The Sierra Club 



143 



suggested to the writer by Mr. Abbott Kinney, of Los Angeles, 

 then a member of the State Board of Yosemite Commissioners, 

 that the club estabhsh a public reading-room and bureau of in- 

 formation such as originally contemplated by Professor Sen- 

 ger. The matter was brought to the attention of the commis- 

 sion, and it was agreed that the state should grant the use of a 

 building, to be furnished and equipped by our club, the salary 

 of the custodian to be shared equally by the commission and the 

 Sierra Club. The old Sinning cottage, opposite the present 

 superintendent's office, was fitted up during the spring of 1898, 

 and the club was most fortunate in securing the services of 

 Mr. William E. Colby as the first custodian. The headquarters 

 were maintained in this way for several years, though with dif- 

 ficulty, since after the first three years the State Commission 

 was obliged to withdraw its financial support, due to lack of 

 funds. Finally, after the death of Professor Joseph Le Conte 

 in the valley, in 1901, it was decided to erect a memorial lodge, 

 which should also be used as a permanent headquarters. A 

 fund of $6cxx) was raised by subscription, and the beautiful 

 stone building with its bronze medallion of Professor Le Conte 

 over the fireplace was finished and dedicated in 1904. 



One of the most important developments in the history of 

 the club, which came about this time, was the organization of 

 the annual outings in 1901. In 1900 Mr. Colby was elected to 

 the board of directors, and made secretary, and through his 

 efforts and those of Mr. E. T. Parsons the directors author- 

 ized the annual outing feature. The first outing was in the Tu- 

 olumne Meadows in 1901, the second in the Kings River Cafion, 

 and the third on the Kern. Since the beginning, the outings 

 have steadily grown in size and perfection of organization, until 

 now they stand out as the most popular single feature of the 

 club and a model for other mountaineering clubs. 



The most important piece of work in which the club has ever 

 engaged was the passage of a bill through the legislature reced- 

 ing the Yosemite State Park to the Government, and the subse- 

 quent acceptance of it by Congress as a part of the national 

 park. Ever since the creation of the Yosemite National Park, 

 the state park, originally estabhshed June 30, 1864, required 

 an entirely needless duplication of administration within the 



