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Sierra Club Bulletin. 



the summer, and I understand steps are being taken to erect a 

 stone wall along the boundaries. When this is done and the 

 grounds are properly cleared off and planted with shrubbery the 

 effect will be one of unsurpassed beauty. 



Respectfully, 



Robert L. McWilliams. 



Statement Concerning the Proposed Recession of 

 YosEMiTE Valley and Mariposa Big Tree Grove 

 BY THE State of California to the United 

 States. 



[Prepared by the Secretary of the Sierra Club under the direction 

 of the Board of Directors, and adopted by said Board as its oflScial 

 expression of opinion.] 



The Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Big Tree Grove were 

 granted by Congress, in 1864, to the State in trust, "to be held 

 for public use, resort, and recreation." Little was known of the 

 valley at that time and it was many years before it acquired a 

 national reputation. At the present time it is world-famed, and 

 is one of the valuable assets of the nation. Its loss or destruction 

 would affect the entire United States, and every citizen of our 

 country has a direct, vital concern in the welfare of the valley. 

 In 1890 the much larger Yosemite National Park was created by 

 Congress. This latter park includes in its very heart and sur- 

 rounds on all sides the State Park. 



There has thus been created an imperium in imperio which 

 has already given rise to much friction. This deplorable state of 

 affairs was emphasized about a year ago, when a fire was permit- 

 ted to burn some of the finest timber along both sides of 

 the northern boundary of the State Park. Both State and 

 Federal officials insisted that the fire was outside of their respect- 

 ive jurisdictions. The Federal Government will always be 

 hampered in its administration of the National Park as long 

 as the State Park is under separate management. In order to 

 reach the surrounding country its guardians must pass through 

 the State Park, which is the natural base of operations for that 

 whole surrounding region, and yet the Federal Government can 

 maintain no permanent camp and base of supplies in Yosemite 

 Valley because of the State control. 



With these conditions existing. Congress is loath to make 

 appropriations for the construction of extensive improvements 

 which would really result in the improvement of State property 

 at national expense. As a result, all the roads entering the 

 National and State parks are private toll-roads, and tribute is 



