Evening star., 1909-08-22
PERMANENT PLAN BEST
Change Urged in Policy at
Yellowstone Park.
PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED
Present Policy Tends to Confusion,
Duplication and Waste.
COMMISSION SHOULD GOVERN
Men With knowledge Of Parks and
Public Resorts Recommended.
Present Conditions.
PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED
COMMISSION SHOULD GOVERN
BY WILLIAM. +. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM Z. CURTIS.
Written for The Star ana the Chicago Record
Herald.
MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS. wyo,
August 13, 1909
II is about time that permanent policy
was adopted for the government of yell
lowstone Park. 1t is under the care of
the Secretary of the Interior at present
and each successive incumbent of that
office has his own ideas as 20 what should
be done and how things should be man
aged His representative for the execu-
tion OF the laws and regulations, and for
the protection of property is an officer
OF the army, who is also commandant at
Fort Yellowstone. the military post at
the entrance of the park, and is fire.
quertty changed. The improvements and
physical work are in charge of an officer
of engineers who reports TO the chief
OF engineers at Washington.
If the government erects a building or
extends its plant, the plans are made and
carried out by an officer of the quarter
masters department as at present in the
construction of new power house to
furnish light and power for the army post
and for the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel.
The commanding officer and the engineer
III charge have nothing whatever to say
about this Improvement but it is made
by direction of the quartermaSter general,
and subject 10 his approval.
This division of authority and divergence
of ideas always creates confusion
duplication OF expenditures and a waste
OF money. and collisions must naturally
he expected because each officer is usu-
ally a man of strong character. and has
ideas Of his own. which may not conform
to those of others. Behind all these four
independent authorities are the hotel COM
pany. the transportation companies and
the people. who have privileges and con-
cessions granted them by the Secretary
of the Interior. They are theoretically
under his control and must secure his
approval every time they make change
in their methods or their property.
Commission Recommended.
There ought to be a commission of
broad minded men with a thorough knowl-
ege of parks and public resorts in Europe
and other countries; with experience In
handling large affairs and with artistic
tastes. who shall be authorized by Con-
gress to investigate the conditions OF the
park and lay out permanent plan for
its protection and improvement; for the
location of hotels and other buildings;
for the construction of roads. etc, ETC..
and they should revise the regulations, so
that the greatest public playground in
The world may be enjoyed to Its full ex-
tent by the people of the United States,
for whom Ii is intended.
The park is already enjoyed by several
thousand citizens every year, but It's
possibilities are much greater than the
present privileges. 1t should be made
shooting preserve for big game. under
which surround it on three sides should
be subject to the same rules and regula-
tions, as they are already connected with
its system of roads and trails
Extension Of Privileges.
The park is probably the finest fishing
ground in the country. but it might be
made even better. It abounds with glori-
Gus streams of pure, transparent water,
rushing over beds of stone, and there are
innumerable lakes. which should be
stocked regularly every year. so that
they may be fished out as so many
lakes and streams in the Rocky noun
tains already have been.
Hundreds of fishermen. who know the
park come in every year, but ten and
twenty times as many people should be
BILE to enjoy the same privilege. Ihe
hotel and transportation facilities have
been arranged so that people can come
here now not merely to make the driv-
ing tour among the most conspicuous
of the many scenic wonders, but can
remain the entire summer And | know
of no other place in the world that has
much outdoor pleasure to the sports
man. To the tired man and woman, as
well to people who crave novelty and
excitement.
Care of Park a Problem.
TIE superintendent and the engineer
in charge of the roads should be per-
manent. because the care of the park is
complete problem. and at present
every new man who comes in is COM
PEELED to solve it experimentally for him
self because his predecessor usually
leaves before he arrives. or the transfer
is made in such way that the successor
cannot enjoy the benefit of the knowledge
and experience OF those VINO nave per-
formed the same duties before him. 1t
takes at least a year or two for a man
To become familiar with localities, and
nature appears here in her mast eccen-
tric and surprising moods. which always
puzzle and otter confound strangers.
And the superintendent Should be Sc
lected for his knowledge. experience and
ability, Maj. Benson, the present In
cumbent. was selected because Of his
superior fitness and the training ne re-
ceived for four years in charge OF the
Yosemite.
The road system is intended to give ac-
cess to all of the important objects of
interest from an entrance at each of the
four boundaries. There are now AIT miles
Of wagon road, OF which 306 are within
the park proper. and they include a belt
line, Is miles long, which Is followed by
the passenger coaches in the five-day
tour. There are short side roads to iso-
lated objects of interest, which are either
Included in the regular drive. usually
between the hotels, or, if inconveniently
located, may be visited after arrival at
the nearest hotel In addition TO these
there are many bridal trails for the en-
ioyment of those who love horseback
riding, and which reach the best places
for fishing There is also a system of
trails connecting police stations, which
are visited daily by the soldiers of the
military guard.
Col. Chittenden as Road Builder.
Most of these roads were built by Col.
Hiram Martin Chittenden. OF the United
States Engineer Corps. He should have
been made permanent Superintendent OF
the park, because he knows more about
il than any other man. he loves every
foot Of the ground as he loves his kin
6Ted. and the seven or eight years ne
spent in making the present improve
meuts taught him things that no other
man will ever know, God, douotless