Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-10
TAFT FINISHES
YOSEMITE TRIP
adred-Mile Journey in Stage and
on Foot Among Natural
Wonders Ends.
I,ART MADE FOR LOS ANGELES
ktops Will Be Made Today at Merced,
II Bakersfield and Fresno.
WALKS OVER THE SHORT TRAIL
President Sets Fast Pace on Trip
Down Mountain.
INTEREST IN DAM PROPOSITION
Project TO Create Lake in valley to
supply Water 10 San Francisco
Called to Mr. TafPs
Attention.
President Sets Fast Pace on TriI
Down Mountain.
INTEREST IN DAM PROPOSITION

Ell PORTAL, Cal, oct. s-After having
Travelled nearly 100 miles by stage and on
foot in and around the Yosemite valley
President Taft reached here tonight and
will resume his Journey to the southwest
tomorrow morning. He will stop during the
day at Merced, Fresno and Bakersfield
and reach Los Angeles early Monday
morning.
The president was wet with perspiration
when lie reached the foot of the trail to-
day and had to go to bed in the Sentinel
hotel While his clothing was hung out in
the sun to dry, as he had only the one
gray Norfolk jacket suit with him in the
park
President Taft took luncheon with Major
Forsythe of the army His last day In the
Hosefnlte park was most enjoyable He
began the day by looking at the sunrise
over the eastern granite walls Of the valley
his vantage point being the veranda Of the
little Glacier Point hotel, right at the very
edge OF a 8,O00-foot cliff The surroundings
were rough and secluded and the president
appeared in scant attire. Having seen the
sun properly up. Mr. Taft retired again and
slept until o'clock.
The altitude did not seem to affect him
and the president has stood the long rides
and early hours of the Yosemite trip better
than some OF the other members OF his
party.
President Sets Fast Pace.
Today the president set such a pace
down the four miles of the short trail
which brought him from Glacier Point
to Yosemite that he had two of his con-
gressional escort, Representatives Nc
Ktnley and Needham calling for help
AT Union Point, one-third OF the way
from the top, the president went to the
very edge of the cliff and waved hand
kerchief in greeting to some mere speces
of humanity. who could be seen moving
about below him. In a little while he
caught the sound of three cheers sent up
$ in his honor John Muir, the naturalist
explained every view. every tree and
flower on the way down and dwelt time
and again upon the glacial theory of the
formation of the valley. The president
was told that the short trail" down.
which he was passing was first "blazed"
by an old settler who lived In the hills
His wife would not let him have any
whisky in the house. he had to walk
daily down Into the valley to get a drink
In the presidential party during the stay
in the Yosemite have been Governor
Gillett, Senator Flint, Representatives
Englebright Mckinley Needham and
John Muir and Major W. w. Forsythe, the
army custodian OF the park.
Interest In Dam plan.
The president has evinced lively interest
in the proposition on foot in San Fran
cisco to throw a dam across the Hetchy
Hetchy valley OF the Yosemite park and
create lake there, to give that city a
supply OF water. Mr. Muir, who has spent
much Of his life in the Yosemite has de-
ciared TO the president with all the en-
thusiasm OF the real lover OF nature that
the plan is a sacrifice
He added that the Yosemite was a place
in which to say ones prayers and never
shAeld be used for commercial purposes
President Taft had been deeply impressed
with the beauty. not only OF the valley
itself, but the entire Yosemite park He
declared that the park had been neglected,
as compared with the Yellowstone. MIR.
Taft is anxious that some definite plan OF
Improvement shall be agreed upon in order
that progress may be made year by year.
Road building is the first great need. as
the president himself has suggested. and he
probably will make some recommendation
on the subject in his forthcoming message
TO congress.
Arriving at the floor OF the valley today
the president was greeted by Galen Clark.
81 years old, who was the first white man
to make known the existence Of the giant
Seqroia trees Of the Mariposa groves.
one result Of the presidents trip into
the Yosemite has been to make him an
enthusiast on forestry, The secluded Sc
quoias were not alone responsible for this
For three days the president has travelled
through forests Of yellow and sugar pine
and fir trees that have lowered from 500
10 500 feet above the road and they have
called out constant expressions Of his ad-
miration To many the slender. arrow-like
grace OF the pines and the fir holds more
beauty than the gnarled. rugged mass OF
the Seauoias.
Members of the California delegation TO
congress who have been accompanying him
through the Yosemite have been urging the
president to make a trip to the Philippines
in 1911. Mr.. Taft has no deeper interest
than those Of the Philippines and he has
listened TO the suggestions OF a trip to
the islands with some degree Of enthusiasm
on his part II has been pointed out TO
The president that he could make a trip
to the Philippines well inside OF three
months by taking fast cruiser and that
he would actually be away from wash
iRgton but a little longer than on his
Journey through the west
Plan OF Proposed TrfD.
II the president should decide to go. IL
would De his idea 10 have a large congress
tonal delegation precede him on ship so
they might go over the island with him
The president Is extremely anxious 10 re-
turn there for a visit
With contemplated visit to Alaska next
year and stop at Honolulu on the way
homa followed by a voyage TO the Philip-
pines IN 1911. with an occasional visit 10
~ Panama, President Taft would easily SCI
new mark for presidential travel.
While the presidents clothes we're drying
Ae the sentinel hotel today. he took a two
hSurs nap and felt greatly refreshed. So