EXTENSION OF THE PARKS.

This subject has been discussed by several of my predecessors, and a variety of new boundaries have been suggested and the advantages and disadvantages to the park that would result from such extensions have been gone over quite thoroughly. In thinking over the matter and discussing the same with the rangers on duty in the Sequoia Park, who have a thorough knowledge of the country and several years' experience of active duty in their present positions, I am of the opinion that the following boundary, suggested by Mr. R. B. Marshall, chief topographer, Geological Survey, would be most desirable.

Beginning at a point on the range line between ranges 31 and 32 east, in township 18 south, of the Mount Diablo base and meridian, being a point on the present eastern boundary of the Sequoia National Park where it crosses the hydrographic divide between Little Kern River and Soda Creek; thence southeasterly along the hydrographic divide between Little Kern River and Soda Creek to the junction of Little Kern River and Quail Creek; thence easterly along the hydrographic divide between Quail Creek and Lion Creek to the summit of the Great Western Divide; thence southeasterly along the Great Western Divide to Coyote Peak; thence easterly along the hydrographic divide to the junction of Kern River and Little Creek, about one-half mile south of Kern Lake and between that lake and Little Lake; thence easterly along the main divide south of Little Creek and between Golden Trout Creek and Cold Creek (tributaries of Kern River) to the summit of Kern Peak; thence northerly and easterly along the hydrographic divide between the South Fork of Kern River and Golden Trout Creek to the summit of the Sierra Nevada; thence northerly along the main crest of the Sierra Nevada to Pine Creek Pass at the head of Piute Creek; thence following westerly down Piute Creek through French Canyon to the junction of the South Fork of San Joaquin River and Piute Creek; thence southerly along the main hydrographic divide to the summit of Mount Henry; thence southeasterly along the hydrographic divide between the drainage of the South Fork of the San Joaquin River and the drainage of the North Fork of Kings River to the junction with Goddard Divide; thence southerly and westerly along the hydrographic divide between Goddard Creek and the drainage of the North Fork of Kings River, and along the divide between Crown Creek and Blue Canyon Creek, along Kettle Ridge to Kettle Dome; thence southwesterly along the hydrographic divide to the junction of Crown and Fawn Creeks; thence westerly along the hydrographic divide between Fawn Creek and Rodgers Creek to Obelisk Peak; thence westerly along the main hydrographic divide south of Rodgers Creek to Spanish Mountain; thence southerly along the hydrographic divide (Deer Ridge) to the junction of the South and Middle Forks of Kings River; thence southerly along the hydrographic divide between Tenmile Creek and Lockwood Creek and along the Sequoia and Big Baldy Ridges to Big Baldy; thence southerly along the hydrographic divide (Big Baldy Ridge) to the junction of Redwood Creek and the North Fork of Kaweah River; thence following down

the east bank of the North Fork of Kaweah River to the junction with Cactus Creek; thence southeasterly along the hydrographic divide between Cactus Creek, Maple Creek, and the North Fork of Kaweah River to Ash Peaks; thence southerly along the hydrographic divide west of Alder Creek to the junction of the Middle and East Forks of Kaweah River; thence south and easterly along the hydrographic divide between the East Fork of Kaweah River and Salt Creek, over Red Hill, to Case Mountain; thence easterly along the hydrographic divide (Salt Creek Ridge) between the South and East Forks of Kaweah River to Homers Nose; thence southwesterly along the hydrographic divide east of Bennett and Burnt Camp Creeks to the junction of Burnt Camp Creek and the South Fork of Kaweah River; thence southeasterly along the hydrographic divide to Dennison Mountain; thence easterly along the hydrographic divide (Dennison Ridge) between the South Fork of Kaweah River, the North Fork of Tule River, and the North Fork of the Middle Fork of Tule River to Sheep Mountain; thence northeasterly along the hydrographic divide between the South Fork of Kaweah River, Pecks Canyon, Soda Creek, and Little Kern River to the place of beginning.

This boundary is a natural one, being the ridge line of numerous mountain chains. Practically all the new territory that would be acquired is now in the national forest, is of little value commercially, and of great value as a park reserve. Its natural beauties are great and varied, there is comparatively little deeded land within the indicated boundary, it forms a natural game preserve, and within this extensive area game of all kinds should prosper and increase rapidly, and be able to escape the hunter that each year is promptly, at the opening of the hunting season, at the most desirable points for the killing of such game, that by reason of the protection afforded by park regulations, easily fall victims to the enthusiastic and persistent hunter. These ridges are natural barriers and the game is not apt to stray or roam beyond them. Also within this proposed area there are some of the finest trout streams in the world, and these streams and the fishing therein should be so regulated as to preserve their reputation indefinitely.

PURCHASE OF DEEDED POSSESSIONS.

This subject I know has been under discussion and investigation by the Government for a number of years, and I can say nothing new on the subject. Still I might repeat some of the facts and the advantages gained, should such a policy be adopted.

