Evening star., 1917-01-06
SCORES CONDITIONS :
At GRAND CANYON
1. Claude Way Tells National
Parks Conference Tourists
Are at Mercy of Guides. !.
OTHERS MAKE ADDRESSES

That of the more than a hundred
thousand tourists visiting the Grand
Canyon of the Colorado In 1915 II 10
safe to estimate that fully $4,000 de-
parted cursing the United States gov
ernment. was the declaration OF L.
Claude Way. at that time of the forea
service, which has this national monu-
ment in charge. at this mornings ses,
sion of the national parks conference at
the National Museum. This violent dis
content. said Mr.. Way. who ts at pres
ent acting supervisor OF Rocky Noun
tain National Park. was due. and just
ly SO. to the conditions which the gov
ernment then allowed and which Still
obtain largely today.
knives and guns have actually been
drawn on the brink Of the canyon. ~
brawls between livery and other So
licitors," said the supervisor: Tour
lists have been compelled to dodee Dc
hind trees to avoid thrown stones
who could give points to leech-
were and are q constant occurrence.
These scenes and annoyances are ept
to be the accompaniment OF the nIst
sight Of a view whose grandeur nave
seen bring tears to the eyes OF many
men ana women.
Must Grant Permits, He Says.
"The Department OF Agriculture is
not to blame. for its forest service has
not the authority to regulate personal
conduct in q national monument such
as this 10.
permits cannot be refused TO apph-
cants for the privilege Of Transporting
| visitors on account of private RECORDS.
| OF twenty-eight such concessfonartes
in 1915. three were proven cattie
another was an ex-convict and another
was insane. Tourists were In some IN.
stances charged SO for rides that
should have cost but ".
mining claims. in some places three
deep and almost entirely controlled oy
one man, are located at every streteec
point within a days journey or the
told how the simplest and most essen
tial physical improvements are en-
Joined and prevented by the claim
owners.
wrongs and to bring about the great
est good for the greatest number. con-
cluded Mr.. Way. land that 10 70 make
the canyon a national park and 70
grant exclusive concession 10 rehapie
and responsible parttes."
Promises Action by Congress.
That the national government has not
taken steps to bring the canyon within
the reach Of the people was character
ized as an Outrage" by Representative
simeon D. Fess Of Ohio. who promised
to urge on Congress the necessity for
appropriations to build roads. make
camps. store water and to take other
lfuh ~
| Dr. George Otis Smith. director OF
the geological survey. who presided.
reviewed the work of past and present
geographers. topographers and geolo-
gists Of the survey on behalf OF the
delayed in making the canyon q park.
he said, is emphasized by the fact that
1t IL nearly half q century since MAJ.
Powell first explored 1t ana made
| wonder that there 10 no bill pend
| ing to accomplish the matter was ex-
pressed by Ford Harvey. manager OF Q
] chain Of western restaurants and Of
the dining car service on % western roads.
sons viewed the canyon than visited
the three largest existing national
| parks.
Indian Village Described.
An Indian village located 2.ooo feet
down in Cataract canyon. which is n
| branch Of and a miniature Of the Grand
canyon. was described by Charles
Sheldon, chairman Of the game pres
ervation committee of the Boone and
Crockett Club. Mr.. Sheldon's chief in
terest In this canyon is the preserva-
tion Of the wild mountain sheep which
are found there, and. which, owing to
the inaccessibility Of their habitat. he
thinks will survive other forms OF big
game that are now abundant.
The Greater Sequoia was the topic
for the afternoon session with the fol-
lowing speakers scheduled: Represen-
tative Frederick H. Gillett OF Massa-
chusetts, Robert Sterling Yard and
Emerson Hough.
Enos Mills of Estes Park. Colo, will
tell his bear stories late this afternoon
as well as at tonight's session, when
the public school children OF the Dis
trict have been especially invited. Tho
conference will close tonight with an