National Park Notes 



105 



tional Park; in Yosemite National Park, over the Coulterville Road 

 from the Merced Grove of Big Trees into Yosemite Valley, over the 

 Wawona Road leading to the Mariposa Big Tree Grove, and over the 

 Big Oak Flat Road ; and in the Yellowstone National Park, over a road 

 in the northwestern section of the park not in general use, for the 

 special accommodation of people of Gallatin County, Mont. 



During the past season the generally traveled roads in Yellowstone 

 National Park were opened to motor-driven vehicles, operated for pleas- 

 ure purposes only, tmder strict regulations which became effective on 

 August 1, 1915. 



The opening during the year of Yellowstone National Park to auto- 

 mobiles used for pleasure purposes has been much appreciated by the 

 traveling public. They were operated under a very carefully worked out 

 schedule which has proved to be highly satisfactory. 



This park .was visited during the season by 958 cars, carrying 3513 

 people, which points to a much fuller enjoyment of the wonders in this 

 park by motorists in 1916. The total receipts from automobiles and mo- 

 tor cycles in all the parks were $42,589.73 in 1915, as against $14,243.07 

 in 1914. 



The extremely rapid development of motoring throughout the coun- 

 try, and its enjoyment by people of all degrees of income, has led to an 

 active policy of road extension in all the national parks. An example is 

 the acquisition and improvement of the old Tioga Road through the Yo- 

 semite National Park, establishing another highway over the Sierras. 



Private holdings: The administration of affairs in all of the national 

 parks, with the exception of the Yellowstone, General Grant, Piatt, 

 Wind Cave, and Sullys Hill, is considerably embarrassed by the fact that 

 within the respective boundaries are many patented lands and some toll 

 roads. These private holdings are as follows : Yosemite National Park, 

 19,827 acres; Sequoia National Park, 3,716.96 acres; Crater Lake Na- 

 tional Park, 1337 acres, and 1,121.11 acres of unperfected claims; Mesa 

 Verde National Park, 875 acres and 118 acres unperfected claims; Mount 

 Rainier National Park, 18.2 acres; and Glacier National Park, 8,864.40 

 acres of patented lands and 7,803.71 acres of unperfected claims. 



The majority of these lands, including the Mineral King Road in Se- 

 quoia National Park, and the Coulterville and Wawona toll roads in 

 Yosemite National Park, should be acquired by the Government. Dur- 

 ing the year, through the instrumentality of Mr. Stephen T. Mather, as- 

 sistant to the Secretary, the title by donation to portions of the "Great 

 Sierra wagon and toll road" (also known as the Tioga Road) and the 

 portions of the "Big Oak Flat and Yosemite Toll roads," within the 

 limits of Yosemite National Park, were transferred to the United States, 

 such donations being accepted by the Secretary of the Interior under 

 the provisions of the sundry civil act of March 3, 1915, authorizing the 

 Secretary of the Interior to accept patented lands or rights of way, 

 whether over patented or other lands, in Yosemite National Park that 

 may be donated for park purposes. 



