JOHN R. WHITE, Acting Superintendent, Giant Forest, Calif.

This small but popular park was created at the same time as the Sequoia in 1890. Four square miles in area, it preserves a superb grove of sequoias as well as fine stands of sugar and yellow pine and fir. Flowery meadows and little streams bordered by dogwood and azalea enhance the beauty of the park; it is an oasis of beauty in a region desolated by the axe and fire. General Grant National Park was saved to posterity by the same public-spirited citizens of Tulare County who preserved the Sequoia National Park, from which it is distant about 60 miles by road or 16 by trail. At nearest points the park boundaries are but 5 miles apart as the crow flies. Even by road General Grant park is less distant from the permanent headquarters of both parks at Alder Creek than are many outpost stations in Yellowstone, Yosemite, or Glacier. A marked economy to the Government will result from centering all administrative and storehouse operations for both parks at Alder Creek. It would be an advantage to the park if appropriations were made jointly for both parks and if rangers and employees were interchangeable.

Travel in 1924 was at one time entirely stopped by fire in the Sequoia National Forest about 4 miles from park boundary; following this it was diminished by false reports of fires in the park and that it was closed to travel. Nevertheless 9,118 autos and 35,020 visitors entered as compared with 12,136 autos and 46,230 visitors in 1923.

The fiscal year 1925 appropriations contained no items for urgently needed construction. The limit on 1926 estimates of $12,000 again precludes construction. Considering the travel and increasing needs of the park provision should be made for the construction of a suitable entrance and checking station and other improvements and additions. In May, 1924, the holdings of the Kings River Parks Co., the Sanger Meat Market, and Gordon Day Service Station were all consolidated and transferred to the Pinehurst Resort Co. Operations were conducted under the severe handicaps of a late opening and a bad travel and resort season. Nevertheless, the service was much improved and future season's operations may be hopefully anticipated.

General conditions in the park were much improved; water was piped to the Big Tree Grove, and lunch tables and benches provided there; general police and sanitation were bettered; additions were made to the water and sanitation system installed last year and comfort stations constructed; additional camp grounds were opened.

The relations with the rapidly growing private holding of Wilsonia, 160 acres squarely in the middle of the park, continued harmonious and Mr. Andy Ferguson, the manager, met Chief Ranger Decker and the acting superintendent more than halfway on the many mutual problems involved.

The urgent needs of the park are appropriations for needed improvements, construction of the interpark roads, the Generals' Highway, and closer relations with the headquarters of both parks now established at Alder Creek, Sequoia National Park.

Mount Rainier National Park was created by an act of Congress approved March 2, 1899, and exclusive jurisdiction of the territory so set aside was ceded to the United States by an act of the Legislature of the State of Washington approved March 16, 1901. Exclusive jurisdiction of the reservation was accepted by act of Congress June 30, 1916.

The park is roughly a square, about 18 miles on a side, and contains 324 square miles. It is located in the western part of the State of Washington, immediately west of the Cascade Mountains and about 40 miles southeasterly from the southern end of Puget Sound.

Longmire Springs, distant 6%1⁄2 miles by automobile road from the Nisqually entrance, is the headquarters within the park of the superintendent and of the Rainier National Park Co.

ADMINISTRATION

The superintendent administers the park affairs, aided by an assistant superintendent, chief ranger, 5 permanent rangers, and 1 clerk-accountant. During the summer travel season this force is increased by 17 temporary rangers, 3 clerks, 2 telephone operators, and a maintenance and construction force of about 50 men. The United States commissioner, Hon. Edward S. Hall, tries all cases for violation of the park rules and regulations. During the year 6 cases for violation of the rules and regulations were taken before the commissioner, resulting in five convictions.

HOTEL AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICE

Hotel, camp, and transportation services of the park are conducted by the Rainier National Park Co., a corporation directed by business men of Seattle and Tacoma. The company has expanded to meet the growing travel until it now has approximately $600,000 invested in hotel, camp, and transportation equipment.

Hotels.-National Park Inn at Longmire Springs and Paradise Inn in Paradise Valley are the two hotels. Paradise Inn is within easy walking distance of the glaciers and snow fields and is but four hours' drive from Tacoma and five hours' drive from Seattle.

Camps. Two camps, one in Paradise Valley and one in the White River section of the park, are operated. Retail stores carrying groceries and campers' supplies and lunch-counter service are maintained at both camps and also at Longmire.

Transportation.-Stages and touring cars were operated daily from Tacoma and Seattle to Paradise Valley, the round trip from both cities being made in a day. The company also operated stage service connecting with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. l'aul trains at Ashford to and from Paradise Valley.

