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in shape with perfect jointing of logs. In the center of the community room there is a fireplace with four openings, making possible an indoor campfire.

SANITARY AUTOMOBile camp GROUNDS.

As already noted, the automobile camp system has been greatly expanded, new camps being built at Madison Junction, Tower Falls, and West Thumb, with complete water systems. Comfort stations with flushing fixtures are under construction in the automobile camps at Old Faithful, Mammoth, and Yellowstone Lake. At Old Faithful, a new sewerage system and disposal plant is being built by the Government, in order to handle the raw sewage from the hotel, permanent camp, store, automobile camp, and ranger station, and prevent the pollution of the Firehole River along which many camps are made each day by fishing parties.

PROGRESS IN GENERAL SANITATION WORK.

Much progress was made in sanitation work aside from the construction of the Old Faithful sewer system and the comfort stations in the public automobile camps. A complete sewage disposal system was installed in the Canyon Permanent Camp and a sewer line was constructed in the Lake Camp, making it possible to install flushing fixtures. Work was begun on the control of mosquitoes at Old Faithful and at Lake Yellowstone. Directions for this work were prepared by Dr. Harrison G. Dyar, of the Smithsonian Institution, and Mrs. Dyar, both of whom are experts in mosquito control, and who made a painstaking investigation of the Yellowstone mosquito problem early in the past summer.

Much sanitation work remains to be done in the Yellowstone, and it is particularly necessary that during the next two years comprehensive sewerage and disposal systems be constructed at Grand Canyon to care for the store, ranger station, public automobile camp, and picture shop, and at Yellowstone Lake to care for all operations of the Government and its utilities. Water systems in the public camps must be extended and more comfort stations must be erected, as the number of campers using these grounds is increasing tremendously each year. Too much emphasis can not be laid on the importance of the sanitation work, and too much praise can not be given to the United States Public Health Service which has cooperated so splendidly in achieving the results that we are already able to report.

PROTECTION DEPARTMENT REORGANIZED.

The ranger service in the Yellowstone was reorganized early in the year under a new chief ranger, and the excellent results in game protection, fire prevention, trail building, information service, traffic control, predatory animal control, fish planting, hay-ranch operations, and in other activities can be attributed to the discipline and constructive planning of the new force. The extensive trail work has already been mentioned. Protection of the natural features of the park was superior to any ever before afforded the park. Loss of animals in the unusually severe winter was very small, due in part

to judicious handling of the game; there has been practically no desecration of geyser and hot spring formations or trees compared with previous years; forest fire prevention work has brought most gratifying results, and the three fires that did get under way were extinguished with only nominal loss to the forests.

FISH PLANTING ON A GRAND SCALE.

In cooperation with the Bureau of Fisheries and the Fish and Game Department of Montana, fish planting operations were undertaken in the park this year on a scale never before attempted. A total of 1,200,000 fingerlings of native, brook, and rainbow species of trout were planted; 7,373,800 native fry and eyed eggs were also planted in park waters. The fry were hatched in the Yellowstone Lake hatchery; 16,751,900 eggs were collected during the year, as compared with 5,996,000 in 1921 and 6,512,600 in 1920. A new hatchery was erected at Fish Lake by park rangers, materials being supplied by the Bureau of Fisheries. Fishing was good in all parts of the park and it is estimated that 60,000 trout were caught by visitors. Motorists leaving the park reported having caught over 45,000 trout. The magnificent results attained in fish culture in Yellowstone show how necessary it is that a Federal hatchery be established in other national parks wherever this is feasible.

ANTELOPE IN JEOPARDY in severe wINTER.

Last winter was very severe in the Yellowstone, but only the antelope suffered much loss. The wind blew the high slopes of the mountains bare of snow, and the elk thrived on the abundant grass. It was only necessary to feed hay to elk in Slough Creek and some hay was used near Gardiner. The antelope, however, ranged in the low valleys near the north line where the snow drifted deeply and left these timid animals without food and subject to attack by predatory species. One-third of the antelope herd was lost. This loss has been largely made up by birth of kids this summer, but nevertheless the antelope herd of the park is likely to be exterminated unless range north of the park can be provided. It is hoped that conservationists will soon be able to take effective steps to save a few fairly large bands of antelope, and that the Yellowstone band of about 350 will be one of those to be perpetuated.

