Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-10

| franchise or use tax. based upon their
gross earnings. for the enlargement of
the maintenance fund.- and. where new
| leases are executed, to advance the
rentals and franchise charges proportion
ate to the privileges enjoyed. definite
system of accounting and inspection Will
be installed for the governments protec-
| ton in this behalf.
In the Yosemite National Park spe-
cial attention is directed to the necessity
for the establishment of permanent
water and drainage system to protect the
health of the tourists and campers and
those stationed In the park. A board of
government experts should be selected
to submit proper plans for solving this
pressing problem.
Big Hotel Needed.
"None of the hotels or public convent
ence structures In the park Is adequate
for the accommodation of tourists. or
in keeping with the scenic surround
ings. They are Old frame structures of
the 'wayside inn type. / would favor
the erection by the government of a per-
manent tavern or hotel OH the floor of
the Yosemite Valley canyon and one at
Glacier Point, to be leased for reason
able periods.
1.-The electric plant should be con-
demned unsafe and a new one In
stalled. Private toll roads should be ex-
placed under the control Of and main
tanned by the government. Extensions of
road construction are important to give
the public easy access to many OF the
natural wonders of the Yosemite and It's
adjacent valleys. such as the Hetch
Hetchy and Grand Canyon of the Tue
lunne. and a new road is feasible and
desirable along the south crest of the
valley canyon to Glacier Point"
Secretary Ballinger recommends also
that a permanent military post be estab-
lished In the Yosemite like that in the
Yellowstone Park, instead Of keeping
troop of cavalry in camp there during
the summer months. He says:
THE system of maintaining regular
troops in the Yellowstone or Yosemite
parks is a highly satisfactory method Of
control. The moral effect and the saving
in expense of the administration alone
Justify their assignment
He recommends. however, that the ap-
preparations of money for the construc-
ton and maintenance Of the roads in the
park should be expended by the Int
rior Department rather than by the En-
gineer Corps of the army. as has al
ways been the case This recommends
ton Is doubtless based upon the fric-
ton that has recently occurred between
the representatives of different branches
of authority in Yellowstone Park.
The work and the responsibility there
are divided between the Interior Depart
ment, the commandant of Fort Yellow
stone. who Is line officer of the army,
the quartermaster generals department,
which has charge of physical conditions
at the post, and representative of the
Corps of Engineers. Secretary Ballinger,
like every other disinterested observer,
believes that Capitalization Of authori-
ty would be more satisfactory.
The Secretary recommends that Con-
gress authorize the purchase Of all pri-
vate lands, toll roads and other property
in the Yosemite Park that do not al
ready belong to the government; particu-
larly the private timber land which, IL
stripped of trees, would greatly mar the
beauty Of the park.