Reports. 



249 



nitude of the situation and the traveling public. Public opinion largely 

 favors the transfer. — Los Angeles Times, Nov. 9, 190 J^. 



Yosemite is one of California's best assets. Every visitor it attracts 

 from abroad is a source of profit to the people of this State, consequently 

 the more sight-seers for the valley the more profit to Californians. The 

 Government will do what the State has neglected to do, and do it better. — 

 Oakland Tribune, Nov. 26, 190^. 



" Whereas, The Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Big Tree Grove are 

 among the scenic wonders of the world, and the pride not only of California 

 but of the whole Union; and 



" Whereas, Their proper maintenance and improvement imposes upon 

 the people of California a burden which, in view of the fact that said 

 valley and grove are national exhibits, should be borne by the National 

 Government; and 



" Whereas, We believe that the National Government is alone able to 

 undertake the expenditures necessary to properly improve said valley and 

 grove by providing easy means of access, well-planned roads, trails, and 

 other attractive features: 



" Resolved, That the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce 

 of Santa Barbara County hereby desires to go on record as favoring the 

 recession to the National Government of the Yosemite Valley and 

 the Mariposa Grove, to the end that these natural wonders may receive the 

 improvements which they deserve and the consequent attention from the 

 world that they inerit."— Santa Barbara Press, Dec. 3, 1904- 



It is rumored that, moved by the admirable conduct and supervision of 

 the Yosemite National Park, the State of California is likely, at the 

 approaching session of its Legislature, to recede to the United States 

 the smaller Yosemite grant of 1864, which is in the park but not of it. 

 It is absurd and wasteful that there should oe two jurisdictions within 

 one boundary, and the people of California are to be congratulated on 

 the prospect of this wise consummation, which Congress should facilitate 

 by a prompt acceptance of the duty of caring for the whole of the Yo- 

 semite Wonderland. — Century Magazine, December, 1904- 



The superintendent of the Yosemite National Park recommends that 

 the Federal Government "acquire" the Yosemite Valley, which it once 

 gave to the State of California. It is to be hoped that this most desirable 

 end may be accomplished at the coming session of the California Legis- 

 lature. The reasons for this course are abundant and conclusive. In the 

 first place it is really, as its name implies, a "National" and not a State 

 park. Its natural wonders are national in their magnitude, national in their 

 interest, and national in the scale of expenditure required to make them 

 accessible and protect them from impairment. They should be national, 

 also, in their custody. This sentimental view would perhaps not be alto- 

 gether conclusive were California rich enough to incur the expenditure 

 involved in the ownership and protection of the park. Unfortunately this 

 State is not rich enough, and practical considerations coincide with the 

 sentimental in requiring that this wonderful valley be restored to the 

 nation, which alone is able to care for it. From all sides come imperative 

 demands for largely increased expenditures on the park with which this 

 State is positively unable to comply. For the next quarter of a century 

 the State will be compelled to tax itself to the full limit of endurance for 

 purposes essential to our material prosperity or for the fulfillment of moral 

 obligations which must take precedence even of so noble an object as the 

 Yosemite Valley. We have recently acquired a State park in the Big Basin 

 of Santa Cruz County, and the forest fires of last summer admonished us 

 that if we are to preserve that magnificent body of timber for the enjoy- 