BUFFALO HERD INCREASING TOO FAST.

While the buffalo herd suffered another attack of hemorrhagic septicemia in March and April, causing the death of 52 animals, and several others died from natural causes, or were shipped to zoological gardens, the herd continues to rapidly increase and present a serious administrative and protective problem. The herd now numbers 578 buffalo, including 108 calves born this year. Legislation is needed to enable us to dispose of surplus buffalo in order to keep the herd within the winter-feeding capacity of the hay ranch. Also, the ranch must be extensively developed for more hay.

The wild buffalo seem to be doing well also, and it is believed that there are between 125 and 150 in the herd.

BEARS ABUNDANT.

Bears were numerous this year in all parts of the park and were a never-ending source of pleasure to the tourists. As many as 16 grizzly bears were seen at the Canyon Hotel at one time.

MOOSE STILL BEING SLAUGHTERED.

Last year Wyoming permitted the killing of 50 moose. Again, this year, 50 licenses to kill moose are being sold. Most of these moose are killed in the Upper Yellowstone, and the slaughter is bringing the moose of this section close to extermination. In other sections moose are doing well, but the best natural feed and range for the moose is in the Upper Yellowstone, and this region should be put in the park and all killing of moose prohibited.

THE EXTENSION URGENTLY NEEDED.

This brings me to the important question of the proposed extension of the Yellowstone which has been pending for several years. This project should receive congressional approval very soon. The moose of the Upper Yellowstone are being exterminated. There is pending another project contemplating the damming of beautiful lakes for irrigation reservoirs, summer homes are being sought in the extension area, and if not soon added to the park will be lost forever so far as its preservation as a great wilderness is concerned. If the enlargement is approved by Congress, it should be stipulated in the law that no roads shall be built in the extension area without special authority of Congress.

OTHER NEeds of the yellowstone.

Aside from the enlargement project Yellowstone's chief needs are more money for maintenance of trails, telephone lines, roads, including upkeep of graveled highways and buildings, especially those belonging to old Fort Yellowstone, the park headquarters; additional funds for the continuation of automobile camp construction, sanitation, protection of roads by building of guard rails, and extension of trails; provision for enlargement of hay ranches and authority for disposing of surplus buffalo.

PUBLIC UTILITIES KEEP PACE WITH TRAVEL.

The Yellowstone public utilities and other operators greatly expanded their facilities this year. An annex containing 113 rooms and 59 bathrooms was built at Lake Hotel, and a dormitory with 58 rooms is being built for girl help at Old Faithful Inn, thus releasing 50 rooms in the inn for guests. Dining rooms at Mammoth and Lake Hotels are being expanded; Mammoth Hotel has been painted. Many more improvements have been made or are in progress in the hotels. All permanent camps have been increased in capacity from 20 to 25 per cent. A new amusement hall has been built at Old Faithful Camp, and an immense central structure for Mammoth Camp is being erected now. Sanitation of all camps has been greatly improved. The transportation line added 23 new 11-passenger busses and several touring cars to its equipment. A new speed boat with 185-horsepower engine with speed 30 to 40 miles per hour was

placed on Lake Yellowstone. Two new picture stands were opened by the official photographer and attractive improvements made in the Tower Falls Shop. The stores also made notable improvements in their properties by painting and enlargement of buildings. Service by all operators was exceptionally good.

GRATIFYING RESULTS IN EDUCATIONAL WORK.

The information service in Yellowstone Park achieved very satisfactory results during the season. Over 30,000 people visited the information office and museum; 232 lectures on the geology, flora, fauna, history, and other features of the park were delivered by Dr. F. E. A. Thone and were heard by approximately 60,000 tourists. Nearly 40,000 were guided over the hot springs and geyser formations by rangers trained to discuss the natural features of the park in nontechnical language. Nearly 4,000 Government publications were sold to tourists, and approximately 100,000 free publications were distributed.

