The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-10-07
President Secured a Good
Nights Rest Before Three
Days of Sightseeing in the
Beautiful Yosemite Valley.
WILL VISIT THE GIANT
TREES THIS MORNING
Then All the Show Places in
the Park VIII Be Viewed in
Turn Before the Executive
Continues HOmeWard Trip,
FEW SPEECHES YESTERDAY

FL Portal, Cal, Oct. 6.-President
Taft is safely tucked away tonight in
this remote little settlement at the
foot of the SierTas and near the gate
way of the Yosemite valley, one of
the garden spots of the world.
Clad Ii khaki riding breeches, soft
shirt, khaki coat, boots and cap, Pres
ident Taft tomorrow morning will
start out of Ell Portal on three days
trip of sightseeing.
BY stage and on foot he will visit the
giant sequoias in the Mariposa big tree
grove. will follow the roads and trails
into the valley and viii walk about the
floor OF that park TO admire its impOs-
ing scenic splendOr
The visit to the big trees said to be
the oldest and largest of living things
comes first in Mr.. Tafts itinerary. Leav-
Ing by coach early tomorrow morning, he
and his party VIII be driven TO WaWOna
at the edge Of the grove where real mon
archs of the forest grow to an altitude
OF more than 300 feet and more than 100
lest IN circumference at the base.
A Wonderful Experience.
Mr.. Taft will be driven through a tun-
mel cut through the base of one of the
old trees which is said to have been
standing from 5000 to 5000 years The
forenoon of Friday will be given over TO
the big trees, the President spending
Thursday night at the hotel in WawOna.
On Friday afternoon the President will
enter the park from one of the highest
points, and after trip 10 all the show
places of the upper levels. will begin
descent TO the floor which is enclosed by
almost perpendicular cliffs of stone more
than 1900 feet in height. 1t will be the
Presidents first trip into the Yosemite.
and he has been looking forward to il for
months, both as a sightseeing experience
and as affording three days Of rest from
surging crowds and speechmaking.
Display Not Desired.
When the park officials heard that the
President was coming, they arranged to
have a troop of United States cavalry act
as his escort for the day among the high
trees and the two days in the valley. Mr..
Taft was Informed of the plans at San
Francisco, and he asked at once that the
escort be dispensed with. He is anxious
that the trip through the park shall be
devoid of spectacular features and that
his visit be relieved as much as possible
of an official aspect The President was
pretty tired from his strenuous day in
San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley
yesterday and retired early tonight in the
little hotel here.
John Muir on Hand.
John Muir, the noted naturalist and
geologist, who is the recognized authority
on all matters of the Yosemite, Joined the
Presidents party at San Francisco this
morning and will personally explain the
wonders of the park and valley to Mr.
Taft. The Yosemite recently was re-
coded by the state Of California to the
United States and now is under the same
control as the Yellowstone. The Presi-
dent visited the Yellowstone several years
ago and during his present tour is adding
the Yosemite and the Grand canyon. in
Arizona, to the long list OF the world
wonders it has been his good fortune to
see.
Few Members in Party.
sMr. Taft viii be accompanied into the
big tree grove and into the park only by
members of his own party and a CalfOr-
mia delegation consisting of Governor Gil
lette. Senator Flint and Representatives
Needham. MCkinlay and Engelbright.
When the date of the Presidents visit
TO the park was fixed there was great
fear that his trip might be seriously
maTTed by the suffoCating dust which
sometimes is encountered on the way in
and out during the dry season of the
year. Rains during the last ten days /
however. have fortunately served to put
the roads in the best of condition and
also to provide a new supply of water for (
the falls, which at this season have but |
small semblance to the rushing, pitching |
cataracts of the spring
BIG INHERITANCE TAX.