If an all-year road could be constructed and were given due publicity in the East, it would greatly increase travel to Grand Canyon National Park. A modern highway from the south rim to the north rim by way of Lees Ferry is also badly needed. The present road is so bad that few motorists are hardy enough to undertake the trip. If a motorist wishes to drive from the north rim to the south rim over an ordinarily good road, he must traverse parts of California, Nevada, and Utah providing he takes the nearest road to the west or parts of New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah if he takes the nearest road to the east. It is certain that if a modern highway were constructed by way of Lees Ferry the auto travel to Grand Canyon National Park would be greatly augmented and many people residing in southern Arizona would spend considerable time during the summer camping on the north rim. TRAILS The trails have been maintained in a satisfactory manner. A cloudburst in July necessitated the entire rebuilding of stretches of trails, but this was speedily done. Maintenance of the Dripping Springs Trail was resumed after a lapse of many years, and this trail can now be traveled with safety. It has proved very popular with visitors. TELEPHONE LINES During the past winter a telephone line was constructed across the Tonto Plateau from Hermit Camp to Indian Gardens. All telephone lines have been maintained in a satisfactory manner. BUILDINGS During the year a number of buildings have been erected. The Community Building, a long-felt want here, was completed June 30 and thrown open to the public July 3, when the dedication was held and a dance given. A new mess hall has been completed. There have also been erected three employees' cottages and one duplex cottage, Funds are also available for the construction of a paint shop at administrative headquarters and two ranger cabins and barns in outlying parts of the park. All permanent employees are now comfortably housed, and we can not foresee the need of much additional construction to house employees for some years to come. After several years' study a comprehensive scheme for the development at Grand Canyon National Park has been adopted. This is perhaps the outstanding feature of the past year's work. We are now in position to designate building sites for the various utilities and Government activities with the assurance they will fit in the general scheme for all time to come, so far as it is possible to foresee developments. WILD LIFE Predatory animal hunters report that the deer are steadily increasing on the south rim. This section of the park, however, can never be a satisfactory game refuge until the grazing of cattle and sheep is no longer permitted and there has been considerable water development. It will also be necessary to extend the park boundary southward a considerable distance in order to adequately protect the wild life. Deer are very numerous in the north rim section of the park. Many were observed soon after the ground was free of snow and they were invariably in excellent condition. Due to the campaign waged against cats and dogs, squirrels, rabbits, and birds are becoming much more numerous and are quite tame. Our predatory animal killer and rangers have accounted for 77 coyotes, 15 wild cats, 2 dogs, and about 15 house cats. GRAZING Drift fences Park lands are greatly overgrazed, as are adjoining national forests. should be built entirely around the park and grazing permits in the future refused. Dr. Charles C. Adams, director of the Roosevelt Wild Life Experimental Station, spent considerable time in the park, and after looking over the situation on the south rim stated that, in his opinion, even if grazing were summarily stopped, it would require at least 50 years for the flowers, shrubbery, grass, etc., to come back to their normal condition. FIRES In spite of an unusually dry season forest fires have been infrequent. One fire on the north end of Powell Plateau, which started July 17, burned for a week before being put under control and destroyed approximately 1,600 acres of undergrowth, pinyon pine, and juniper. The big timber remained unscathed. There were six fires on the south rim, which were speedily extinguished with little damage. VIOLATIONS OF REGULATIONS During the year one man was arrested for having liquor in his possession and turned over to the Federal courts. He was fined $100, but, not having the money, was confined in the Yavapai County jail to serve it out. One man was ordered out of the park, his presence here being undesirable. Another was fined $75 for disorderly conduct. Three of the ranger force and the assistant superintendent have been appointed deputy sheriffs, which will, in view of the fact that jurisdiction has not been ceded, greatly aid in the enforcement of Federal laws. Due to vigorous action by park rangers it is believed that there are practically no violations of the liquor laws in the