THE SEMICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.

On July 14, 1922, the fiftieth anniversary of the creation of the park was celebrated at the junction of the Gibbon and Firehole Rivers, where on the night of September 19, 1870, Cornelius Hedges, of the Washburn-Langford expedition, first announced the national park idea. The ceremonies were held under the auspices of the National Editorial Association. Among those present were Mr. C. W. Cook of the Folsom-Cook expedition of 1869. Mr. Cook is now 84 years of age and had not been in the park since 1869. Mr. Hedges's sons, Cornelius, jr., and W. A. Hedges, also participated in the commemorative ceremonies. The speakers and most of those who sent telegrams to be read at the celebration advocated the complete preservation of the Yellowstone and other parks as contemplated by the original suggestion of Mr. Hedges. This celebration not only fittingly commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of the park but was also an event of first importance in national park conservation.

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CALIF.

While Yosemite Valley has been a point of tourist interest since the early sixties and the entire Yosemite National Park since its creation in 1890, it was not until automobiles were allowed admission in 1914 that the travel began to be at all heavy. Since that time it has been a real problem to keep pace in the supplying of facilities with the increase in travel from year to year. Even following the admission of automobiles after the record travel of 1915 the increase was not rapid but only gradual until 1919, when for the first time the travel exceeded 50,000 people. Because of the exceptionally bad road conditions, both leading to and within the park, it was difficult to believe at that time that any pronounced increase would again be experienced before the completion of the Mariposa-El Portal Highway, which would give easy access to the park by automobile the year round.

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ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND MARK REACHED.

That this prediction was not well founded is shown by the fact that there has been a marked increase in travel in spite of the road conditions each year since then until, during the year just passed, Yosemite travel has passed the 100,000 mark, for the all-year highway is not yet completed. That such large numbers of people will brave the difficulties and inconveniences of present road travel into and within the park is truly indicative of a substantial interest in and love for the park.

PUBLIC Utilities gIVE GOOD SERVICE.

Although the utilities in Yosemite Park are facing a problem similar to that of the Government in financing themselves sufficiently rapid to keep pace with the public demands for hotel, camp, transportation, and other service, we are nevertheless fully justified in reporting that all have been more successful the past year than in any previous year, and that the needs of the public, in spite of the far greater congestion during the heavy travel months of June and July, have been more fully met than ever before. It is also a pleasure to report that these operations have been more satisfactory financially to the park operators than in previous years, with the result that, particularly the larger utilities, are entering more whole-heartedly than in the past on extensive development programs. The prospects for real permanent development along every line are brighter than they have ever been in the past and there are indications that the reaching of the 100,000 mark in travel will mark a new era in Yosemite development.

"BETTER ROADS" THE POPULAR CRY.

With the ever-increasing numbers of motorists, the complaints of bad road conditions become more and more numerous. The motorist can not understand why after having set aside the park as a reservation for the benefit and enjoyment of the people, the Government has apparently allowed the road system on which everyone is dependent for full enjoyment of the park to be so neglected.

Large sums are expended annually in the attempt to keep the roads in condition, but as they were built in the early days for horse travel without consideration of grade or safety, their very nature precludes the possibility of obtaining satisfactory results and will continue to do so until they have been completely rebuilt. Under present conditions it is difficult to see the results of the money expended on their upkeep and by midseason they bear the appearance of complete neglect which brings forth the strongest criticism by the public.

When it is considered that there are 138 miles of Governmentowned roads in the park, of which only approximately 30 miles have been improved, and when it is further considered that with the exception of funds provided by Congress for the rebuilding of the El Portal Road, 8 miles in length, no funds have ever been appropriated by Congress for road construction in the park, it would seem that the time has now come when, if the Government is to fulfill its obligations to the people visiting Yosemite, the park road situation should merit its attention, and it is hoped that the Budget Bureau

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