National Parks. 



6i 



the Yellowstone, has not had heretofore the benefit of any well- 

 considered or systematic plans. In all of them the road and trail 

 problems for public travel and convenience to enable tourists to 

 obtain the benefits of scenic beauties are primary, but sewage, 

 water, and electric-power problems are after all of equal im- 

 portance. 



The patrol of the national parks is also a matter of prime im- 

 portance in their supervision. The system of maintaining regu- 

 lar troops in the Yellowstone, Yosemite, Sequoia, and General 

 Grant parks has proved entirely satisfactory as a method of 

 patrol. The moral effect of the troops in protecting against 

 malicious mischief and enforcing regulations, and the saving of 

 expense in administration by their use, justify their assignment. 

 I believe, however, that civilian superintendents should have 

 charge of the administrative government of all of the national 

 parks, with military supervision confined to the enforcement of 

 regulations pertaining to public travel and preservation of game 

 and natural curiosities. Outside of the Yellowstone National 

 Park the administration of all of the parks is embarrassed by 

 the fact that they contain within their bounds certain areas of 

 private lands, which should be acquired by the Government, and 

 all private interests, including toll-roads, extinguished. The 

 private holdings are as follows : Yosemite National Park, 

 19,827 acres ; Sequoia National Park, 3,716.96 acres ; Wind 

 Cave National Park, 160 acres ; Crater Lake National Park, 

 i>337 acres patented land, and 1,121.11 acres unperfected bona fide 

 claims; Mesa Verde National Park, 400 acres patented lands 

 and 480 acres unperfected bona fide claims; Mount Rainier 

 National Park, 18.2 acres patented lands; Glacier National Park, 

 8,864.40 acres patented lands and 7.803.71 acres unperfected bona 

 fide claims. 



In order that creditable progress may be made in each of the 

 national parks, after the development of all necessary plans for 

 road and other construction for the convenience of travel and 

 tourists, liberal appropriations will be required and a depart- 

 mental organization for administrative purposes perfected, capable 

 of efficient field administration and of careful inspection of all 

 pubHc work and the conduct of concessionaires. It will doubt- 

 less be necessary in the accomplishment of these purposes to 

 create a bureau of national parks and resorts, under the super- 

 vision of a competent commissioner, with a suitable force of 

 superintendents, supervising engineers, and landscape architects, 

 inspectors, park guards, and other employees. 



The creation of such a bureau and the planning under it of 

 a consistent and broadly considered scheme for national parks 



