320 



Sierra Club Bulletin 



distances between valley towns, and the road throughout is among the 

 very best in the State. 



The work of fencing the tourist camp-ground is now under progress 

 and will be completed by the close of the season. 



(Signed) Walter Fry, 

 Superintendent Sequoia and General Grant National Parks 



CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK 



Game Protection — But two temporary rangers are allowed during the 

 season, one of whom is constantly employed in issuing licenses and reg- 

 istering visitors, so that one man must patrol the entire park. Then is 

 it strange that there is always a report current that deer are slaughtered 

 by poachers, who only need keep track of the ranger to carry on their 

 nefarious practices? However, hunting in the park is not general by 

 any means, and is only carried on by an irresponsible class of semi- 

 criminals. Because of the protection afforded, deer in the park become 

 very tame during the summer and when driven to the lower levels by 

 the first heavy snow, fall an easy prey to the despised deer skinners. 



If the department will allow five additional rangers, three of them 

 will be needed for issuing automobile hcenses and registering visitors 

 at park entrances ; one will be detailed for clerical work at head- 

 quarters, and three will be used to patrol the park. Of the latter, one 

 should be stationed at the Medford entrance to patrol north of the 

 Medford Road and west of the lake; one at the Pinnacles entrance to 

 patrol the eastern side of the park, and one at headquarters to patrol 

 the southern portion, together with that portion of the rim in the 

 vicinity of Crater Lake Lodge. By this arrangement fairly good patrol 

 of the park can be maintained and deer hunters held in check. Besides 

 this the danger of forest fires would be materially reduced and the work 

 of park administration greatly improved. 



Patented Lands — There are approximately 1,200 acres of private land 

 within the park, all of which is held for speculation. It is covered with 

 excellent timber, and it is only a question of time when some speculator 

 or millman will gather it up ; then the next move will be to cut off the 

 trees and leave it as "logged-off land" is usually left — covered with 

 kindlings but denuded of trees. 



Early action should be taken to extinguish these titles, either by the 

 ordinary method of condemnation and purchase or by offering therefor 

 other lands located outside of the park. 



(Signed) Will G. Steele, 

 Superintendent Crater Lake National Park 



MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK 



The park trail system has a total length of 120 miles. Under allot- 

 ment of funds appropriated by the sundry civil act of August i, 

 1914, large forces of workmen are now engaged in an effort to connect 

 the north side trails with the south side trails on the east and west ends 



