The record-union., 1899-05-22
EDITORS IN YOSEMITE.
VIEWING THE WONDERS OF
NATURE.
California Press Association Amid
the Grandest Scenery in
the World

The excursion Of the California Press
Association to Yosemite Valley proved
in many respects the most delightful
in the history of that organization,
which is saying a great deal, for some
OF the trips of the past have been fun
of interest and pleasure. The excur-
sionists, numbering twenty-nine, left
San Francisco on Saturday evening,
May 18th, and returned yesterday.
These annual outings of the editors
of the interior press, while affording
much enjoyment to those who avail
themselves of them, are also of great
benefit to the people of the State at
large. This is especially true of this
excursion, as the Yosemite Valley is the
property Of the State and therefore all
are interested in it. Those who made
this trip will not return to their homes
and attempt to describe their own
pleasurable experiences, for these
would not interest the general reader,
nor is it likely that any one of them
will attempt to give an adequate de-
scription of the valley and its wonders,
for no writer has yet been able to do
so, though the greatest of them have
attempted it. but these editors have
invaluable to the people of the State
and it will be used from time to time
as questions arise in regard to the Gus
tody and care of this great property.
The people of the United States and
even of California do not begin to COM
prehend what wonderland we have
within our borders. No one will ever do
so until he has visited it, but all of the
nhnrla hnyv.a q int in fhQ YnGAn1iFP
Valley and desire that its affairs be ad-
ministered in such a manner that it
may be made as accessible as possible
and that all it's primitive beauty and
grandeur be preserved Matters affect
ing this great property arise at each
session of the Legislature, when appro-
priations are made for the maintenance
of the park and it is therefore of the
utmost Importance that those who are
to write upon the advisability of this cr
that appropriation should be fully
equipped with facts in regard to the
needs of the valley The editors who
went on this excursion have gathered
these facts and in the requirement of
the knowledge they have gained have
had the grandest experiences of their
lives. Such mingling of pleasure with
for the benefit of the people of the State
does not fall to the lot of any other
organization that we know of. The
greatest value of this excursion to the
State will not appear in write-ups Of
the trip, as tending toadvertise the Won
ders of the Yosemite Valley and. Mari
posa Big Tree Grove. though this will
be no small consideration, but it will
hA n fhQ Of I'm ipe
az matters affecting the property arise
for public consideration.
The excursionists reached Raymond
Ey the Southern Pacific Railroad early
on Sunday morning, May 18th. Here
they were met by J. F. Stevens, Assis-
tant Superintendent of the Yosemite
Stage and Turnpike Company, who had
in readiness three splendid four-horse
stages and after a good breakfast at
Ledig's Hotel the trip to the Yosemite
Valley was commenced over the best
equipped stage line in the West, The
coaches We're modern, easy running
ccnveyances, built expressly for the
ser7ice. They had high-backed, we'll
cushioned seats and were drawn by Sc
lected horses we'll trained to their work
Nearly 300 horses are used in transport
passengers TO ana from the Vdlley
at this time. as the travel is very heavy.
The drivers are men of long experience
on the road and can point out every OBJ
ject of interest along the line and sive
its history. Some of them are full Of
hunor and occasionally green tourist
is made to contribute great deal of
amusement to his fellow passengers by
the artful stories of these jehus.
1t is not the purpose of this article
to give a detailed description of The
wonderful scenes on the way, bet rather
to give brief outline of the trip. A
drive Of twenty-one miles brought the
party to Ahwahnee, where it was met
by A. H. Washburn, the General Sup
erintendent Of the Yosemite Stage and
Turnpike Company, and from that hour
1t was under the personal direction Of
this talented man. He is simply a won-
der in executive capacity and skill in
the handling of q large business of this
character. Silently and without ostan-
tation he handles the enormous traffic
over this great artery of travel from