130 ***** "Oh, Ranger!" 



of much of the Grand Canyon below the rims, that part of Zion above 

 and beyond the rims, a very large part of Rocky Mountain Park, and 

 over three-fourths of Mount Rainier Park. All these areas are acces 

 sible only to the person who so sincerely desires to get away from 

 civilization that he will ride the trails for days on end with only guides, 

 wild animals, mountain peaks, turbulent rivers, forests, and glaciers for 

 company. In the vast areas colloquially known among the rangers as 

 "the back country," the nature lover can find solitude enough. This is 

 the realm of Nature. It will never be touched by the road builder, it 

 will never hear the thrum of the motor, if the wishes of the National 

 Park Service officials are respected. 



Of course, it is necessary that there be housing and transportation 

 facilities in order that the parks may be visited and enjoyed by the 

 public. In the earliest acts of Congress relating to the parks, provision 

 was made for the granting of concessions under franchise for private 

 concerns to erect hotels, transportation lines, and other service facili 

 ties. This policy, still fixed by Congress, continues. The Secretary of 

 the Interior is authorized to grant franchises for terms not exceeding 

 twenty years for the construction and operation of facilities in the 

 parks. The secretary approves the franchises, which are specific grants 

 of privileges to be exercised within the park boundaries. These privi 

 leges must be exercised in accordance with the law and the rules and 

 regulations governing the parks. Service must be rendered according 

 to standards laid down by the secretary and his representatives and at 

 rates prescribed by the secretary. 



It is the policy of the secretary not to grant more than one franchise 

 for the furnishing of a certain type of service as long as the service 

 rendered is in accordance with the standards laid down by him. If any 

 extensions of service are necessary, the secretary calls upon his fran 

 chise holder to furnish the additional service. If the operator refuses 

 to comply, the secretary may cancel the franchise or he may let another 

 operator furnish the needed service. In other words, the franchise 

 holder has the preferential right to furnish additional service when 

 need arises. The franchises are not monopolistic or exclusive and the 

 secretary never at any time ties his hands in such a way as to make 

 impossible the granting of new privileges, should they be necessary in 

 order to furnish adequate facilities or to meet new demands of the 

 public. 



In the early days of the parks, no one was able to furnish sufficient 

 capital to build hotels and to establish transportation lines except the 

 railroads. In the case of several of the parks, all of the early facilities 

 were established by interested railroads in order that they might offer 

 proper accommodations for their passengers. Even today this condition 