Guide service.-The company furnished guide service for trips to points of interest. Experienced Swiss guides conduct the parties on the summit climb.

RAILROADS AND HIGHWAYS TO PARK GATEWAYS

The Mountain Highway connects the Nisqually, or southwestern entrance, with the Pacific Highway at Tacoma and with other State roads. The Naches Pass Highway connects the Puget Sound cities with the White River, or northeastern entrance. Both roads are maintained by the State in excellent condition.

Connecting the Carbon River entrance with the State highway system, a 2-mile section of road in Pierce County has not been opened for travel, preventing a great many people from enjoying that part of the park.

The opening of an automobile road to Ohanapecosh Hot Springs, less than one-fourth mile outside the northeast corner of the park, has added another serious problem to the many now confronting us. Private interests are now constructing 6 miles of road from the Forest Service and Lewis County road at Clear Fork to the Hot Springs and the road will be opened this fall. This means that another season will bring thousands of visitors into the park where, due to its former inaccessibility, only a few hundred came in. That section of the park has no facilities whatever for the accomodation of visitors. The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway operated two trains daily during the season to its Ashford terminal, 61⁄2 miles from the park entrance. This season a National Park Limited" train was operated in addition to the local train, giving park passengers excellent service. Rainier National Park Co. stages connect with both trains for points within the park.

WEATHER CONDITIONS

During the fall and early part of the winter weather conditions were favorable for travel but after the first of February rain instead of snow kept many visitors away. The exceptionally dry and early spring encouraged early travel but by the beginning of vacation time in June the absence of moisture showed in the unusual early smoky conditions. The remainder of the season a great deal of unsettled weather discouraged many visitors. Two week-ends in July and four of the five week-end periods of August were either cloudy, foggy, or rainy. From August 9 to 20 there were only two clear days. This unfavorable weather during the month of heaviest travel kept thousands of local visitors away. Snow had entirely disappeared from the vicinity of Paradise Inn by July 2, fully three weeks earlier than in normal years.

FREE PUBLIC CAMPING GROUNDS

Camp grounds with running water, toilets, tables, etc., are maintained at Longmire Springs and Paradise Valley. These camps will accommodate from 400 to 500 people at a time. In the northeastern section of the park the White River public camp will accommodate about the same number. Small camping sites without improvements are maintained at Hansen's camp, Kautz Creek, and Van Trump camp on the Nisqually road. These unimproved camps were extensively used the past year by the large numbers of people who could not find accommodations at the Paradise and Longmire

camps.

A large increase in the number of visitors desiring to camp out was noted this season. Ninety per cent of all visitors coming to the park brought in their own equipment and many were unable to find comfortable camping conditions owing to limited facilities.

NATURAL FEATURES OF THE PARK

Glaciers. Twenty-eight glaciers covering 48 square miles of area, add greatly to the glory of Mount Rainier. Six of these rivers of moving ice average a greater size than the glaciers of the Alps. All of the glaciers are receding-the Nisqually at the rate

of 50 feet a year.

Forests. Over two-thirds of the national park is covered by forests. All zones of forest growth from the dense lower slope forests to the gnarled, wind-swept timber line trees, are represented.

Flowers. Some 532 flowering plants and ferns contribute to the annual flower show on Mount Rainier. Before the snow has melted in the high meadows the avalanche lilies and western anemones push their way through and soon cover the hillsides in profusion. Later in the season the parks are a mass of color. The height of the flower season came late in July this year due to the early spring.

Wild life.-Bear, deer, elk, and goat are seen much more frequently now in the park than in former years. Deer and elk are often seen around Longmire, bear in Paradise Valley, and goat in the little-visited sections of the park.

Fish. One hundred and eighty thousand trout were planted in park waters this year, and several thousand more will be planted this fall. Eastern brook trout, weighing up to 4 pounds 6 ounces. have been taken from Lake Louise. Lake George has, as usual, also provided fine fishing.

EDUCATIONAL SERVICE

The nature-guide service, though only two years old, has become one of the most appreciated features of the park. Purely educational in nature, the work was carried out by means of field trips conducted by park naturalists, illustrated lectures on the natural features of the region, exhibits of wild flowers, mounted birds and animals, and other natural history specimens, information offices with reference libraries and weekly bulletins dealing with subjects of current interest.

PARK MAINTENANCE

Notwithstanding the increased expenditures made for the maintenance of roads, trails, camp grounds, buildings, etc., these facilities are gradually breaking down and deteriorating under the tremendous usage which they are subjected. The limited facilities of the park were not designed to accommodate the demands now made.