park at present. PUBLIC CAMP GROUNDS Three public camp grounds have been maintained during the year, but the one at headquarters has been patronized to a greater extent than the other two. located at Grandview and Desert View. All camp grounds have been kept in clean and sanitary condition and new toilets have been installed. A generous supply of firewood has always been available to LECTURES campers. Lectures on the Grand Canyon and vicinity, and the other national parks, have been given nightly at El Tovar Hotel by our Mr. I. I. Harrison. From October 1, 1923, to September 30, 1924, he addressed a total of 26,773 people. From February 3 to March 11, 1924, he was on regular leave of absence in the East, and while on leave gave 22 lectures to a total attendance of 16,330 people. GIFTS During the year, we received from the Mountain Lakes (N. J.) Free Public Library, through the efforts of Mrs. Pearl H. Doremus, 515 books for our library. Gifts of books were also received from Mr. J. J. Jolly, Mrs. A. L. Stetson, Mrs. John O'Shea, Miss L. A. Turner, Mrs. Frances L. Jones, Mrs. Bauman Elder, and Miss C. A. Avery. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE-FOREST SERVICE During the past season especially cordial cooperative relations have existed between Grand Canyon National Park and the Tusayan and Kaibab National Forests in Coconino County. We have spotted a number of fires in both these forests and reported them to the supervisor's office before they had been located by Forest Service men. During the fire on Powell Plateau in July, we were given much help by the Forest Service. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR-GEOLOGICAL SURVEY We have received advance prints of topographic maps prepared by R. T. Evans, topographic engineer of the United States Geological Survey during the summer of 1923. Thanks to Mr. Evans's painstaking work, we have now an accurate map of the entire park. The gaging station on the Colorado River at the mouth of Bright Angel Creek was in operation the entire year. The gager telephones the park office his gage readings daily, and the information is gotten out immediately to all concerned. This arrangement is credited with saving the Reclamation Service a large sum of money on the lower part of the river, due to advance flood warnings sent from this place. ACCIDENTS There were no serious accidents in the park during the past season. This speaks very highly for the excellent manner in which the transportation over roads and trails is conducted by our operators. FOREST INSECT INFESTATION The Bureau of Entomology has been vigorously combating the forest insect infestation on the north rim. Approximately 4,500 trees were cut and peeled and it is believed that this infestation has been practically eliminated. NECESSARY ADDITIONS TO THE PARK When Grand Canyon National Park was created there was much opposition from mining and grazing interests and the boundaries of the park were a compromise. Experience has proven that if we are to protect our game on the south rim the park line must be extended considerably toward the south. Due to many canyons breaking back from the rim, it is impossible to develop a road system on the north rim in such a way as to keep the roads entirely within the park. In order to plan a self-contained and logical development program in this section there should be an addition to the park northward. RECOMMENDATIONS Sewage-disposal plant.-The sewage-disposal plant in use at present was constructed about 19 years ago and was no doubt adequate at that time. Since then the number of visitors has increased manyfold and the septic tank is greatly overloaded and is unsanitary. Mr. H. B. Hommon, of the United States Public Health Service, has designed an adequate disposal plant and funds should be secured for its construction as soon as possible. The new septic tank will be located approximately 1 mile from all activities instead of in the midst of them as is the tank now in use. Trails. The Kaibab Trail is the only means of cross-canyon travel, and from the standpoint of service to visitors and administration of the park it is imperative that we have a first-call trail from the south to the north rim. At present the worst section of the trail is for about 3.5 miles above Phantom Ranch. For this distance the trail must be taken out of the creek bed and made safe for travel during rain storms, which may occur at any time during the summer. Other stretches of the Kaibab Trail should be relocated and the lower end of the Hermit Trail should be relocated so as to shorten the trail and reduce the large annual maintenance charges. Roads Funds should be secured to reconstruct existing roads and construct new roads to points of interest in the park. There are 7.5 miles only of all-year roads in the park. The remaining roads are impassable during the winter and frequently impassable during the rainy season in summer. Buildings. The park has two