Notes and Correspondence 



345 



Next year I plan to start the crew at the bridges on the South 

 Fork of the San Joaquin, and then work up to Muir Pass via 

 Evolution as the season advances. To work to good advantage, 

 the low country must be worked early, and when the snow goes 

 off sufficiently on the higher elevations, stop work low down and 

 attack the higher portions. There is usually only about 30 days 

 you can work elevations of 11,000 feet or over, so we must get at 

 them when the opportunity presents itself. 



If we finish the Evolution Section, we can continue work from 

 the Piute Bridge to Seldon Pass. I would, of course, plan to re- 

 serve enough money to get started in 1919 pending an additional 

 appropriation. 



I sincerely hope some better method of payment can be de- 

 vised. It is impossible to keep men and maintain credit if bills 

 are not paid more promptly. 



I want to take this opportunity to commend very highly the 

 work of Mr. Hughes as foreman of the crew. He has carried the 

 work under some very difficult conditions in fine shape, and I 

 hope he can again be assigned to it. 



I attach map, photographs, and memo of Ranger Hughes on the 

 season's work. M.A.Benedict, 



Forest Supervisor 



foreman's memorandum of season's work 



The trail crew for this year's work left Cascada on June 24, and June 

 26 they reached Aspen Meadow, mJles above the Piute Creek bridge. 

 On June 27, camp was established and the tools assembled. On June 28 

 work was commenced at the bridge, working from there southeast up 

 the South Fork of the San Joaquin. The foreman and Mr. Jordan, who 

 went in with the crew to help lay out the trail, were impressed with the 

 idea that this year we were going to build a better trail than we had 

 ever built before, and the lowest percentage of grade obtainable was to 

 be carried, and it must not exceed a maximum of 15 per cent. 



A survey was made from Piute Bridge to the foot of the hill, at the 

 mouth of Evolution Creek, a distance of 3^ miles. A very good grade 

 was obtained, only in one place was 15 per cent used, and that only for 

 a few rods, the average grade for the entire 3^ miles being less than 

 6 per cent. 



It was proposed to build the trail up the South Fork, keeping on the 

 north side of the river, and bridge Evolution Creek, and thereby avoid 

 crossing the South Fork twice. 



A good trail could have been built from the ford up, but it was found 

 impractical to bridge Evolution Creek, and not even a good ford could 

 be found, so this idea had to be given up. 



The ford across the South Fork, below the mouth of Evolution Creek, 

 has proved to be a very dangerous ford during high water. A man was 

 drowned there last summer, and prior to that several head of stock had 

 been drowned. This year we lost a pack mule on this same ford, for 

 which the State has to pay. 



Below the ford some good bridge sites are available, but the expense 



