Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-23
TO POLICYHOLDERS:

and must be replaced Immediately. and
the roads are in such wretched condition
that visitors cannot ride through the
park without suffering from dust ana
unnecessary fatigue. Maj. Benson re-
Gently superintendent in his latest report,
says, THE condition of the roads in and
about the Yosemite is deplorable." And
he says that.they should be sprinkled reg
ularly, because I'm that climate. where
four CT five months pass without the
slightest rainfall. artificial means are nee
essary to keep down the dust.
Some of the most important roads in
the valley belong to private parties. who
do nothing to improve them. because
they cannot secure a guarantee posses
sion for any length of time from the
government. They make the excuse that
they cannot be expected to eXpend lot
of money upon roads which may be taken
away from them at any time. Automo-
biles are not allowed in the park because
the roads are mot safe. but as soon as
they are in proper condition it is prob
able that the Secretary of the Interior
will issue regulations similar to those in
force at Mount Rainier.
Since the government took possession
of the Yosemite a steam railroad has
been built to connect with the Southern
Pacific and the Santa Fee railways at the
town of Merced. 1t carries visitors to a
sta ton called Ell Portal at the boundary
of the park. 4 traveller can leave San
Francisco in the morning, reach Ell Portal
without change of cars in the evening,
stay overnight at comfortable hotel
and take a stage ride of fourteen miles
through the valley to the Seminal Hotel
in about four hours. 1t is also possible
to go in from Raymond by stage via Wa
wona in two days. as formerly.
Since the railway was opened in 1907
there has been very large increase of
visitors. but they are still amazingly few
in number compared with those who go
to Europe every year and obtain very
much less enjoyment at very much
larger price. For example. in 1906 only
55l4 people came. Of whom more than
$500 were campers. who brought their
own teams, tents and provisions. Most
Of them were from the immediate locality.
In 1907 there were 1,102 visitors. of whom
l,492 were campers. In 1903 the opening
of the railroad caused an increase to
$3.50. Of whom 1880 came by rail.
The Seminal Hotel has been renodeled
and is very comfortable. but its capacity
is overtaxed nearly every day during the
season, and it Is not supplied with mod
ern conveniences. The manager, J. B.
Cook, does the best he can with the facil-
tiles at his disposition. A new modern
hotel Is absolutely essential. and the Sec
rotary OF the Interior has given a conces-
sion to Frank A. Miller, as have already
explained. who Is expected to begin work
on a half-million-doIlar structure at the
earliest moment practicable.
The government owns the present build
ing, and the Secretary Of the Interior fixes
the rates. which are s. and 81 a day. ac-
cording to accommodations. People who
do not care to pay SO much can find sew
eral camps where they can sleep in tents
and have their meals under canvas at
prices varying from 81 to 81 a day One
of the camps Is kept by a Capt Curry
who Is famous tor his voice. He can
stand In the valley and talk TO people on
Glacier Point. 900 feet above his head
While under control Of the state OF
California, the owners and Iessees Of pri-
vate property were allowed to Craze their
sheep and cattle in the neighboring for
ests free or charge, and when the gov
eminent attempted to shut them out they
made great deal of trouble. About
10000 acres in the park is owned in small
tracts by private individuals who obtain
ed it in early days by purchase from
the government. The largest tract is
owned by J. P. Curtin. IA member of the
California state senate from Sonora coun-
ty. He brought suit to RESTRAINT the SUI
perintendent of the park from interfering
with his cattle. which had always been
allowed to Craze in the valley. The courts
decided against him and INDICATED the
right Of the superintendent to enforce the
regulations. Since then there has been
no trouble for stockmen, and there have
been few fires, which were formerly n,I-
merous and destructive of the magnif-
cent timber.
Under state control the Yosemite valley
was death trap to all game that was
foolish enough to enter 1t. Almost ev-
erybody kept rife and campers were
allowed to carry guns and shoot what
ever animals they saw. This has also been
stopped, and game is now becoming very
tame and increasing as in the Yellow