buildings only on the north rim. One was an old hunter's cabin and the other a forest ranger's cabin. Neither were constructed for winter occupation and both have deteriorated to a point that they must be replaced. We must have a comfortable ranger cabin, storehouse, barn, and machinery shed on the north rim. Three snowshoe patrol cabins must be constructed. A ranger cabin with barn and storehouse must be built at Cottonwood Flats at the half-way point between the south and north rims. In the comprehensive scheme for development at Grand Canyon, the site of the cabin now occupied by the superintendent will be turned over to the utilities serving visitors. A new superintendent's residence must be built in the park-service area. The site now occupied by the administration building will also be turned over to the utilities. A new and adequate administration "building must be constructed at the new community center. Rangers' cabins should be located at strategic positions in outlying sections of the park. A powder magazine for the safe-keeping of explosives must also be constructed. Other buildings badly needed are a hospital and museum. It is doubtful if any national park could get together a greater variety of exhibits properly belonging to the region in which it is located. Telephone lines.-Telephone lines should be built to all outlying sections of the park as a convenience to visitors and to the administration of the park, and as a protection from fire. Water-supply system. A water-supply system should be provided for Bright Angel Point on the north rim. Fences. Many miles of drift fences should be constructed in order to control grazing. Nature service.-A park naturalist with all-year residence in the park should be appointed. Private lands.-The elimination of privately owned land in the park by purchase is urgently recommended. United States commissioner.-A resident United States commissioner with power to assess fines and impose prison sentences for misdemeanors should be appointed. Deputy United States marshals.—In order to properly enforce laws a number of rangers should be appointed deputy United States marshals. LAFAYETTE NATIONAL PARK GEORGE B. DORR, Superintendent, Bar Harbor, Me. GENERAL STATEMENT The past year has seen marked development in Lafayette National Park and advance towards its goal of public service. The old summer life of the region is rapidly giving place to a new one springing from the vast increase in motor travel the whole country over and the greater movement of people. Out of the immediate vicinity of cities and off main lines of summer tourist travel, those who come motor-camping to the national park are of an exceptional class, interested in the beauty of its grand coastal scenery, in the history of the region from its early days of French possession and colonial settlement, and interested in its nature, its bird life, its plant life, its ancient geological story, the prolific marine life in the ocean waters that surround it. They come in great numbers, too, causing embarrassment to provide for them in the absence as yet of any proper camping ground within the park, the establishment of which forms one of its most immediate and greatest needs. ROAD CONSTRUCTION The most striking feature in the park's development during the past year has been the progress made upon the construction of its first motor road, which is being built by generous contribution along the lines of a survey approved in 1922 by the Secretary of the Interior and the National Park Service. The views this road is opening up are of unique and marvelous beauty. Built to endure, with solid rock foundation, it should remain as permanent a feature as the mountains in the regional landscape and become famous among motorists and travelers the country over. It is in every sense a park road, built for beauty; far from bringing any discordant element into the native landscape, it will open its interest and its wild charm to countless visitors. ROAD HEARING DECISION An attack made last winter by a group of the island's summer residents and visitors on the continued construction of this road and of an associated road system in the park for use with horses led to a hearing before the Secretary of the Interior in March, at Washington, and in the outcome proved of marked advantage in leading the Secretary to make, in the early summer, a personal inspection of the park and examination of its road-building program, and in leading to a visit also from Director Mather, who met the Secretary at Bar Harbor. Every opportunity, both at the hearing in Washington and during the visit to Bar Harbor, was given those in opposition to express their views, and the whole matter of road construction in the park was thoroughly reviewed. The Secretary, after conference with Director Mather, approved both the roads under construction. VISITS OF DIRECTOR MATHER AND LANDSCAPE ENGINEER Director Mather, personally inspecting the work done