10 



Sierra Club Bulletin 



Valley last summer under the direction of the Extension Di- 

 vision of the University of California. Four series were given 

 — ^by Willis L. Jepson, on plants and trees of Yosemite; by 

 William Frederic Bade, on John Muir ; by Frangois E. Matthes, 

 on geological features of the valley ; and by A. L. Kroeber, on 

 the Indians of the Yosemite. The establishment of these lec- 

 tures as a park institution to continue indefinitely is a source 

 of keenest delight and satisfaction to me. Our thanks are also 

 due the University of California for other courtesies extended, 

 not the least of which is the undertaking of a comprehensive 

 study of the animal life of the park under direction of Dr. 

 Grinnell of the Department of Zoology. The results of Dr. 

 Grinnell's work will probably be published this year, and will 

 be a distinctly valuable addition to the Hterature of the parks. 



In Sequoia National Park the future depends so much on the 

 outcome of the enlargement project that there has been a delay 

 in planning any extensive improvements, and we have content- 

 ed ourselves with maintaining the existing roads, trails, and 

 other utilities of the park in proper condition for public use. 

 For the same reason no serious attempt has been made to ex- 

 tend the faciHties of the various business interests. In fact, 

 when the larger development of the existing park is made in 

 connection with the territory adjacent, the scale of operation 

 of these interests must be so tremendously expanded that a 

 general readjustment of all concessions may be necessary in 

 order to provide adequate service for the touring public. The 

 sentiment in favor of the enlargement project seems to have 

 become more pronounced during the past year, and there is 

 every reason to believe that the year 1920 will see the fulfill- 

 ment of the plan first voiced as long ago as 1891, when John 

 Muir advocated, in an article in the Century Magazine, the ex- 

 tension of Sequoia Park to include the Kings River region. 



Crystal Cave, discovered in 1918 within the boundaries of 

 the present Sequoia National Park, has been closed to the pub- 

 lic during the past year on account of the tendency to vandal- 

 ism manifested the year before. The cave can be maintained 

 unimpaired only by the installation of a proper lighting system 

 and by the employment of guides to conduct parties through its 

 various passages and to prevent depredations on its formations. 