The individual owners would receive a fair compensation for their property, which, held under the present conditions, can be nothing more than a source of annoyance and a constant demand on the Government for certain privileges connected with such holdings, in order that they may develop the same, or manipulate it, so as to derive the greatest pecuniary benefit therefrom.

The purchase of said lands would eliminate the possibility of any trouble or friction between present land owners and Government forces, and would materially aid in the general and natural development of the parks.

11355°-INT 1911-VOL 1- -39

RECOMMENDATIONS.

ADMINISTRATION OF THE SEQUOIA AND GENERAL GRANT PARKS BY CIVILIANS.

I

I recommend that the administration of the Sequoia and General Grant National Parks be placed in the hands of a civilian appointee (a retired Army officer, qualified by experience, knowledge and interest, would, in my opinion, make an admirable superintendent). believe a similar appointment in the other parks to be equally desirable. A force of permanent park rangers should be appointed, sufficient to properly patrol the parks, enforce police regulations, protect game, forests, and prevent violations of park regulations. I believe some permanent arrangement could be made by which a sufficient number of able-bodied men could be assembled at short notice to fight fires, which are of such frequent occurrences in the mountain forests. The large majority of these fires are due to lightning. The men proposed to fight fires should be paid from a fund set aside for this particular purpose.

This scheme I believe to be in the interest of both economy and efficiency. One good ranger is, in my opinion, more valuable in the park work than a dozen soldiers. He is working in his chosen profession; he is interested in the park, in its successful administration, and in the enforcement of the park rules and regulations. It is his livelihood and he is permanent, whereas most soldiers do their work in a perfunctory manner and do it simply because they are ordered to do it, but not from any sense of interest they have in the park or its workings. Their work is temporary at the best and there is a great probability of one season in the park being their first and last park duty.

These remarks are to a certain extent applicable to an Army officer detailed as acting superintendent. I believe the best interests of the parks are neglected by these practically annual changes of superintendents. One superintendent will become more or less interested in certain improvement work requiring several years to complete. About the time he gets this work started the season closes; next year a new superintendent is appointed, and he is in no way interested in the work commenced by his predecessor, and probably this work will be abandoned for a new scheme, deemed more important by the new superintendent. A permanent superintendent such as I have suggested would avoid this waste of energy and funds and the consequent retardation of the general development and improvement of the parks.

In my opinion park duty for enlisted men in the Army is more or less detrimental to discipline and military training. From the necessities of the park work a large number of men are on detached duty, not subject to the personal observation and frequent inspection of their officers, and they become lax in discipline during this prolonged absence from proper military control. Under present conditions a large number of enlisted men are recruits, and if a recruit commences his service and gets his initial instructions under the above conditions it is doubly hard to make a good soldier of him and disabuse his mind of the impressions he acquired while on outpost duty early in his career with only a noncommissioned officer to direct and

discipline him. There are a number of noncommissioned officers at the present time with a too limited experience.

I have not been able to obtain figures on the subject, but at a glance it seems to me that it would be a matter of great economy to have the parks administered by a civilian force. I do not mean that it would be more economical to the Interior Department, for the present arrangement, with a military police force, saves the Interior Department the amount it would require to employ the number of rangers necessary in the absence of the military. The expense to the War Department I believe to be much greater than would be the necessary expense incurred by the Interior Department in employing the proper number of civilians. As before stated, under this scheme I believe more efficient park work would be accomplished, and the military now engaged on park duty would be in a position to pursue the course of instruction, which I believe to be more in line with the training necessary to make competent and excellent soldiers of them.

CLERK FOR THE ACTING SUPERINTENDENT.

It is recommended that the department supply a competent clerk for the acting superintendent from the Washington office, who is perfectly familiar with all the returns, reports, vouchers, and forms connected with the administration of the parks, this clerk to be present for duty in the park from May 15 to October 1 of each year, or for such periods as his services will be desirable by the acting superintendent. It is practically impossible to secure a competent clerk on short notice for such a short period at a reasonable rate of compensation, and the result is that the acting superintendent has to perform the clerical work or have it done by an enlisted man without any compensation whatever therefor.

SALE OF COMMODITIES BY INDIVIDUALS HOLDING CONCESSIONS FROM THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.

I recommend that the department regulate the price of commodities sold by individuals who acquired concessions, allowing a certain percentage on all commodities. I am also in favor of granting a similar concession to two or more individual parties desiring the same. This will have a tendency to induce concessionaires to observe more strictly the conditions imposed upon them and will give the public a better return for their money.

CONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENT WORK TO BE DONE BY CONTRACT.

I recommend that all improvement and construction work in the parks be done by contract, instead of the present method of employment of day labor. I believe equally good, if not better, work can be done, and certainly it can be done cheaper, if honest competition in the securing of contracts can be secured.

SANITATION.

As long as the military are in charge of the parks the surgeon of the command should be appointed sanitary inspector of the various tourist camps and make frequent inspections of them.