suppose the Government buys the
four present natural roads lying with
in its own property boundaries. and
thereafter roads beyond and within the
jurisdiction of California are aban-
doned. neglected. or otherwise decline
what then has the Government better
than it now has? Wherein viii the
people have been benefited?
This question of the benefit of sec
tions cuts no figure in the case. Mayor
Lukens says that with but a single
road some people must travel 80 miles
out Of their way to get 10 the new road
But If that is admitted for the mo-
ment, what of it? What is needed is
the accommodation of the largest body
of people of the whole State; stronger
invitation into the State because of the
attractiveness of this magnificent val
ley for the largest possible number OF
tourists. What we need is a road
that when reached win be swifter.
shorter. and more inviting than any
of the old roads that may be reached
150 miles earlier by some few people