National Park Notes 



243 



ment of these parks "on a broad-gauge scale," and he has justified Sec- 

 retary Lane's faith in his ability to undertake this great work. Mr. 

 Mather very early selected Robert Sterling Yard to take charge of the 

 campaign of public education, and all of our members are familiar with 

 the beautiful National Park Portfolio which was only a part of the edu- 

 cational campaign. This was published through the co-operation of the 

 Government with the railroads benefited by such advertising. 



Publications all over the country were furnished with photographs 

 and material descriptive of the parks, and the interest awakened has re- 

 sulted in a great demand for the loan of photographs, motion pictures, 

 lectures, etc., which the department is as yet unable to meet. 



The increased travel to the parks during 1916 has fully justified this 

 educational campaign, for the 1916 travel exceeded the travel of the year 

 previous, in spite of the fact that the International Exposition at San 

 Francisco was closed. In motor travel particularly was the increase 

 noticeable; since 12,563 cars registered at the various parks in 1915, 

 while 19,848 cars, carrying 78,916 tourists, registered in 1916. In the 

 near future it is quite evident that the travel in private machines will 

 constitute the greater portion of park travel, and as a consequence this 

 necessitates the construction of new roads and the improving of those 

 already existing. The revenue from this motor travel is also encourag- 

 ing. In 1916, $65,311 was received from automobile fees, as against $42,- 

 589 in 191 5 and $14,245 in 1914. 



Vigorous protests have been made against this direct tax on the 

 motorist, but it must be maintained until larger appropriations are 

 made for the construction and maintenance of roads suitable for 

 motor traffic. Perhaps it should be continued indefinitely as a 

 means of providing funds to repair the natural wear and tear on 

 roads and bridges, the deterioration of which is unusually severe 

 where they are used extensively by motor cars. 



Mr. Mather feels that the policy of allowing automobiles in the national 

 parks has been fully justified by the results.* 



Mr. Mather points out the fact that Congress has largely increased its 

 appropriations, showing that it responded to the popular interest in these 

 parks. Over half a million was appropriated for the fiscal year 1917, as 

 against a little over quarter of a million for the fiscal year 1916, and for 

 the first time Congress provided for the care and protection of national 

 monuments under the Department of the Interior, appropriating $21,500. 



If Mr. Mather had done no other one act, the people of the United 

 States would be deeply in his debt as a result of the recent purchase of 

 the patented lands in the Giant Forest. These were lands in the Sequoia 

 National Park in the immediate vicinity of Ranger Station and in the 

 very heart of the forest, including some of the finest stands of the great 

 sequoia. An option was secured from the owners for $70,000, and 

 through Mr. Mather's efforts the sum of $50,000 was appropriated by 



*In this connection it will be recalled that Mr. Muir and the Sierra Club ap- 

 proved of allowing automobiles to enter Yosemite National Park, realizing that it 

 would mean a great increase in visitors. 



