The San Francisco call., 1904-10-18
Soldier Guardians of the
National Park at Yosemite
FOrSake Posts for Winter
ARBORETUM COMPLETED
New Trails and Bridges and
Artistic Rustic Benches
Add to Beauty of Reserve
Special Dispatch to Tn. Call.

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK. Oc-
tober l7.-Captain ". H. Mccormack.
acting superintendent Of the Yosemite
National Park and commanding officer
Of the First Squadron CTroops c and
D., Ninth Cavalry. United States ar
my. left the park Saturday en- route
TO the Preside OF Monterey. The de-
parture OF the troops this year is ear
lier than usual and is due TO the reg
inaent being ordered 10 Fort Riley.
Captain Mccormack leaves the park
in a better condition than it has ever
been left before. General Macarthur.
on his tour Of inspection Of the park
this year. was pleased with its general
management.
A great many innovations have been
made, the most prominent among
which are the arboretum. suggested by
Major Bigelow; a new bridge spanning
the Merced and the renewal Of the
Chihuahua Falls trail. The arboretum
VIII be one Of the most interesting
features IN the Yosemite National Park
and the resort OF botanists and all
those interested in forestry. Almost
every specie OF plant life indigenous to
the Slerras has been collected and bo-
tanlcally classified The space covered
by the arbOretum is about ten acres.
The spot was selected on account Of
the beauty Of the surroundings and the
nne variety Of trees already there. 1t
IS at the junction OF the south fork of
the Merced and Big Greek, Just below
the post, and is adjacent to the State
fish hatchery and the Wawona mineral
springs, thus making the walk from
the hotel 10 the post a series Of attrac-
tions.
RUSTIC BENCHES IN NOOKS.
That the sightseer may not grow too
weary, every shady nook has a rustic
bench, many Of fantastic designs ar
tistically arranged by the quartermas-
ter. Lieutenant Edmund A. Buchanan.
The place is a veritable park, as all the
underbrush has been cleared and a
great deal Of landscape gardening done.
Connecting the post to the arboretum is
the new bridge, which enables the Pc
destrian TO visit the post
In the camp there has been a number
Of improvements. A building has been
erected as an Office for the acting Su-
perintendent Of the park. One Of the
most necessary Improvements in the
park was the renewal OF the trail 10 the
Chihuahua Falls. which is one of the
greatest attractions Of WawOna. These
falls rival any Of the falls in the Yo-
semitic Valley and have always been
great sight 10 the passing tourist.
The entire park has been carefully
some over and all its boundaries clearly
defined and trails built 10 the various
patrols. thus opening the beauties Of
she park 10 the public and facilitating
the work Of the troops. A good trail
has been built from Sunrise Meadows
TO Merced Lake and from Rodgers
Lake through Return Canyon. and Eir-
ginia Canyon 70 Smoky Jack Meadows.
More than 1000 head Of sheep have
been driven out Of the park this year,
and Captain Mccormack has ably ex-
tingIished the numerous forest fires
that have occurred during the SUM-
mer months before much damage could
be done TO the forests. The method he
employed was 10 make a counter-hre.
RECOMMENDS TELEPHONE.
In the superintedent's report TO the
Secretary Of the Interior he recon-
mends that the National Government
assume control OF the Yosemite VAL
icy; the purchase Of all patented lands
and toll roads within the limits of the
National Park. and strongly opposes
the Gillette bill (the cutting out Of
eight townships IL the park). To keep
in touch with all points in the park he
advises that q telephone line be con-
structed from Wawona TO all the patrol
stations. He also recommends that
trail from Mirror Lake be constructed
10 Lake Teneya. This will greatly
shorten the distance between the va
rious patrols and headquarters.
II is estimated that S13. 500 will be
needed for the renewal and construc-
tiOn OF trails next year. Captain Nc
Cornack thinks il very important
that the acting superintendent be
sent one month in advance OF
the troops in order that he may
set a clear understanding OF the
park. and thus save a waste Of time
IN patrOlling II. He also suggests that
the troops come earlier. so as TO have
sufficient time 10 complete the improve
Sneuts.
The Government has appropriated
about 5000 for next year for the build
ing OF kitchens and sheds and dining
rooms for the two troops, construction
q qUartermaster and commissary store
houses and enlarging the stables and
water supply. II was necessary to rent
& building from the WaWona Hotel
Company TO store all the tents and
camp equipments for the winter. Hith-
ertO the Government has always trans
ported all the camp freight to the Pre-
sidio ard much time was lost in getting
II I'D and down over the mountain
roads; besides the expense incurred
1.ss very heavy.
Game is very plentiful. especially
deer. which arc seen very frequently
from the roads.
What Dollar VIII Do.
Did you ever stop 20 consider what
you can do with a dollar? How much
more can be done with ten dollars. a hum
49,. .l--------. =.