Reports, 



243 



levied on every visitor to this region. This condition of affairs is 

 most unfortunate, and would have been remedied long ago but 

 for the existing state of dual government. 



But once reinvest the United States with authority over this 

 heart and center of the National Park and headquarters will be 

 established in the valley proper. A system of telephone lines will 

 be constructed radiating from this natural center and extending 

 to all portions of the territory embraced in the present State 

 and National parks. This will insure an effective system of fire 

 protection and will increase the efficiency of the patrol and 

 policing of the park many times. We have assurance that this 

 will be done from President Roosevelt himself, also from the 

 Federal Commission recently appointed to investigate conditions 

 there, and from various other Federal officials. 



Major John Bigelow, Jr., Superintendent of Yosemite Na- 

 tional Park, in his recent annual report recommends: — 



First: — The acquisition by the United States Government of 

 Yosemite Valley, now owned by the State of California. 



Second: — The purchase of toll-roads in the park leading 

 to the valley. 



Third: — The purchase by the Government of certain patented 

 lands which are scattered over the park and constitute a con- 

 siderable part of its area. 



"The first of these measures," says Major Bigelow, "is 

 believed to be necessary to secure from Congress an appro- 

 priation adequate to the improvement of roads and trails and 

 of the park generally. It is a palpable anomaly for the valley 

 to be under State government and the ground around it under 

 the National Government. The valley would be rendered more 

 attractive, and therefore financially more productive to the 

 State, under National than it is under State government. The 

 acquisition of the valley by the National Government is a matter, 

 to be sure, in which the initiative must be taken by the State 

 government, but I have good reasons to believe the idea that 

 the National Government should own the valley has for some 

 time been gaining in favor with the people of California." 



2. The State is unable to properly care for Yosemite Valley. 



Though the park has been under the control of the State for 

 upwards of forty years, yet even the main stage roads on the 

 floor of the valley leading to the village are in a deplorable 

 condition. The accommodations provided for visitors have been 

 inadequate for years. In the summer of 1903 the State Com- 

 missioners of the valley were, by reason of the congestion in 

 accommodations provided for visitors, compelled to notify the 

 various transportation companies not to allow any more tourists 

 to enter the valley until the overcrowded conditions were re- 

 lieved. 



