Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-19
Grandest Resort in the World.

These parks are practically connected
Some of them already adjoin. and the dis
tances between the others are so short that
they can be connected with boulevards, and
II properly arranged will afford a public
resort of unparalleled attractions. of great
or variety and area than the Yellowstone
National Park or the Grand Canyon or the
Colorado. Indeed, there is no such scenery
to be found elsewhere. There are several
peaks reaching higher than 1900 feet. In
GLIDING Mt. Whitney, which is SAID 10 De
the highest in the United states, uoZeh
CANYONS three or four thousand feet deep,
Innumerable lakes and mountain streams
hundreds. of waterfalls and six groves OF
redwood and sequoia giants scattered over
a considerable area. which TOT age, size
and grandeur cannot be approached IN any
other part of the world. With system OF
roads similar to those in the Yellowstone
National Park, with stage lines ana car
riages hotels and rest houses at frequent
intervals, like those In the Forests OF Eu-
rome and the fjords of Norway, these reser-
yations would furnish the grandest, most
extensive most sublime and most enjoyable
playground that was ever conceived OF.
To accomplish this; to secure peIpetualy
this playground for the people and to pre-
mare II for their enjoyment Is the ambition
of certain patriotic gentlemen. They have
been compelled to move slowly Tor rear OF
exciting unnecessary opposition ana pro-
yoking the hostility of private interests;
but they have the sympathy and co-opera-
ton of the President, the Secretary OF the
Interior, the governor OF Canrornla ana
other powerful influences, who last year
secured the passage Of an act OF the legis-
iature of this state receding to the federal
government the grant of 1854. embracing
both the Yosemite valley and the Mari
posa grove of big trees. This was not &C
complished without opposition, and unfor-
tunately. by a misunderstanding, Congress
did not accept the grant in terms so clear
as to protect II from future litigation. The
sundry civil appropriation bill. however,
contained a clause appropriating $4,000
for the care of the valley. but did not ac-
cept the grant in definite and exact terms.
Dispute Over Ownership.
The Senate passed a bill containing an
acceptance clause. but for some reason it
was stricken out. leaving only the appro-
prlation. The Secretary Of the Interior in
structed Captain Benson OF the '4th Cav
airy, acting superintendent of the national
park to take possession. but George Har-
low. the guardian appointed by the state
commissioners. declined to relinquish au-
thority, and Secretary Hitchcock referred
the matter to the Attorney General for an
opinion. At the same time Governor Par
dee of California applied to the attorney
general of the state for legal opinion as
to whether the appropriation clause in the
sundry civil bill constituted legal ac-
ceptance of the recession of the property.
Professional courtesy has prevented these
eminent legal authorities from expressing
their views. AS the state of California Is
the active party in the transaction. Attor-
ney General Moody thinks that Its repre-
sentative should have the right to deter
mine the technicality involved because the
United States Is only passive agent. On
the other hand, the attorney general Of the
state yields precedence to the law officer
of the federal government and evidently
does not wish to become entangled In what
promises to become political issue.
In the meantime State Senator J. B. Cur
tin. Thomas Deguerre and several other
ranchmen have taken hand In the fight