New-York tribune., 1901-02-10
SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT ON
THE NEED FOR ROAD EXTEN-
SION AND REPAIRS

world can show more attractive scenic features
than this ten square miles of half unexplored
country. containing of the highest noun
tains. the deepest canyons and the largest trees
on this continent. Often this reservation has
been described the paradise of sportsmen and
lowers Of nature. The tributaries of the Kern
River, whose meadows are beautifully carpeted
with various flowers, ramify this entire section
Of Tulare County and furnish to the angler a
chance TO catch golden trout nowhere else
known The vistas entirely free from
underbrush. there being at almost any point
desirable srots for camping purposes. with
nearly always a running spring of fine drinking
water.
The Giant Forests of the Sequoia Park con-
tain upward Of five thousand massive trees.
ranging from two hundred feet to four hundred
and five feet in height. and from nearly fifty
feet over a hundred feet in circumference.
hc'rcs Of them reach from fifteen to eighteen
fcet in diameter. The historical General Sher-
man tree in this forest is eighty feet in cir
cumference at elevation of eighty feet.
Among other interesting trees and features of
the preserve are The Burned Hollow Sequoia,"
SThe Fallen Sequoias" and The Twin Giants"
Although the Sequoia National Park is not so
popular the Yosemite and others. il is re-
ported that the number OF tourists who visit it
5 Increasing each year. y general feeling OF
eat>4 Is expressed Dy All corners as 10 the
scenic features and natural curiosties of the
Sequoia Reservation. but much discomfort has
peen manifested by visitors well by In
terror Department officials. over the way il has
had to be neglected account of inadequate
appropriations.
Captain West, 9th Infantry acting superin
t'ndent Of the SeIu ia and General Grant Ma
tional parks. has just sent bis report To Secre-
tary Hitchcock. Concerning the need for ex-
tending road to the Giant Forest ana for re
IarinS the park he says:
During the last dec tde the Scqucia National
Park has been such i'm name only as uutu last
year not one dollar had been expended Ia i'm
prove IL and make its natural beauties ana sub
lime scenery accessible To- th, public TN. f,st
appropriation for Ire improvement Of tn. park
was made in the SundrH civil bill approved
June q. 1900, in which an AZ pTopriation ~ Slo-
tHn was authorized for protection of tn, park
anu lmproN ernent and extension OF roads
The most important improy en.cnt needed vas
the repairing II the Old Colony Mil road and
us extension 10 the Giant Forest. For th,s, i'm
prove tncn's SNil' was assigned by the S,cr, tary
q the Interior for repairs to tho old Colony
Mill road. ard the balance was set asid. f.r its
extension toward the Giant Forest. The road
had become almost impassable account Of a
dense growth 81 bruThWood ami the retaining
walls having fallen away. This is a rrfrarka hl,.
Ioad from the vast amount OF labor used IN its
construction. arising from the mountaiEulis and
rugged country through which il passes. over
thItc years were spent in its construction. il
having been built by the kaweah COLONY for
the purpose Of getting at the big tres OF the
Giant Forest, which II was pro Doscd To a.lt into
lumber. hut the Government put a stop 10 its
Proceedings. and the investment was a total
loss to the colony.
As the Old Colony Mill road is veiy narrow
permitting teams to pass only at rare inter
N@ls. il Is in great need Of further Improvement
10 cut off the sharp bends GA the u,,,r.r sid. Of
the road. widen the turnouts and make repairs
that will be needed after the winter storms have
washed its bed For this purpose tho s,im of
Sl,Nln Is recommended 10 be- appropriated l,y the.
Congress at It's next session.
As To the extension Of the road from Colony
Mil to the Giant Forest 6cight and one half
miles Distant. the TorI. began on August -
lbtb, but the country through which the road
passes rs very rough and heavily tmberrd
and, therefore. IL required skilfuI q auiuai ION
10 nnd a practicable route. which consumed
many weeks The route has finally been located
and low grades for 4 mountain road attained in
no case exceeding eight feet rise in one hundred
feet. The appropriation set aside (S.i2UD will
Giant Forest. IL is estimated that SIoGin will
be needed To extend the road and bridge the
creeks and Marble Fork 81 the Kawean River.
The funds to bc appropriated should be made
available Immediately so that the work may lie
begun IN time To open the road by the begin
ming of the next summer season. The fore
going proposed extension viii only take the road
10 the northwestern corner oF the Giant Forest
at Round Meadow. IL should be continued in "A
circular direction from this point To near Moro
Rock, Tharps L"l: Cabin the General Sherman
tree. Circular Meadow. and back of the Round
Meadows. 1t is thought that the for this
extension would not exceed $500 "A mile