with the Dallmeyer lens of the Survey, are also all printed and deliv 

 ered, and the work can be put to press as soon as the State Geolo 

 gist has time to attend to it. It is believed that it will be one of the 

 most elegant books ever issued from an American press, and that it 

 will have no little influence in drawing attention to the stupendous 

 scenery of the Yosemite and its vicinity. 



Mr. Hoffmann and party also made a careful survey of the bottom 

 of the valley, including all the land within the talus or debris fallen 

 from the walls, and this work has been plotted on a scale of ten 

 chains to one inch, making a map fifty inches by thirty in size, with 

 the number of acres in each tract of meadow, timber and fern land 

 designated upon it, and also the boundaries of the claims of the set 

 tlers in the valley, and the number of acres inclosed and claimed by 

 them. This map was found to be necessary for the purposes of the 

 Commission, and an appropriation will be asked for to pay the ex 

 pense of the survey and of preparing the map. 



The principal grove of trees in the Big Tree Grant has also been 

 carefully surveyed by the State Geologist, assisted by Hoffmann, each 

 tree of over one foot in diameter measured, and the height of a num 

 ber of them accurately determined. There are in the main grove, 

 of trees over one foot in diameter (that is, of the Big Trees or Sequoia 

 gigantea\ just three hundred and sixty-five, besides a great num 

 ber of smaller ones. The trees thus measured have been plotted 

 and numbered, so that their exact position and size relative to each 

 other can be seen at a glance. 



The Commissioners, seconded by the Geological Survey, have 

 thus done all that is for the present requisite toward obtaining all 

 the necessary statistical data in regard to the valley and grove, and 

 for making this information public in an attractive form. It may be 

 added that the Yosemite Guide-book and the Yosemite Gift-book 

 will both be sold, as are other publications of the survey, and the 

 proceeds paid into the treasury of State, for the benefit of the Com 

 mon School Fund. 



One of the important duties of the Commissioners is the care of the 

 valley and grove, so as to secure them and their surroundings from 

 devastation by fire, and from wanton injury by cutting down trees 

 and defacing natural objects. The care of the Guardian has pre 

 vented fires from running in the Big Tree Grove, and to a consider 

 able extent has protected the Valley from wanton injury. There 

 have been instances, however, of the felling or mutilation of con 

 spicuous and beautiful trees, which instances were not discovered 