and being done, approved it warmly and expressed his desire at some future_time to have the engineers in charge of road construction in the western parks meet at Bar Harbor and examine it. Previous to the director's visit the superintendent had a visit from Mr. Daniel R. Hull, chief landscape engineer of the National Park Service, who spent a few days in going over the new road construction and getting a first impression of the natural features of the park. His visit was fruitful in suggestions made and the opportunity for discussion, an opportunity which comes too rarely to this eastern park. PUBLICITY A further benefit which has resulted from the frank and full discussion of road building in the park is the widespread interest it has aroused in Maine and the better understanding it has brought about of national park benefits and aims. With remarkable unanimity the whole State has put itself behind the approved projects of the National Park Service. No paid publicity could have accomplished the good work which this discussion did unsought. An excellent comprehensive study of the park, prepared by Mr. Robert Sterling Yard, was issued this spring by the National Parks Association and reprinted for distribution in a large edition by the town of Bar Harbor has been widely sought. BIOLOGIC RESEARCH Great progress has been made during the past year in the biologic study of the region. The Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, started tentatively as a station for summer work three years since by a group of distinguished scientists from leading universities and museums, is now permanently established and incorporated under that name in a singularly attractive site which has been deeded to it on the island's northern shore, with a subsidiary station at Otter Creek upon the ocean front. The University of Maine, whose president, Dr. Clarence C. Little, is a biologist of note, established this summer on land conveyed to it adjoining the park, in the vicinity of Bar Harbor, a summer school of biology, whose students, under Doctor Little's guidance, have already made most interesting studies in the park's animal and insect life. A list of the birds nesting and visiting the island this season has been compiled by a competent observer whose services were offered voluntarily, and a descriptive list of the more interesting wild flowers, ferns, and other native plants is being prepared for the park by Dr. Edgar T. Wherry, of Washington, president of the Washington Wild Flower Society, who has also made an examination of park soils with reference to replantings in its fire-devastated areas. MUSEUM EXHIBITS Great interest is being taken in the establisment of museums in connection with the park. Dr. Robert Abbe, of New York, to whom the park already owes much, is deeply interested in the establishment of a museum exhibiting the numerous Indian implements of stone, bone, or horn, and fragments of pottery which have been found in this region on the site of former Indian settlements, abundant along the shore; and an exhibit of such nature and extraordinary interest, gathered and arranged by him, is now being made in the art room of the Jesup Memorial Library at Bar Harbor. Material for a museum of different character, exhibiting historical papers of every kind connected with the settlement of the region and the past history of the island is being collected with rare enthusiasm by Prof. William Otis Sawtelle, of Haverford, Pa., who has already formed a remarkable collection worthy of permanent museum exhibit. FIRES No forest fires have been allowed to get headway within the park, owing to the watchfulness of its ranger service, though a number have started. Outside the park and in one case seriously threatening woods of exceptional beauty within its bounds fires caused by berry pickers in slash left after lumbering have swept dangerously but been ultimately extinguished, at large expenditure, before spreading to do serious damage. TRAVEL Motor travel to the park is steadily increasing. In the absence of motor roads within the park and special entrances an accurate count is not possible, but close estimate can be made and by ita total of 71,758 people had visited the park this season by September 30, showing a substantial advance over last year. This number will undoubtedly increase rapidly with the building of the new motor road projected by the Government. ZION NATIONAL PARK WALTER RUESCH, Acting Superintendent, Springdale, Utah 66 Zion National Park was created by act of Congress November 19, 1919. A portion of the area was originally set aside as a national monument by presidential proclamation July 31, 1909, under the name Mukuntuweap." The monument was enlarged by presidential proclamation March 18, 1918, and named "Zion," the name given the canyon by the earliest settlers. The park contains approximately 120 square It is miles, or 76,800 acres, and is located in the extreme southern part of Utah. reached