Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1914-11-09
Steele Gives a
Detailed Report

quire the hotels and other private
improvements in Crater Lake nation
al park is the striking recommends
tion of Superintendent Will G. Steel
in his annual report to the secretary
of the interior which has Just been
made public.
"The frequent changes of admins
tration in this government, together
with the unsatisfactory condition in
which the national park service is
left by congress, are so pronounced
that capitalists are unwilling to ad-
vance funds on park concessions in
amounts adequate to their needs"
writes Mr.. Steel. lin con sequence of
which rapid development is seriously
impaired, and the impression is gain
ing ground among men of large
means that such investments are ex-
ira hazardous.
Condition is Imperative.
"Under such conditions it seems to
me imperative that the general gov
ernment acquire POSSESSION of all ho-
tells and other permanent improve
ments of private nature within the
parks, and that they then be leased
to desirabel parties for a reasonable
consideration. This would be an i'm
portant step toward making the
parks self-sustaining, which they
should be. With the road system
completed, this revenue, together
with that received from automobiles,
would make the Crater Lake park
self-sustaining from the start, pro-
viding a comprehensive plan of man
agement were developed to meet new
conditions. Construction of private
improvements at Crater Lake is yet
in its infancy, for which reason
would recommend that the expert
ment be tried here, where the initial
outlay would be comparatively
light"
Superintendent Steel further rec
ommends that the park have it's
boundaries changed to meet new and
permanent conditions. He suggests
that the changes be made as fol-
lows:
Boundaries Are Given.
Extending the south line of the
park westward on a direct line to a
point on the boundary between Jack
son and klamath counties and east
ward to point on the west boundary
of the klamath Indian reservation.
From the latter point north along the
west line of the klamath Indian res
ervation, extended to a point on the
line between townships 26 and 27,
south of the Willamette meridian,
thence along said line between said
townships west to point due north
of a point on the south line of Doug
las county and between Jackson and
Klamath counties, thence south to
said point, then following the line
between Jackson and klamath coun-
ties south to the place of beginning
on the south line of the Crater Lake
national park, extended, west.
Mr.. Steel says of his recommenda-
ton:
I'm support of the foregoing will
say there are no settlers within the
new boundaries. On the west there
is narrow strip of klamath county
that should be eliminated and the
park made to conform with the coun-
ty line.
"On the east there is also narrow
strip between the park and the Klam-
ath Indian reservation that should
be eliminated and the park boundary
made to conform with the Indian res
ervation.
"On the north is located an ex-
tremely interesting region that is
wholly within the Crater national
forest and should be included in the
Crater Lake national park in time to
extend to it the road system now un-
der construction. 1t is neither valu-
able for agriculture nor mining, and
there is no public reason why this
extension should not be made. On
the other hand, believe 1t will meet
the approval of vast majority OF
the people of the state. Within the
proposed extension is located Dia'
mond Lake, one of the most beauti-
full and attractive in the mountain
range, and Mount Thielsen, SHARP
peak standing over 5000 feet above
sea level and commonly known as
the Lightning Rod Of the Cascades
because of the brilliana displays oi
lightning about its pinnacle in stormy
weather"
More Roads Needed.
More roads are also needed in the
park, says the superintendent, tc
bring about it's development as wei
as the removal of inflammable ma
terial along such roads to prevent
forest fires. He recommends an ap