6 DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATIONAL PARKS. 



and particularly in Yosemite, where roads within the park are not in 

 any way comparable with the State highways of California. 



Much has been done, however, to encourage motor travel to these 

 two parks. Automobile maps have been issued under the direction 

 of the Superintendent of National Parks, Mr. R. B. Marshall, show- 

 ing clearly all hotels, camps, and supply stations, as well as roads in 

 the parks. These also give information as to the roads and distances 

 between points outside of their boundaries. For instance, the map of 

 Yellowstone Park indicates the highways leading to the various 

 entrances of the park from the States of Idaho, Montana, and 

 Wyoming. 



MOTOR REVENUES FOR PARK IMPROVEMENT. 



Another feature of motor travel deserving mention is the revenue 

 that is derived from automobile fees for park purposes. This year 

 $65,311 was received from automobile fees as against $42,589 in 1915, 

 and $14,245 in 1914. Vigorous protests have been made against this 

 direct tax on the motorist, but it must be maintained until larger 

 appropriations are made for the construction and maintenance of 

 roads suitable for motor traffic. Perhaps it should be continued in- 

 definitely as a means of providing funds to repair the natural wear 

 and tear on roads and bridges, the deterioration of which is un- 

 usually severe where they are used extensively by motor cars. 



Whatever may be done in this connection, the fact remains that 

 American motorists are intensely interested in the national parks, 

 are visiting them in ever increasing numbers, and are contributing, 

 by way of automobile fees large sums of money toward park improve- 

 ment and administration. They have the right, then, to expect that 

 the Federal Government will pursue a broad policy in the extension 

 of road systems in the several parks, and that they shall enjoy all 

 privileges not inconsistent with good administration of the parks' 

 management and protection. 



Taking everything into consideration, no policy of national-park 

 management has yielded more thoroughly gratifying results than 

 that which guided the admission of motor- driven vehicles to the use 

 of the roads of all of the parks. 



CONGRESS MATERIALLY HELPED. 



It is natural and fitting that the rapidly increasing interest in 

 national parks on the part of the people should favorably affect the 

 attitude of Congress toward them. Appropriations for their im- 

 provement and protection for the current fiscal year were consider- 

 ably larger than those of previous years, $511,300 for 1917 being 

 appropriated as against $252,550 for the fiscal year 1916 and $283,590 



