Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-06-16

Of the river and thirteen feet above the highest
known water mark. 1t will cost approximately
$4,000.
Grand Canyon National park was established
in 1919 and was dedicated in 1920. The suspen-
sion bridge is but one of many improvements
planned by the national park service. Concerning
the suspension bridge and other things Director
Stephen T. Mather says in part:
THE park is both summer and winter resort
Enough thus far developed by private capital, the
results generally have been achieved with refine
ment and success The character of existing build
ings is commendabe, and although considerable
adjustment will have to be done in the location of
certain future buildings this can readily be eff
fected. Our landscape engineer has studied the
future layout of all buildings, and construction
for both the public operators and the park adj
minstraton will proceed along well-laid-out lines
although the first appropriation was not large
for the amount of work to be done, since it
amounted to only $4,000, these funds were care
fully distributed and some improvements accom-
plShed In part these consisted In the construction
of stable and garage building of mess house,
ranger quarters which being temporarily used
for administrative Offices and improvements to
log cabin now being utilized by the acting super
intendent as a residence. These are all at the
Grand canyon administrative site. Ranger and
construction and maintenance forces have been
established and there is at this writing a COM
under present conditions. The appropriation of
100000 for the present fiscal year enabled me to
plan somewhat more extensively for actual i'm
provements.
zone important piece Of construction is a sus-
pension bridge across the Colorado river at the
foot of the southside Bright Angel trail to connect
with the north-side Bright Angel trail. At pres
ent the only method of crossing Is in a small
swinging cage travelling over small cable, which
only the most venturesome persons care to use;
animals cannot be transported. Without some
means of animal travel from the south to the north
side of the park it will be difficult to administer
the north rim or provide for its proper develop
ment and use by park visitors.
1.-THE north rim, which is from my own observa-
ton this summer, more beautiful than the south
rim, is practically undeveloped by roads and trails.
As soon as this first suspension bridge Is COM
peted across the Colorado river 1t is planned to
reconstruct portion of the Bright Angel trail
on the north side of the river which will make
the north rim easily accessible. Later another
bridge across the Colorado Will be constructed
near the foot of the Hermit trail, which in turn
is to be connected by trail to the north rim as
part of the trail development planned op the north
side of the park also additional bridge should
be placed in the vicinity of the present Bass cable
way (abOut miles to the wesD. predict north
and south rim travel will constitute the most In
terestng and popular of all OUR scenic park trips.
"With the construction of these bridges traVei
between the north and south rim WIFI cause the
establishment of additional camps One of these
camps should be located at some convenient place
on the trail, which will be constructed from the
Hermit suspension bridge through to the Plateau
trail and as near the north rim as 1t VIII be pos
sble TO secure water. Expansions into the Indian
Gardens camping area are planned for the i'm
mediate future These camps will In a way sup
plement the El Tovar hotel and the Hermit camp
on the south side, and also the present Wylie es'
tablishment on the north rim The influx of tour
lists carries with 1t an increased demand for camp
ing space and also larger hotel facilities, and as
quickly this demand is recognized the facllites
will be expanded.