14 DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATIONAL PARKS. 



last winter it narrowly escaped total destruction by high water. 

 During the winter that is approaching it may be carried down the 

 river. 



The headquarters of the park are now hidden in the woods on the 

 southwest shore of Lake McDonald, and are wholly unknown to 

 nine-tenths of the park visitors. There should also be mentioned 

 the desirability of preserving the trees on the patented lands over 

 which the Belton-Lake McDonald road is built. It is a beautiful 

 highway, broad, straight, and well-constructed through a dense 

 forest. If the trees that border it are destroyed the scenic value of 

 the road will be gone. 



I made a proposition while in the park in September that will make 

 possible the construction of the new bridge, the removal of the park 

 headquarters to a desirable site near the south boundary, and the 

 perpetual preservation of a strip of forest on both sides of the 

 Belton-Lake McDonald road; and it was agreed to by the county 

 officers and owners of patented land in the park with whom I dis- 

 cussed it. Briefly the proposition was as follows : 



I will purchase a tract of 160 acres on the Flathead River, directly 

 across the river from Belton, and donate it to the Federal Govern- 

 ment for an administrative site. Mr. John E. Lewis, who is the 

 owner of an adjoining tract of 160 acres, will donate this land and 

 secure his partner's agreement to guarantee perpetual preservation of 

 a strip of timber on both sides of the Belton-Lake McDonald road. 

 Flathead County, Mont., will contribute $10,000 toward the construc- 

 tion of the new bridge, and citizens of the county will subscribe at 

 least $5,000 to the same end, all provided that Congress acts favorably 

 on the following estimates, which I agreed to recommend that you 

 submit for consideration: $50,000 for a road along the east shore 

 of Lake McDonald ; $25,000 to complete the construction of the new 

 bridge; and $10,000 for new administrative buildings and park 

 entrance on the site to be donated by me. 



Your approval has also been given to this proposition, and if Con- 

 gress appropriates the funds to make this development possible, it 

 will be completed within a year from date of this writing. 



IMPROVED ROADS AND NEW TRAILS. 



The appropriation of $110,000 for the protection and improvement 

 of Glacier Park which was contained in -the last sundry civil bill has 

 enabled us to greatly improve the roads on the east side of the park, 

 particularly the road in the Blackfeet Indian Reservation between 

 Glacier Park Station and Divide Creek. Nearly $45,000 has been 

 spent on this section during the past season. 



It has also made possible the construction of several new trails. 

 Among these new trails are the Grinnell Glacier trail and the new 



