REPORT OF THE ACTING SUPERINTENDENT OF THE SEQUOIA

AND GENERAL GRANT NATIONAL PARKS.

SEQUOIA AND GENERAL GRANT NATIONAL PARKS,

OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT,

Three Rivers, Cal., October 5, 1911. SIR: I have the honor to make the following report on the condition of affairs and the management of the Sequoia and General Grant National Parks:

GENERAL CONDITIONS.

The rainfall and snow during the winter of 1910-11 was about normal in the parks and the surrounding country. Repair work on the roads and trails was begun in April, under the direction of Mr. Walter Fry, the ranger in charge, and they were found in good condition on June 2, the date of my arrival in the park, except the higher mountain trails, which were put in good condition by the end of the fiscal year, June 30.

Troop A, First Cavalry, 2 officers and 55 men, arrived June 2, for duty in the parks. The troop was accompanied by a surgeon and 3 men of the Hospital Corps, and was provided with the usual supply and transportation service. However, the transportation was insufficient and should be materially increased during the coming season. Camp was established at the old site, on the Giant Forest Road at the Marble Fork Bridge, but under orders from the department commander the camp was moved to the Parker group of "Big Trees," just off Moro Rock Road, 5 miles beyond the old camp site and one-half mile from Moro Rock. Moving the camp was commenced June 23 and was not completed until July 18. Outposts of three men each were put on the more important entrances of the Sequoia Park and at the crossroads in the General Grant Park, the outposts in the Sequoia Park being located as follows: Rocky Gulch, Atwell Mill, Cold Springs, Elk Park Gate, Clough Cave, and supply camp outside the park limits at Kaweah. All of the stations were frequently inspected, and all roads and trails were patrolled from the several stations by the outposts and by officers and special patrols from the main camp, and by the five rangers-Mr. Decker in Grant Park; and Messrs. Blossom in the southwest, with headquarters at Hocketts Meadow; Britten in the southeast, at Quinns; and von Grunigen in the north, at Giant Forest, while Mr. Fry, having general supervision of improvement work, was kept constantly on horseback to cover all points.

On July 17 headquarters Third Squadron, Band, Troops B, I, K, and L, First Cavalry, arrived in the park, Maj. John H. Gardner commanding, Troop B, was sent to General Grant National Park, arriving there July 18, relieving the detachment there, which returned to Camp Sequoia. The remainder of the command marched into the Sequoia Park, but never reached Camp Sequoia on account of the

failure of the contractor to furnish necessary supplies. This portion of the command returned to Kaweah, where it could obtain supplies, and remained there until July 30. At that date, under orders of the division commander, the command, including Troop B, started for the Presidio of San Francisco. A detachment of one noncommissioned officer and two privates was sent to General Grant National Park August 1. The detachment at Rocky Gulch was increased to five men.

TOURISTS, TRAVEL, AND ACCOMMODATIONS.

There was quite an increase in the number of tourists entering the parks this season over that of last season. The numbers are as follows:

The total for both parks was 5,274, compared with 3,585 for last year. Many persons used their own transportation, mostly vehicles of various descriptions; some ride and a few walk. Tourists generally throughout the season showed a gratifying disposition to observe the park rules and regulations, and they seemed to enjoy the parks thoroughly. The present railroad station for the Sequoia Park is Lemon Cove. There is a hotel at this place. The River Inn Co. has a hotel and store 1 mile above Three Rivers and about 10 miles from Lemon Cove, on the road to the Giant Forest. The same company also furnishes tent hotel accommodations and furnishes campers' supplies at Camp Sierra, in the Giant Forest; they also furnish stage transportation from Lemon Cove to the parks. This company has been granted a 10-year concession by the Interior Department, commencing June, 1912, authorizing them to conduct a transportation service and providing for the maintaining of hotels in the Giant Forest, in the Sequoia Park. The company intends to erect a number of buildings for the accommodation of tourists, which after completion will undoubtedly be the means of drawing a different class of tourists to the parks and in no way decrease the number of the present patrons, but as yet Mr. Stousland, the manager of the company, has had only a bathhouse erected. There is a telephone service at Camp Sierra, connecting with long distance, and triweekly mail. There are two stores at Camp Sierra, one operated by Mrs. Cora M.

Keller and one by the River Inn Co. Mrs. Keller caters to the general public, while the so-called store operated by the River Inn Co. is only to furnish their eating house and individual guests with necessary supplies. There are also two feed yards at Camp Sierra operated by the same parties on the same general plan as the stores.

