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AMERICAN FORESTRY 



ing up this vast area in which there is much more 

 scenery condensed in the space of three-quarters of a 

 million acres than there is in all Switzerland. 



There had been in the Valley so many concessionaires 

 striving for the patronage of almost each tourist as he 

 came into the Valley, that conditions were rapidly be- 

 coming so obnoxious as to discourage travel. In addi- 

 tion to this, there were in certain instances two or three 

 times as many concessionaires as the revenue could sup- 

 port. Without entering into details it is sufficient to 

 state that eventually a concession was granted to the Des- 

 mond Park Service Company which calls for the operation 

 of a motor transportation line over the Tioga Road, 



Photograph by Mark Daniels. 



GROWING AND THRIVING AMID TIIK GRANITIC 



The wonderful trees of the region give evidence of the fact that strength 

 and sturdiness are frequently the result of overcoming obstacles. 

 The mountains are granite and the fact that trees can find nourish- 

 ment is a never-ending source of wonder. 



traversing the Park in an easterly and westerly direc- 

 tion, approximately in the center of the reservation. This 

 company will, in addition to the operation of trans- 

 portation by motor bus over the roads in the Park, 

 establish a chain of mountain inns to be built along the 

 lines of the various circuits in the Park so that in the 

 course of several years it will be possible for a tourist 

 to take these circuit trips on foot or mounted on the 

 hurricane deck of a trusty mule carrying with him noth- 

 ing more than the proverbial tooth brush and kodak. 

 The Park Service Company will also build a large hotel 

 which they will operate in addition to the camps now es- 

 tablished on the floor of the Valley, to the end that all 



classes of those whose love of scenery and nature leads 

 them to this glorious Park, shall find it within their 

 means to enjoy the glories thereof. 



It seems incredible to those who cherish the 

 Yosemite National Park as a heritage that the time has 

 at last come when real service with a capital S is going 

 to be rendered to all comers regardless of their financial 

 status or the degree of their intimacy with either mem- 

 bers of Congress or active concessionaires. 



Think of the possibility of a sojourn in the Yosemite 

 National Park, driving from one mountain inn to another, 

 each only a few hours' walk from the other, with no 

 thought of hobbled horses or spoiling provisions and 

 marking the days of the calendar with notches in the 

 bark of a walking stick. Such is the dream that Secretary 

 Lane and his assistant, Mr. Stephen T. Mather, have 

 undertaken to bring into realization in the Yosemite 

 National Park and, with the great problem of select- 

 ing the right man to carry on the work properly solved, 

 their task seems to be in' a fair way of eventual solution. 



VERNAL FALLS, YOSEMITE 



By E. Dithridge 



'T will open rivers in high places and fountains in the 

 midst of the valleys." 



Beautif til ! Dost know how I love thee ? 



Others have gazed on thy beauty and gone their way ; 

 ! worship the rainbow that hovers and bends above thee, 



I bathe my face in the cool of thy drifting spray. 



Here is the isle thou hast kept for the traveler weary, 

 Safe and shaded, and sheltered from sun and dust; 



Here would I rest for an hour, who love and fear thee, 

 Learning thy secret of strength and unfaltering trust. 



There is no sound in my ears but the voice of thy thunder, 

 Hymning an anthem of confident faith and praise. 



There is no thought in my heart but a reverent wonder, 

 A joy that is pain, and a knowledge of God as I gaze. 



I lere is the place that the ages have treasured holy, 

 Here is the haven that waits when the height is won, 



Far from the crowd, where the worshiper wanders slowly. 

 Loath to leave thee and go at the set of sun. 



Beautiful! Dost know how I love thee? 



Soon, too soon must thy beauty be left behind ; 

 Still shall I dream of the rainbow that floats above thee 



And hear thy call in the voice of the winter wind. 



PREMIUMS FOR MEMBERS 



If readers of AMERICAN FORESTRY will look beneath the 

 table of contents in this issue they will see an attractive offer 

 made to those who wish to aid the Association by helping to 

 secure new members. 



