New-York tribune., 1909-10-07
TAFT At YOSEMITEGAT
VISITS BIG TREES TO-DAY.
To Spend Three Days an PaiIey-
Trip from San Francisco.

lTtU from DuH IIuHCtoCO'
Fl Portal Cal. Oct 6-President Taft is safely
tucked away tonight in this remote little settle
ment the foot OF the Sierras and near the gaze
way OF the Yosemite Valley Clad in KHAKI fo'ls
breeches soft shirt Khaki coat, boots and cap ne
will tomorrow a three days trip OF slght-
seeing. He will visit the giant seauoias IN tne
Marposa big tree grove follow the roads and trans
leading into the valley and walk about the moor OF
the park
The visit 10 the big trees comes first in MI IaIt
itinerary. Leaving here by coach early to-morro"
morning he and his party will be driven 20 Wa
wona, at the edge Of the grove. He VIII DE or'Ne'
through a tunnel in the base Of one OF the uees'
which is said to be from three thousand TO hVe
thousand years old. The forenoon of Friday WIN
be given TO the big trees, the President speHoi"e
Thursday night at the hotel in WaWona'
on Friday afternoon the President VIII enter
the park from one OF the highest points and after
a trip TO all the show places OF the upper leNeis
viii descend 10 the floor, which is incosed oy al
most perpendicular cliffs of stone, more than tfee
thousand feet high II will be the Presidents first
trip into the Yosemite. and ne has been looking
forward 10 il for months both as a sightseeing
experience and as giving him three days Of rest
from crowds AMI speechmaking.
CAVALRY ESCORT DECLINED
When the park officials heard that the President
was coming they arranged TO have a troop of
United States cavalry his escort for the day
smong the big trees and the two days in the valley
Mr. Taft was informed OF the plans at San Fran
cisco, and he asked At 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 shall be relieved as
much as possible of official character The
President was pretty tired from his strenuous day
IN San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley yester-
Gay and retired early tonight in the little hotel
here
John Muir. the naturalist and geologist who is
an authority on the Yosemite joined the Presidents
party al San Francisco this morning. and will ex-
pain The wonders OF the park and valley TO Mr.
Taft. The Yosemite recently was ceded by Cali
forniR 10 the United States and is now under the
same control as the Yellowstone National Park
MI TAM will be accompanied into the big tree
grove and the park only by members Of his own
party and California delegation consisting of
Governor Gillett Senator Flint and Representatives
Needhan, Mckinley and Englebright. Rains for
the last ten days have put the roads In the best
condition and provided a supply Of water for
The fails which at this season have small resem-
blance 10 the cataracts OF the spring.
Ihe ride 4nto FL Portal this afternoon furnished
ioTetaste OF the scenery that the next three days
have in store for the President Leaving Merced at
2-So p m, after uneventful run down the San
Joaquin Valley, the Presidents train began an
eighty-nie run 10 the terminus OF the Yosemite
Valley Railroad. this place.
UNIRRIGATED LAND FOR GOLF LINKS.
Al Mereed golf stick, made of eucalyptus wood
gold mounted was presented TO the President The
presentation called out speech, in which Mr.. Taft
suggested that unTrigated land be turned into open
golf links for the public He said:
am very much touched by your kindness in Civ
ing this TO me, this mement0 Of my visit II
Tie game 20 of tte gs game 0f SinGA am very fond
Scotland by everybody from boys to old men and
they cali open links that is golf rrognds aVf 6eTofed
& 70 me public pun and ! sincerely hope that in this
country the game will spread
from een N 10 'ns Soay % need games for boys
al
some baseball fans equal to myself in that regard
doh know how IL Is with you. but have got
ee} ee}t ono 6y baseball playing days The game OF
deed have played with man very nearly sigliT,
an 4'e - me IT. Is game that leads YOU TO
Ahen you play game Of eighteen holes and walk
up"aFu GI tour or nye miles, there is only pleas
exercise that you have in baseball or tennis ''
irrigated mar ,. c oT' & Eere so4 may nave land not
y Ii hlat ABOUT II When You first see the game YOU
tt4ches 10 good sized man chasing qunine pill
S,t G,.. q SlcR around field: but after you have
-. ~ or lliee blows at that ball and found
d-4tr although II is considerably larger than "A
realize the training Of character that there is in it
~ con- know any game that is SO provocative Of
makes one 50 ashamed Of your profanitT n Is n
fha Few u ~ moments qi self ahasement with only
!csis VINO are not celebrated our modestv NAV
think, sure, that those gentlemen o,S- III
NJ. - an need OF something and do not know
grd rds the golf stlels and golf balls and chase them
N-.-,'o ia Ali'u6aAu wards afternoon fbay-
WI become a great deal more cuntented with life
sLu great deal better satisfied with the ronditio,,
/ IN which the Lord has left them
on The way from Merced to Fl Portal this even
ING the Presidents train bumped into a bandcar,
which section hand was trying 70 get o4f tba
track The car was little damaged no one was
hurt and there no delay
= sie3t crowd greeted The President attModesto
al noon, and he spoke briefly, saying:
II Is very good OF you to come out and give r,s
'ls cordial welcome this morning. We had a pretty,
strenuous day in San Francisco yesterday and %
day feel like boy out of school after an exam
lnetion don't want 10 do anything but smile ood
thk mat 1t Is over. However il is very pleasa nj
when you are going through il I am glad To see
you ana 10 look into Your faces and 10 know that
Eou are all looking forward TO accomplishing some
thlng and becoming even more well-to-do than van
are nov" for that is the American spirit that ma
al over me country. And am glad to know that
II IS IN California well as in Washington and in
Idaho Montana, Colorado. and even in Utah
among the Mormons. II makes man proud 10
belong 10 such race for we are distinctive racs -
SAYS Mr. TAFT WAS MISINFoRMED.