Notes and Correspondence. 59 



discovered "Yosemite Valley" was granted in trust to the State 

 of California by Congress, "to be held for public use, resort and 

 recreation" ; 



Whereas, In 1890 the "Yosemite National Park," entirely 

 surrounding the "Yosemite Valley," was created by Congress ; 



Whereas, The "Yosemite Valley" embraces but fifty-six 

 square miles, which is situated in the very heart and center of 

 the Yosemite National Park, which embraces over one thousand 

 square miles ; 



Whereas, There has thus been created an "imperium in im- 

 perio" which has already given rise to unnecessary friction and 

 expenditures, by reason of the two jurisdictions; 



Whereas, Had the "Yosemite Valley" grant not been in exist- 

 ence at the time of the creation of the Yosemite National Park, 

 the idea of carving out of the heart of the National Park a small 

 tract like the "Yosemite Valley" and placing it under a separate 

 jurisdiction would never have been proposed; 



Whereas, This illogical situation exists, which is detrimental 

 to the interests of both parks, to remedy which the State passed 

 the act receding the valley in order to place the entire park under 

 one jurisdiction; 



Whereas, The "Yosemite Valley" is the natural and strategic, 

 as well as the scenic, center of the National Park, with all its 

 roads and most of its trails leading directly to the valley ; 



Whereas, The Federal authorities in charge of the National 

 Park will always be hampered in their administration of the 

 National Park until they acquire jurisdiction of the valley; 



Whereas, The Yosemite Valley is now of world-wide interest 

 and is "national" in importance, its natural wonders being of 

 such magnitude that they would be better and more appropriately 

 cared for and preserved under national ownership and protection ; 



Whereas, The Yosemite Valley is not now as accessible to 

 the traveling public as it should be, nor is there sufficient hotel 

 accommodation, nor are there satisfactory roadways and trails 

 within the valley itself ; 



Whereas, The Federal Government is in a better position to 

 bring about these very desirable improvements than is the State 

 of California, as is evidenced by the magnificent results which 

 have been accomplished in the Yellowstone ; 



Whereas, The Honorable Secretary of the Interior and all 

 of the recent superintendents of the National Park have strongly 

 advocated the transfer ; 



Whereas, The State Board of Trade and all of the important 

 local Boards of Trade, Merchants' Exchanges, and Chambers of 

 Commerce throughout the State of California, the American For- 

 estry Association, the California Water and Forest Association, 



