The record-union., 1897-08-20
A GOVERNMENT ROAD TO THE
YOSEMITE

The Record Union vail be admitted
to be intelligent upon road questions.
The study of the subject pursued by
this journal for the past ten years has
given it some right to be heard and
respected upon all those questions in
volving the economics of good road con-
struction 1t is therefore with perfect
conviction of soundness in the treat
ment of these matters that it declares
it to be an economic and wholly wise
proposition to move upon the Federal
Government to construct a permanent
model road from the nearest and best
point Of travel connection to and into
the Government reservation contiguous
to the Yosemite Valley, through that
reserve and into the heart of the val
ley.
Great natural wonders such as the
Yosemite are the heritage of all the
people. Every citizen of the Republic
possesses in these reserves which the
Government has wisely withheld from
personal occupancy, a distinct but un-
divided interest Each has the right,
therefore. to ask Of the Government
and expect from it easy and modern
methods of reaching these reservations.
The proposition, therefore, for the con-
stTuction by the Federal Government
of a model highway into the Yosemite
is one that addresses itself with pc
ut
Government.
While it is true that the State as a
trustee administers the internal af-
fairs Of the valley, the Government
reserve around the rim of the valley
and the valley itself, in the broad sense,
is the property and care of all the peo-
pie of the Government. That the State
was given charge Of the valley in no
wise relieves the Government of the
moral obligation to conserve the in
terests of the people in reaching this
wonderland.
The Federal Government has related
to its Agricultural Department Bu-
reau of Good Roads Inquiry presided
over by one of the most experienced
and broad-minded road engineers of
the age. It is therefore equipped pc
curarly to consider the matter and
perform the work. The State of Cali
fornsa has a Department of Highways
with three engineers in charge, and
with not, unhappily, much to do, since
the scheme Of work outlined for it was
negatived by executive veto. Undoubt-
ed1y this department could and would
aid in presenting this subject to the
Federal Government, and it could with
strict legitimacy contribute largely by
preliminary investigation and gather
ing of the necessary data aid in push
ing the present proposition and in NOV
ing upon the Federal authorities to
give the question serious consideration.
The cost to the Government would
be comparatively light. For such road
as is needed there is at hand along
every foot of the way practically the
necessary good road material in
abundance which at the outset re-
moves large part of the heaviest
item of cost, since it is estimated that
road metal properly prepared means &c
per cent. Of the total cost Of construc-
ton The aggregate amount that would
be required to build and equip such a
road as is asked for would be, in a
comparative sense. small; ii would be
indeed, such sum as in Federal con-
Sideration Of money output, would be
called triHing.
What the people of the United States
need is a first-elass, or. as We have said
a model permanent macadam highway
into the Yosemite Valley. It should
be broad and generous in all its de-
tal1ls It should follow the best grades
that can be established. It should be
practically indestructible. It should be
so reinforced by permanent stone
bridges. stone culverts and protective
works as to withstand the storms and
floods of winter in the higher alti-
tudes. Along precipitous lines it should
be protected by parapets, and through
out its entire length should be drained
and cut by culverts SO as to dispose OF