13 



A waggon-road can be made without much difficulty from Black's 

 to the edge of the Valley ; but to construct one into the Valley, down 

 the cliffs on that side, would be extremely difficult and expensive, if 

 indeed possible at all. On the south side a waggon-road can be 

 made into the Valley, but the expense would be very considerable 

 probably not less than $30,000. A considerable saving of time and 

 labor, for those not accustomed to riding horseback, could be made 

 by continuing the waggon-road from White & Hatch's to Clark's, 

 which could, probably, be done in good shape, for about $10,000. 



The Commissioners do not, however, consider it any part of their 

 duty to improve the approaches to the Valley or Big Trees. This 

 may safely be left to the competition of the counties, towns and indi 

 viduals interested in securing the travel. A small expenditure on 

 either side will bring the Yosemite to within one day's easy ride on 

 horseback that is to say, easy for persons somewhat accustomed to 

 mountain travel. And when a waggon-road shall have been extended 

 from Coulterville to the brow of the Valley on that side, and to 

 Clark's on the other, the trip need no longer be one which will over- 

 fatigue travellers in ordinary health, provided they do not attempt to 

 make the journey in the smallest possible number of days, thus 

 sacrificing everything to the single idea of getting through the jour 

 ney rapidly. 



In the Valley, the Commissioners are desirous of continuing the 

 work begun by them, of making all the most interesting points as 

 accessible as possible, and of removing all obstacles to free circula 

 tion. The road around the Valley requires improving ; the trail to 

 the Vernal Fall needs some additional work to make it secure ; a 

 bridge must be built over the Illiluette fork, and a stair-case up the 

 Vernal Fall. A bridge across the Merced at the upper end of the 

 Valley, and one across the Tenaya Fork, are also desirable, and the 

 Commissioners recommend an appropriation of $1,200 to enable 

 them to effect these improvements during the next two years. 



The following is a summary of the above report : 



1. The Commissioners propose to leave the improvement of the 

 roads to the Big Trees and the Yosemite Valley to parties interested 

 in increasing the amount of travel on either of the rival routes. 



2. They desire to continue, on a moderate scale, the improve 

 ments in and about the Valley itself, for the purpose of rendering 

 interesting points more accessible, and to remove all charges on 

 visitors for trails, bridges, ladders, ferries, etc. For this purpose they 



