Notes and Correspondence 91 



doubted, since we could not satisfactorily pick our personnel and would 

 have to hire unknown packers. Furthermore, the summit passes cannot 

 usually be crossed by animals in June, when we would want to start 

 work, and could get to the job readily from this side. 



Acknowledgment. — I desire to place on record my appreciation of the 

 interest taken in the work by the men engaged in it, with particular 

 reference to Forest Rangers Roy Boothe and Frank Price and Assistant 

 Ranger Mark Cathey. The task of overseeing the packing of powder, 

 steel, supplies, etc., over difficult mountain trails, and of handling men, 

 the best of whom grow sick and tired of the isolation and monotony of 

 camp fifty to seventy miles from civilization, is no small one and requires 

 lots of patience and tact. I am glad to say that the work was so han- 

 dled that many of the men who worked on the job this summer, and 

 who are experienced, have asked to be considered for employment next 

 season. Respectfully submitted, 



Paul Redington, 



Forest Supervisor 



Northfork, California, November 22, 1915. 



REPORT ON JOHN MUIR TRAIL WORK, SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST 



The route of the trail within the Sequoia National Forest was not 

 definitely determined as early as in the Sierra National Forest, but, in 

 the short period remaining after the final determination was made and 

 before the close of the field season, good progress was made. The follow- 

 ing expenditures were made for trail work within the Sequoia National 

 Forest from the appropriation for the John Muir Trail : 



Wages $ 650.50 



Subsistence supplies 209.47 



Other supplies and equipment 281.50 



Freight, express and hauling 104.42 



Total $1,245.89 



Approximately six miles of the hardest portion of the trail is com- 

 pleted, and a route between Kern and Kings rivers is opened. A portion 

 of the trail at the head of Shepherd's Creek was completed with co- 

 operative funds (not from John Muir Trail appropriation) at an ex- 

 pense of $200.00. This makes the total cost of the trail $1,445.89. Of the 

 $1,245.89 from the John Muir Trail appropriation, $76.60 was expended 

 for camp equipment and tools, and $1,169.29 for actual trail construc- 

 tion. With the additional $200.00 co-operative funds, the average cost 

 per mile for the six miles, exclusive of camp equipment, was $228.21. 



Ranger Parkinson, who was directly in charge of the work, reported 

 on October 8: 



"Saddle horses may pass from Center Basin to Tyndall 

 Creek at the present time, but additional work will be done 



