NATIONAL PARK NOTES 



Annual Report of the National Park Service 



The director's annual report for the year ending June 30, 1918, is so 

 comprehensive and marks such an advance in the character of the 

 work done under the direction of the recently established National 

 Park Service that if we were to publish all the information that would 

 be of interest to our members it would fill a volume of itself. 



It is the policy of the Park Service to prevent the grazing of sheep, 

 because of their destructive nature, and allow only the grazing of cattle 

 where such grazing will not injure the natural features of the park nor 

 interfere with visitors. Timber is to be cut only where necessary for 

 fire protection and where it will not injure the landscape. In order that 

 the buildings and improvements in the parks shall harmonize with the 

 natural surroundings, landscape engineers have been employed. Co- 

 operation with other Government bureaus and with railroads is also an 

 important object. In spite of the war, the attendance at many of the 

 national parks was nearly up to normal last year, and an inter-park 

 system of highways, so that one can motor from park to park, is also 

 being worked out in co-operation with the state. 



The National Park Service has also taken up certain educational fea- 

 tures, such as motion-picture films, lantern slides and photographs, 

 which have been circulated, and has published quantities of portfolios 

 and pamphlets containing illustrated descriptions of the various parks. 



The Sundry Civil Act of July i, 1918, carried a total appropriation of 

 a little over $1,000,000 for the national parks. The director recommends 

 that the Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, also the wonderful sand-dune area 

 in Indiana on the southern shore of Lake Michigan, and a stand of Cali- 

 fornia redwood along the Eel River be preserved as national parks. 



YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK 



Since the soldiers were removed from the Yellowstone Park, an effi- 

 cient ranger system has been established, and a bill is pending providing 

 for the enlargement of the Yellowstone National Park by adding the 

 land lying to the south and east of the present park, and in all likeli- 

 hood this will pass. 



YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK 



Two hundred and fifty-five thousand dollars was appropriated for the 

 current year. The new power plant, completed at a total cost of $212,- 

 000, can supply 2000 kilowats, and will take care of all the needs of the 

 Yosemite Valley for a long time in the future. The old power plant 

 will probably be sent to the Sequoia National Park, where it is badly 



