New-York tribune., 1920-12-11
isiting the Yosemite
Many Faults Found With Admins
tration Of National Paris

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Your recent editorial in rogarl
to national parks prompts me to AK
you to say word on behalf Of tie
visitors to the parks, for if sonethn
IS not done to protect them from Ii
employees who administer these play
grounds l fear the public viii beccme
discouraged from visiting them, AM
this statement is made despite tie fat
that our national parks probably neg
catered to larger crowds than they l..
during the past summer
For instance, Yosemite: The drive.
through that park are the crueleai
human being was ever su jected to, o.
battlefield. Ger roads never butt
for motors, at breakneck speed, dow
tremendous inclines, over hummocks
and breaks of every description, and
through frightful heat, the unsuspec.
ing pleasure Sc Nker is rushed A wood
en- bench is fastened into the middle
OF the so-called seven passenger ro-
tors, and on that three passengers be
these hundred or two of frightiul
miles. The stationary seats are not
allotted by turn or in any fairness, they
are "hogged" la subway by the per
sons who get there first-usually the
same ones on each trip. The driver
of the car is absolute lord of the con-
veyance, and woe unto any intrepid
passenger who would make any objec-
ton to speed or TO haste in passing by
points of interest which he had come
across the continent to see.
At the wonderful Big Trees, when
our car stopped at the Wawona Tree,
we hesitated moment for an official
photographer "a German at that) to
photograph the group, but q gentleman
passenger was severely taken to tasS
for delaying the car while he took N
individual picture with his own camera.
At Yellowstone similar conditions
Prevail. In the old stagecoach days
there was time to stop at every point
of interest, and it was the drivers duty
as we'll as his pleasure to tell the pas
sengers about them. Nowadays, with
motors making the points in from one
third to one-fourth of the time previ~
ously consumed between hotel stops,
there is scarcely time to make stop
anywhere except at the large geyser
basins. The object, apparently, is for
Mr.. Driver to get rid Of his passengers
as quickly as possible, for at Yellow
stone, too, the driver IS lord Of the con-
veyance.
A gentleman from Australia, who was
touring America, was criticized for
holding up our bus for perhaps ten MN
utes on our last ride out, because he was
determined to photograph the only deer
we had seen. The driver Informed the
company that in consequence OF Nj
Australias transgression there would
be no more stops for any reason. l
might add that we reached Yellowstone
station, our departing point, exactly
two hours before train time, so we have
not yet discovered why the hurry, eN-
cept that there is entertainment g.
Yellowstone station.
Only once during oDr five day trp
through Yellowstone were we fortunate
enough to have one of the old style
stagecoach drivers, who knew the PARK
and was glad to impart his Information.
SO delighted were we poor discouraged
travellers that we reported our hnd W
the transportation agent and reques'e"
that the same driver be assigned to take
our party on a special trip to Noun
Washburn, which we were making 'no
next day. But for our temerity we weio
punished--the party leaving on the san''
trip, but in the coach directly following
our party, drew our prize.
Do say word for us. Some day v"
hopo to visit the other National PARIS
and we hope for better administrators
New York, Dec. .. 1879. e. NJ. u