by motor stage from Cedar City, the nearest rail connection, and by private motor over the Arrowhead Trail, an all-year route between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles. ADMINISTRATION The administration and protection of the park is in charge of the acting superintendent, who is assisted by a clerk and two rangers. WEATHER CONDITIONS The weather has been mild and unusually dry and the precipitation much lighter than in recent years. Due to this condition all vegetation suffered for want of moisture. All trees, except those in the immediate vicinity of streams, are shedding, and the underbrush has a brown appearance. Many of the springs on both the east and west rims have completely vanished. In consequence the grazing in that vicinity has suffered for want of both water and grass. ROADS WITHIN THE PARK The road from the entrance to the public camp has been reconstructed and has been used all the season. From the public camp to Cable Mountain, a distance of 12 miles, the road has been completed and from this point to The Narrows is now under construction and will be completed for the 1925 season, making 71⁄2 miles of good surfaced road within the park. Five new bridges have been constructed on the road from the entrance to Cable Mountain. The bridge at Rockville, which spans the Virgin River and makes the Zion Park and North Rim of Grand Canyon Cut-off Road possible, is nearing completion. APPPROACH ROADS On account of the long drought the roads leading to the park have given cause for much complaint. However, with the completion of the road from Cedar City on the north to La Verkin on the south, which is now under contract, much of the poor roads will be eliminated. For next season's travel the road leading from the new bridge at Rockville, shortening the distance from Zion Park to the north rim of the Grand Canyon some 30 miles, will be constructed, thus eliminating two heavy grades and the necessity of retracing a distance of 25 miles. The Utah and Southern California automobile associations have placed metal signs along the highways leading to the park, making it possible to travel without a log or guide book. TRAILS All trails have been maintained and are in good condition. Three new trails have been constructed during the winter and spring of 1924, namely, Lady Mountain Trail (footpath), 2 miles in length, which has over 1,400 steps chiseled out of the rock, 2 ladders, and 2,000 feet of hand cable; West Rim Trail, 41⁄2 miles in length, with a 9-mile loop on rim; and Highline Trail, leading from Zion Camp to the Grotto and skirting the base of the canyon walls the entire distance, 11⁄2 miles. The East Rim Trail has been rebuilt in a number of places during the year. All trails have been been extensively used, but the West Rim Trail has proven the most popular. BUILDINGS The Utah Parks Co. have material already on the ground for the construction of a number of cottages, construction of which will begin in the very near future. Plans for their central camp building have been made and approved by the National Park Service. PUBLIC CAMP GROUND The camp ground was enlarged and provided with garbage cans, water taps, and fuel in the early spring; also two shower baths were constructed. The increased travel has found the present sanitation system inadequate, and with the outlook for an enormous increase during the 1925 season more modern sanitary equipment should be provided. WILD ANIMAL AND BIRD LIFE IN PARK The deer in the park have greatly increased and have become so tame that they are seen and photographed by the tourists. Many birds were seen in the park in the spring and early summer. Later in the season they disappeared, except the robin, blue jay, several species of woodpeckers, and rock wrens. INSECTS AND PLANT PESTS Due to the interest of Prof. Vasco M. Tanner. of the Dixie College, the pests have been under better control than ever before, and with adequate funds there would be little or no destruction from this source. GRAZING The number of cattle grazing in the park was reduced owing to lack of feed and water shortage caused by the long drought. Stock will have to be taken off at an earlier date than usual because of their weakened condition. RECOMMENDATIONS At present there are no Government housings for employees, and these are greatly needed in order that administration can more effectually be carried out. The lack of adequate shelter for equipment and machinery causes considerable waste by loss and deterioration. During the drought of the summer months the need of a sprinkling wagon for the proper maintenance of the roads was demonstrated. TRAVEL It is very gratifying to note that the travel has greatly increased over any preceeding year. Many notable visitors have been in the park this season and a number of college classes have made it their study room. Many beautiful paintings have been made by renowned artists who have spent the summer in the park. |