The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-29
A Trip to Valuation Experts.

Secretary Lane is to have a commission &c
make valuation OF Yellowstone Park This work
may not cost much as the valuation OF the
railroads. but it viii afford greater latitude for
the estimates Of the experts. and novel expert
cnce. The government owns the Yellowstone
Park and Secretary Lane being a conscrvationist
Will see that the commission does not undervaluc
any part OF the property, and minimize our ma
uonal wealth. The experts will be confronted with
ono Of the most pulling estimates in the very
beginning OF this work. When they arrive at
the Mammoth Springs Hotel. have had their din
mcrs and have settled themselves on the veranda
with their cigars, ono of the guides will notify
them that Brown Bob has arrived and is having
his supper at the garbage box. Brown Bob has
made these nocturnal visits to the hotel garbage
box every night in the tourist season Tor many
years and as an advertising medium he is prob
ably the most valuable asset OF the government in
tic whole Yellowstone region. He has furnish ed
more copy and had more snapshots made OF
him than has Old Faithful
Some OF the commissioners. il not fully in
formed. might look upon Brown Bob as onIv a
big brown bear, too old and too tough to bring
very much in the meat market, but thew will
make grave mistake If thew allow mere material
valuations to govern them i'll this matter Sccrc-
tary Lane knows the value of publicity and he
would reject any valuation that does not consider
this as a government asset. We would advise
the commission to begin Brown Bob with a
valuation OF SI.ooo,ooo for without him there
would be rapid deterioration of the rest OF the
property and reduction in the receipts OF the
hotels ard the transportation company. With
publicity established the basis for the valua-
ton OF the Yellowstone Park, the commissioners
VIII ind their work easier and they can then
look over the scrap-books and see how much
space has been given in newspapers magazines,
books and lectures. TO Old Faithful. the Fountain
and the mud gcyscr>, how much to the falls, the
canyon and the lake, how much to the buffalo,
the bear, the antelope and the deer, and not over
look the number OF snapshots taken of the daily
rout catch OF the tourists in the Firchole River
and at the outlet OF the lake
The inventory OF the hotels furniture army
post bindings horses and stages. will not be OF
all these values would shrink into nothinsncss
and Manager Childs would 60 into bankruptcy,
I the newspapers and magazines should cease to
publish and the tourists cease to tell the old old
tories OF Brown Bob, Old Faithful and the rain
DOW trout in the Yellowstone Park. Some doubt
ng Thomas may get the commission and ask
t this is the original Brown Bob who welcomed
President Arthur and Gen. Sheridan in 1884, and
wenty years later welcomed President Roosevelt
o the park. and if so, how long will brown
,car live but while Secretary Lane is at the head
IT the Interior Department. and has general charge
If our national parks. he will not permit such
questions to lower the valuation on that faithful
publicity agent, who must, either through the
gency OF the fountain of youth or by his progeny
i've forever the and only Brown Bob in the
world. Secretary Lane will have the cordial and
enthusiastic support OF President Wilson and Sec
etary McAdoo in making this valuation of Vel
owstone Park, on the publicity basis, and if it
ould be made before the first OF July the report
night enable Mr.. McAdoo to show respectable
'alancc sheet for the United States. by including
hat property in the assets. Perhaps that is the
purpose Secretary Lane has in making this valu- !
ton. Ordinarily political economists have been |
nable to hnd any for it. but Secretary
.ane has genius for publicity is resourccful in
very emergency, and most accommodating gen
leman, ever ready to help fellow member of the
'abnet out of trouble. Mr. McAdoo must find |
ONE new assets to make up for that 81 5000. 600 /
he Customs Court has given back to the steam
hips. which more than wipes out the $Iaooo,oooi