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Sierra Club Bulletin. 



the able management of Mr. Gifford Pinchot. The bands of 

 sheep which once rendered desolate and barren the beautiful 

 mountain meadows and valleys have long since been excluded, 

 and the flower-gardens and lawns of the High Sierra are again 

 flourishing in their pristine beauty. Mr. Charles H. Shinn, 

 Forest Supervisor, and, under him, Mr. McLeod, Head Ranger 

 of the King's River region, and his assistant rangers, are doing 

 most excellent work along the lines of duty laid down by the 

 forest service. Mr. Shinn especially has grasped the spirit of 

 the reserve, and is doing splendid work in harmonizing the va- 

 rious interests which exist within the reserve. 



FOREST RESERVE OR NATIONAL PARK? 



While we, as members of the Sierra Club, which aided in 

 the estabHshment of the forest reserves, appreciate to the fullest 

 extent their great value, yet we feel that this entire region em- 

 braced in the upper drainage basin of the South and Middle 

 forks of the King's River, or at least the greater portion of 

 it, should be placed on the same basis as other lands which are 

 embraced within National parks. Whether it should be made a 

 National park in name or whether it should remain a part of 

 the Sierra forest reserve is not vital. The desired results can 

 just as well be obtained, for the present at least, under the 

 efficient supervision of the present forest reserve management. 



The only question which can possibly arise in this connection 

 is as to whether the present forest reserve system is intended 

 to provide for the situation which confronts us in relation to 

 the King's River Park. As we understand the reasons for the 

 establishment of the forest reserves, they are to aid in con- 

 serving the forests and water and grazing areas of the lands 

 which they include, and to supervise their use, having in view 

 the best interests of the public at large. As we understand it, 

 the reserves have been estabUshed for utiHtarian purposes only, 

 and in order that the timber may be cut and the water used 

 for power and the grazing land be pastured to the best possible 

 economic advantage. In other words, their object is primarily 

 commercial in its nature. 



On the other hand, we feel that in the case of most of the 

 area described in this report the commercial element should be 

 eliminated almost entirely if not absolutely. The scenery of 

 the region described is by far too wonderful and sublime to 

 permit of the destruction or alteration of any of its component 

 parts. No portion of the forests should be cut for lumbering 

 purposes, and in fact most of it is too inaccessible to be com- 

 mercially valuable; the beautiful falls should not be despoiled 



