The record-union., 1897-11-30
Weather Forecast.
Northern Calfornia-Rain Tuesday, with
fresh southerly wind.
AN UNECONOMIC RECOMMENDA,
TION.

Captain Rodgers, Acting Superinten-
dent of the National Reserve around the
Yosemite Valley, reports to the Secre-
tary of the Interior a recommendation
that the Government purchase the four
toll roads leading into the valley, and
provide means for their maintenance
and repair.
The Secretary submits this recon-
mendation, and says that if it becomes
the policy of the Government to possess
these roads, then Congress should give
his department sufficient appropriation
to keep them in good condition. The
reason advanced by Captain Rogers for
his recommendation is that it viii rem
der the guarding of the forest reserve
easier, and will accommodate the 1000
or 5000 people from the San Joaquin
Valley who come into the Yosemite an
nually, enabling them to do so cheaply
and under better conditions.
The policy of buying four old toll
roads should not be for one moment con-
sidered by the Government. There
should be free, easy, good passage into
the Yosemite, but the Federal Govern
ment should, over its own lands. which
encompass the Yosemite, construct a
new good road over the best route and
make it a model road and maintain it
free to all as such.
Should the ill-conceived policy of pur-
chasing the old roads prevail it will be
found that not one of them covers the
best route, has the easiest grade, or is
on the most economic course. But the
Government will be at once called upon
TO make some one of these roads a good
macadam, and to keep it in permanent
repair and maintain it. Which Of the
four will it choose? Or will 1t treat all
four alike? Obviously it will be a case
of buying at,second hand that which can
be purchased new at less price.
The cost of the four old roads will be
greater than the cost OF the construction
of one good road over a better route One
road within the confines of the forest
reserve of the Government, is all that it
should concern itself about. If coun-
ties, the State and individuals, build
from various points to meet that road at
the confines of the reserve, we'll and
good; such roads would be, will Of
course be built, but the Federal Gov
ernment should have one inviting high
class or model road over its own lands
into the Yosemite Valley, as a matter Of
pride, as a matter of economy, as a
matter of duty to the people. as an invi-
tation to tourist travel, and because it
cannot afford TO take and keep in poor
repair four old roads neither of which is
attractive to travel and not one of which
can be maintained except at heavy cost.
1t should be the policy of the Govern
ment to put up with no make shifts In
such cases. It should have the best
only. It wants no old highways when
It can build new at lighter cost that viii
involve a less sum for annual mainte-
nance. The care of the four old earth
roads will call for such a great deal of
money yearly for repairs, sprinkling, the
substitution Of stone for wood bridges,
etc, that we will have Congress protest
ing because of the outlay. But the care
of a model stone road Will be light.
The Department Of Highways of this
State has been over the ground and has
urgently advised that the Federal Gov
ernment build its own road. make it a
perfect road and lay its courses along the
lines indicated by the flow of the Merced
River. The Record Union" has at no
time contended for any particular route
for the proposed new road. It has been
content to leave that to the engineers OF
the Government TO determine. But ii
knows perfectly well that neither OF the
four old roads is properly located. Their
grades are outrageously heavy, their
routes unnecessarily long, and the cost
of maintenance after reconstruction will
be enormous
This journal has therefore urged that
news shorter, swift, high grade road
be built with permanent bridges and
culverts constructed upon scientific
principles. built by skilled men and that
the line of the road be laid upon the best