IMPROVEMENT WORK

Nisqually Road.-The widening and improving of the Nisqually road between Narada Falls and Paradise Valley was continued and that section of the road is now 20 feet wide. The widening and surfacing of the Narada cut-off was completed. The remaining section of the Nisqually road-which will not permit of two-way travel for a distance of some 1,500 feet near the Ricksecker cut-off-will be widened late this fall or early next spring.

Carbon River Road.--The contractor completed construction work on the 8 miles of road in the Carbon River section of the park. This road terminates near the snout of Carbon Glacier. From Ipsut Creek to the end, a distance of 21⁄2 miles, the road was constructed for one-way travel. Due to serious damage by the flood of last February a section of this new road, 2 miles from the entrance, is in very poor condition. The damaged section can not be repaired until the road is protected from further encroachment from the river. River revetment work will be done this fall.

White River Road.-This road was badly damaged by the flood of last February, necessitating an expenditure of approximately $3,000 to make repairs sufficient for opening that section of the park. The road was originally constructed by a mining company before the park was set aside and due to its location has never been in good condition as it was not considered adivsable to expend more funds than necessary to make it passable.

Trail system. The 150 miles of the Wonderland Trail and 20 miles of other trails were repaired and kept in fair condition. Owing to lack of funds it has not been possible to place our trail system in first-class condition. Many sections have become badly washed or eroded, many timbered places over muddy ground and many small bridges require repairs that it was not possible to do with the limited funds. A considerable expenditure on the trail system is essential in order to place them in proper condition to accommodate the people who want to use them.

Paradise public camp ground. Three thousand eight hundred feet of new road was constructed to open up additional space and connect it with the other section of the camp ground and main road. This road has increased the Paradise camp ground by about 200 per cent. A new comfort station is being constructed on the site opened up. but as yet no funds have been made available for the installation of a water supply or to take care of the sewage.

Longmire public camp ground.-The suspension bridge across the Nisqually River was completed and the road leading to the new site for camp grounds at Longmire was about 80 per cent completed. Owing to insufficient funds the road could not be completed, nor could the camp site be cleared and opened.

WINTER OPERATIONS

For the first time the Nisqually Road, from entrance to Longmire Springs, a distance of 61⁄2 miles, was kept open for automobile travel the entire year and National Park Inn was operated informally throughout the winter. By the use of a snow plow which operated in front of a heavy caterpillar tractor and pushed the snow to either side of the road, the road to Longmire was kept open. Visitors found ideal snow conditions within three to four hours' comfortable automobile travel from the Puget Sound cities where, due to the mild climate, a little or no opportunity is had for the enjoyment of snow sports. Nearly 10,000 people visited the park during the winter, enjoying the tobogganing, snowshoeing, skiing, and other winter sports provided by the Rainier National Park Co. The popularity of Mount Rainier National Park as a year-round playground was established last winter.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Camp grounds.-That ample space, water supply, and comfort stations be provided for the accommodation of all visitors who want that service.

2. Community building.-That large buildings to provide shelter in stormy weather and to serve as a common meeting place for visitors at other times be provided for visitors in the camp grounds.

3. Repair shop. That a shop for repairing equipment during winter months be constructed at Longmire.

4. Equipment sheds. That shelter for park machinery and equipment which now stands out in the weather be provided.

5. Ranger force. That the protective force be increased by 4 permanent and 10 temporary men to provide adequate protection to park and service to visitors.

6. Employees' cottages. That three cottages for sheltering permanent employees who are required to live in the park throughout the winter be provided.

7. Administration building. That an adequate building for the park headquarters be provided.

8. Winter patrol cabins.-That three cabins be constructed on the east and north sides of the park to provide shelter for rangers required to patrol the park during the winter for the protection of game and other park features.

9. Superintendent's residence.-That a suitable residence for the superintendent be provided at Longmire to facilitate park administration. He is now compelled to live at the Nisqually entrance, 61⁄2 miles from headquarters and the center of all park activity.

10. Maintenance funds.-That sufficient funds for the adequate upkeep of roads, trails, buildings, telephone lines, public camps, and other park improvements now rapidly deteriorating under tremendous usage be provided.

TRAVEL IN 1924

Travel for the year ended September 30, 1924, totaled 161,473 people and 38,351 private cars, which is an increase of 31 per cent in people and 39 per cent in cars over the highest previous record of 123,708 people and 27,655 cars in 1923.

The largest travel day in the history of the park was August 31, when 7,759 people and 1,914 cars registered at the four entrances. The largest travel week ever recorded was from August 27 to September 2, when 17,097 people and 4,251 cars entered. August, 1924, was the heaviest travel month, with 61,840 people and 14,860 private cars.

Distribution of private_automobilies entering Mount Rainier National Park, by States, and of total tourist travel from Seattle, Tacoma, and the various States and countries, for the travel year 1924