The record-union., 1897-10-02
OLD AND NEW ROADS TO YOSEM-
TIE

The Pasadena Star says that Hon.
T. P Lukens Of that city, an exYo-
semite Commissioner, opposes a Gov
ernment free road construction into
Yosemite over Federal lands because a
scheme is on foot and nearly consum-
mated to have the Government buy all
four of the old toll roads now leading
into the valley. He holds that if the
Government constructs a new road it
will be from the one side, and therefore
if from the west it will accommodate but
one section, whereas people from the
south who wish to come in from that
direction and not from the west do not
wish to take long route.
1t is added that Mr.. Lukens is ia
miliar with the National Park and the
Yosemite Valley. and holds that the
thing for the Government to do is to
buy the present toll roads, as that will
stimulate the construction Of many
other roads, opening up some wonder
fully attractive country. 1t is also add
ed that he says the present toll roads do
not pay, and that if the Government is
induced to build a new free road it will
kill off the scheme of having the Gov
ernment buy the old roads; and, finally,
that the four roads can be bought for
what it would cost to build a new one.
We had scarcely expected such frank
ness from that quarter. The one thing
of all others the Government should not
do is to buy the old roads. Not one of
them is a model road. Not one of them
is worth the money asked. The pos
session OF four roads, not one of which
is laid out to best advantage, or has
best grade, entails the expense of main
tanning all four roads. Moreover, sin
gle road probably, one leading down
natural courses of water flow, will ac-
commodate the largest number Of the
people. Very few people go in from
the south. The great mass go in from
the San Joaquin Valley on the west
and always will. 1t is not a matter so
much of the accommodation of sections
as it is a question of having free Gov
ernment road over lowest grades that
viii invite the largest travel, both tour
ist and local, and accommodate the
largest number of all our people.
To buy the present roads viii not one
whit improve present conditions, save
possibly in the abolition of tolls. These
many years schemes have been in the
saddle to put off the existing roads upon
the Government. If it is ever accom-
plished 1t will be another case of paying
dear for the whistle. There ought to
go up a strong protest against all such
schemes. There is no sentimental or
business claim in favor of these old
roads upon the Government of the
United States. What is wanted is a
proper road. on low grade. well built,
permanently constructed, and after the
best models of the age. Such a road
and the routes of travel along the best
and shortest lines. 1t should give ac-
cess to thesvalley the longest period and
for an manner of movement.
Nefther,of the present roads I'LL these
requirements. Moreover, If the Gov
ernment is wheedled into buying one or
all the roads, it will be put to precisely
as great cost to reconstruct one of them
as to build the proposed new road Mr..
Lukens assumes that buying the four
roads viii involve no greater cost than
the construction of new one. If that
is granted for arguments sake, we re-
ply that when the deal is completed the
Government will have only routes over
its own lands on which permanent roads
are constructed. It will have wheel
routes that are simply natural earth
roads, and in no sense swift, easy and
economic The Government Will have.
if it takes these roads, TO turn them into
macadam roads, or leave them as they
are. To make stone roads of them viii
mean cost far more than four times
greater than the cost of the construe-
tion of new road, because the grades
are not the best: the width IS not uni
form: they are not built with an eye to
proper drainage; they are net protected