General Grant Park also has telephone connections, triweekly mail service, a store, and tent hotel accommodations. The wagon roads in the General Grant Park are in very fair condition, but the motor roads are poor and sadly in need of repair. It will require considerable monev and labor to put them in good condition.

IMPROVEMENT WORK.

In the Sequoia Park 123 miles of trails were improved, and trails were completed as follows: The Clough Cave-Cold Spring trail, covering a distance of 33 miles; 2 miles of the Clough Cave-Dennison; and 6 miles of the Dennison-Summit Meadow trails. Onefourth mile of wagon road, leading from Giant Forest Road to the new military camp, was constructed, and the military camp site was cleared of brush and litter. About 2,000 feet of water pipe was laid into the tourist camp at Camp Sierra. A new post-office building has been erected at a cost of $950 at Ranger, in Camp Sierra.

The Mount Whitney Power & Electric Co. has entered into a contract with the Interior Department to utilize a portion of the waters of the Kaweah River for the purpose of generating electric power, and a force of its men (about 10) is constructing a trail from a point near the junction of the Middle and Marble Forks of the Kaweah River to the proposed dam near the Marble Falls on the Marble Fork. At General Grant Park the fence has been repaired, additional auto signs were placed on the Government roads, repairs were made on the ranger's cabin, and about 1.100 feet of additional water pipe was laid to the tourist's camp.

CONCESSIONS.

In the General Grant Park Mrs. Mattie Cooksey had a concession for a store, hotel accommodations, and feed yard. Mrs. Cooksey was also postmistress at the General Grant Park.

In the Sequoia Park the River Inn Co. maintained tent accommodations, an eating house, and a stage line from Lemon Cove to Camp Sierra; also a store and feed yard for its own convenience and that its individual guests. Mrs. Cora M. Keller maintained a store and feed yard for the general public. Mrs. Keller was also postmistress at Camp Sierra and acted as a Government agent in operating the Interior Department telephone installed in the Ranger post office. Mr. Eddy, photographer, whose concession was renewed, erected a very neat redwood studio on Government land about 50 yards from the Ranger post office.

GRAZING.

The River Inn Co. grazed 10 milch cows and 20 beef cattle on private meadows in the Giant Forest for the purpose of supplying Camp Sierra and the military camp. During the season 496 head

of cattle in 6 droves were allowed to pass through a section of the park on the Mineral King Road to the national forest, where grazing privileges were held by their owners.

WEATHER CONDITIONS.

The past season was a dry one, there was practically no rain, and the roads were exceedingly dusty. The weather was generally clear and the atmosphere bracing and usually cool and pleasant.

FIRES.

During the season there were two forest fires. The first was at Mitchell Meadow, caused by lightning July 28, 1911; extinguished the following day by Ranger Blossom and two soldiers; area burned, one-half acre.

The second fire was at Horse Creek, caused by lightning July 30, 1911. This fire was surrounded by Ranger Blossom and four soldiers on August 4 and a patrol around the burned area to prevent any further spreading of the fire was kept on duty until August 11, when it was thought the fire had burned itself out. On August 19 it was reported that this same fire had broken out again. This time 12 soldiers under Sergt. Zobin, Troop A, First Cavalry, were sent out to get the fire under control. The fire continued to spread and seemed to be getting beyond the control of the force fighting the same, and, on August 30, Rangers Blossom and von Grunigen and 6 additional soldiers were sent to reenforce and aid the fire-fighting party. This entire force fought the fire until September 5 when they managed to surround it, but the fire was not finally extinguished until September 13. About 600 acres were burned, mostly in brush country.

The forest-fire notices furnished by the Interior Department are posted in a great many conspicuous places both in and out of the parks.

The fishing is nothing remarkable and the streams are practically fished out early in the season. The fishing is supposed to be one of the greatest drawing cards of the parks, and to make the sport attractive and worth while I recommend that the Government establish a hatchery within the limits of the park with a suitable force to care for the same and to well stock each vear all the desirable streams.

RODENTS.

In order to comply with a State law of California there was allotted by the department $55 for the purchase of poisoned grain$50 for the Sequoia Park and $5 for General Grant Park-for the extermination of rodents. There was an unusual and unavoidable delay in securing the poisoned grain. However, the grain has arrived and will be distributed to the rangers, and the extermination of the rodents will commence immediately.