Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-07
TAFT
AT GATEWAY OF
YOSEMITE PARK
CHIEF EXECUTIVE ARRIVES AT
Ell PORTAL
WILL BEGIN TOUR OF NATIONAL
GARDEN TODAY
Nations Ruler Plans Great Journey
Among Worlds Oldest Living
Trees and Famous VALLEY
of Enchantment"
LBy Associated Press.l

III dent Taft is safely tucked away
~ tonihgt in this remote little set
tlement at the foot of the Slerras, and
near the gateway of the Yosemite val
ley-one of the garden spots OF the
world.
Clad in khaki riding breeches, sott
shirt, khaki coat, boots and cap, Presl-
dent 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 Marlposa
big tree grove, will follow tie ROADS
and trails leading into the valley, ana
will walk about the floor of that park
to admire its imposing scenic splendor'
The visit to the big trees, said 10
be the Oldest and largest OF living
things. comes first in Mr.. Taft's itin-
erary. Leaving by coach early tomor-
row morning he and his party will be
drievn to Wawona, at the edge OF the
grove, where real monarchs of the tor-
est grow to an altitude of more than
400 feet and more than 100 feet in cir
cumference at the base.
To See Ancient Trees
Mr. Taft will be driven through a
tunnel cut through the base of one
CT the old trees which is said to have
been standing from 1000 to 5000 years.
The forenoon of Friday will be given
over to the big trees, the president
spending Thursday night at the hotel
at Wawona.
The president will enter the PARK
Friday afternoon from one of the high
est points and after a trip to all the
show places of the upper levels, Will
begin a descent to the floor which is
enclosed by almost perpendicular cliffs
of stone more than 5000 feet IN height.
It will be the presidents first trip
into the Yosemite and he has been
looking forward to it for months, both
as a sightseeing experience, and as at
fording three days of rest from surg
ing crowds and speech making.
When the park officials heard that
the president was coming they ar
ranged to have a troop Of United States
cavalry act as his escort for the day
among the big trees, and the two days
in the valley.
Eliminates Escort
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
mark shall be devoid of spectacular
features, and that his visit shall be
1elieved as much as possible of an Of
fetal aspect.
The nresident 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, the naturalist and geolo-
eist. who is a recognized authority on
all matters of the Yosemite, Joined the
presidents party at San Francisco
this morning, and will personally eX-
plain the wonders of the park and
valley to Mr.. Taft.
The Yosemite recently was receded
nv the state of California to the Unit
ed States, and now is under the same
control as the Yellowstone.
The president visited the Yellow
stone several years ago, and during
his present tour is adding the Yo-
sennite and the Grand Canyon of Ari-
zona to the long list of the world s
wonders it has been his good fortune
to see.
Mr.. Taft will be accompanied into
the big tree grove and into the park
only by members of his own party
and a California delegation, consisting
of Governor Gillett, Senator Flint and
Representatives Needham, McKlnlay
and Engelbright.
Dust Much Feared
When the date of the presidents
great fear that his trip might be serl-
ously marred by the suffocating dust
which sometimes is encountered on the
way in and out during the dry sea-
son of the year.
Rains during the past ten days
however, have served to put the roads
in the best of condition, and also to
provide new supply of water for the
falls which at this season have but
small semblance to the rushing, pltch-
ing cataracts Of the spring.
| The ride into Eel Portal this after
noon furnished foretaste of the seem
ery that the next three days has in
store for the president. Leaving
Merced at 2:30 p. m, after an un-
eventful run down the famous san
joaquin valley, the presidents tram
began the eighty-mile stretch to the
terminus of the Yosemite Valley rail-
road at this place.
For more than quarters of the
way the train wound along the Merced
river, with it's series of water falls.
and kept continually climbing from
the level OF the sea to a height here
of more than 1000 feet.
Makes Several Speeches
The president made several car-end
speeches at thriving little California
cities between San Francisco and
Merced, and at the latter place was
escorted to the courthouse, where he
made brief address to big crowd.
President Taft reached Merced at
1850 p. m. and was driven to the court
house. where he delivered a brief ad-
dress The president left at 2:3O p. m.
over the Yosemite Valley railroad for
El Portal.
On his way to FL Portal, at the en-
trance to the Yosemite valley, Presi-
dent Taft made his first stop at Port
Costa His next stop was at Tracy,
where he made a brief speech from
the car end.
President Taft sent today message
of congratulation and goodwill to
Professor Lowell of Harvard univer-
sity, who was installed as president of
that institution today.
He regretted his inability to be
present and predicted for President
Lowell an overwhelming circle of ed
ucational influence.
At Merced the president was pre-
(COntlnued on Page Threel