Notes and Correspondence. 



i2g 



trails. The northern part of the park is now practically supplied 

 with trails, except a portion leading from Lake Eleanor over 

 toward Twin Lakes. 



The following bridge improvements have been made during 

 the past year : The Pohono bridge has been replaced, and the iron 

 bridge near the Sentinel Hotel repaired, for $2,385 and $993, 

 respectively, both jobs having been done under contract by the 

 Mervy-Elwell Company; and the bridge over the Merced River 

 above Kenneyville (upper bridge) has been repaired by day labor, 

 the total expenditure being $939.75. 



Hetch-Hetchy Valley. — The Hetch-Hetchy has been brought 

 more prominently to the notice of visitors this year than ordina- 

 rily, with the result that a larger number of people have visited it. 

 It is one of the most interesting features of the park and should 

 be made easy of access by a wagon road, which could be built 

 at a very reasonable cost. From this valley numerous side trips 

 by easy trails are available. Lake Eleanor, Lake Vernon, Ranch- 

 eria Mountain, and Till Till Valley are all within an easy day's 

 ride and return from the valley. Tilden Lake, Pleasant Valley, 

 and Jack Mains Cafion are within an easy day's ride, the return 

 trip being made the following day. 



Editorial Note. — Many criticisms of the Federal Government in 

 its management of the Yosemite Valley have come to our attention. 

 Since this Club was largely instrumental in securing the recession 

 of the Valley and having it incorporated in the Yosemite National 

 Park, where it logically belonged, it may not be out of place to 

 make some comment on these criticisms. The one that is most 

 seriously urged is that the Federal Government has not kept 

 faith in expending large sums on improvements as it has in the 

 Yellowstone. While it must be confessed that as large sums 

 have not been appropriated as we had hoped and been led to 

 believe would be the case, yet the real test is whether the Valley 

 has been benefited to any extent by the change of control. That 

 there is noticeable improvement is admitted by almost every one 

 conversant with the facts. The appropriations made under State 

 control never exceeded $15,000 per annum, and a considerable 

 portion of this amount was used to defray expenses of adminis- 

 tration and left little for permanent improvements. The Federal 

 Government has appropriated annually $30,000. A far greater 

 proportion of this money is expended in permanent improve- 

 ments than under State management. For example, $17,000 was 

 expended in 1907 on permanent road work, and a contract calling 

 for $13,000 more was let in 1908. An engineer has been detailed 

 to assist in this work. These are but instances of the splendid 



