Evening star., 1901-10-29
TWO NATIONAL PARKS
REPORT OF THE ACTING srPERIy-
TENDENT MADE PUBLIC.
Fine Mountain Road in Process. of
tonstructfon-Two Caves Ex-
Plored-Some Suggestfons

3. =
intendent Of the Sequoia and General
Grant national parks in California, to the
Secretary Of the Interior, made public this
afternoon. tells of the fine mountain road
That is now building in extension of the
country road from Visalfa, for which 500
zoo Is being expended and which will make
accessible the giant forest of sequoias
which is the first point OF interest in the
SeQuoia Park
The survey for the extension OF the road
into the forest is now progressing The
route out of the canyon is picturesque and
will contain no grade greater than per
cent. 1t will raise the crest and enter the
forest near the Moro rock, thence pass by
Crescent meadow, which will furnish fine
pasturage for tourists horses through the
best portions of the forest to the General
Sherman, the largest tree there. Between
the road and Moro rock stands a lone Sc
quota, considered the most perfect specf-
men, though not so large, which has been
named for President Theodore Roosevelt
Farther on the road will pass near the beau
tiful trees named, respectively Abraham
Lincoln and William Mckinley.
CiOuEh and Palmer Caves.
The acting superintendent says that he
has personally inspected the Clough and
Palmer caves In the Sequoia Park. The
Clough cave is in the rock side Of the cam
yon of the South Fork of Kings river, five
hours from Kaweah post Office. A good
trail will be opened to 1t by the beginning
Of next season. The Palmer is high in the
mountain range to the northeast of the
Clough.
Through an irregular opening in the roof
about ten by twenty feet" the report con-
tinues, I'VE were lowered by rope tackle a
sheer drop of sixty feet. into the end of a
vaulted cavern about I5o feet long, the floor
sloping rapidly down away from the en-
q M ~ faaf hffh z
highest, the sides very irregular. due TO
caving off Of large rock masses, the great
est width being about 30 feet. Through
low opening Well back and on the right side
cavern, generally circular in shape, 100 feet
in diameter, and about 80 feet high.
Here are some beautiful stalactites and
stalagmites and one noticeably beautiful
pillar. Beyond this is Yet another room,
long, narrow and of no particular interest.
The beauties of this cave are unimpaired
and the specimens quite perfect. Appar-
eEtly 1t has been visited by but few parties,
due to the hardship now attending its en-
trance. IT is well worth preservation. and
/ recommend that an iron ladder be placed
to admit easier access with an iron graf
ing, trapdoor and key to prevent unauthor-
lied visiting.
Now that the cave question is exploited.
I am hearing of other caves but little
known. / would recommend that a thor
ough investigation OF these be made next
season when time viii admit"
The General Grant Park.
Many Improvements in the General Grant
Park have been made during the year. This
park is two miles square and contains two
Sequoia groves. one OF which is the Gem
eral Grant tree.
"I regret that the department has rot
been able to send a representative here
this season to go over the ground with me
before / submitted this report" it con-
tinues. that the future policy Of the lark
might be clearly understood and a scheme
Of development adopted. on which I could
have based broader recommendations.
t'If 1t is the design only to preserve the
giant forest, I would drop all those south
ern portions containing nothing to justify
the name of park, and confine attention to
the forest proper, completing the 6faht
Forest road and standing on that.
"If on the other hand. II Is desired 10
combine the wonders of nature In this sec
tion into a national park to be In the same
class with the Yellowstone and Yosemite.
this, too, can be done. The canyons and
mountains are here as grand, perhaps, as
tance Of the giant forest is a central fea-
ture and separated only by a rugged, pic
turesque country, OF no industrial value but
as a reservoir for valley irrigation. are the
Kings river and Kern river canyons, re-
ported to be the deepest In the United
States. and Mount Whitney. the highest
mountain.
This will require the personal exposition
in Washington Of some representative man
or committee of men who have first fnvesu-
gated the whole situation here on the
ground and dfgested complete plan OF
development and in my JUDGEMENT the nat
ural features here more than Justify the
6aDa rtment IN taking such q course"