National Parks and National Forests, headed by Congressman H. W. Temple, visited, with a pack train, the area proposed to be added to the park, and on August 22, at Jackson, Wyo., unanimously recommended the inclusion of the Upper Yellowstone and Thorofare country in the park, and the establishment of a separate unit of Yellowstone Park to include the Teton Mountains. On August 28 to 30, inclusive, a subcommittee of the Senate Public Lands Committee, including Chairman R. N. Stanfield and Senators R. H. Cameron and T. L. Oddie, visited the park, inspected its improvements and utilities, and held hearings at Gardiner, where complaints against the park were presented, and in turn answered by park officers. Altogether 4 United States Senators and 16 Members of the House of Representatives inspected Yellowstone during 1925. YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK W. R. LEWIS, Superintendent, Yosemite, Calif. ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENT Headquarters office.-The headquarters office was moved to the new administration building on the north side of the valley during the latter part of November, 1924, where administrative activities of the park have been carried on since that time with essentially the same personnel as during the preceding year. Appropriations.-The park operated under an appropriation of $318,934, of which $238,934 was devoted to general administration, operation, and maintenance purposes and $80,000 to new construction work. In addition to these funds provided for general operation and construction work there was made available for expenditure for the fiscal year 1925, $354,000 for paving and reconstruction of roads in the park, with authority to obligate an additional $310,000 for the same purposes. Revenues. Revenues were collected during the year ended June 30, 1925, and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury, as follows: This is a material decrease from revenues collected during the preceding year, due to falling off in travel during the 1924 season and the accompanying decrease in sale of automobile permits. WEATHER CONDITIONS Beginning in September, 1924, weather conditions began to improve materially with the ending of the extreme drought that had covered almost the entire year previous. Throughout the late fall months and the entire winter, and until June, 1925, precipitation was fully 50 per cent in excess of normal although the snowfall was relatively light, precipitation particularly below the 8,000-foot level being confined almost entirely to rain. GENERAL MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION Maintenance of roads, trails, tools, and small equipment; care of public grounds; sanitation of public camping grounds; production of wood, hay, and shakes; care of stock, stables, and corrals; distribution of stock and employment of labor; operation of messes; hauling of freight; etc., were carried on under the direction of the park supervisor. Due to the increased precipitation and particularly the later rains in the mountains in May and June, 1925, both roads and trails were more easily and effectively maintained than in the previous year. This was particularly true of the mountain roads which, in spite of the far heavier travel to which they were subjected, were maintained in much better condition throughout the entire summer of 1925 than in any previous year. ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT Under the supervision of the resident engineer there were constructed a garbage incinerator consisting of three units of sufficient capacity to handle all of the garbage and waste resulting from activities in Yosemite Valley; a new water supply in Illilouette Creek consisting of a small diversion dam, intake, and wood stave pipe line; approximately 9 miles of trail in the Tuolumne Canyon between Waterwheel Falls and Pate Valley; public comfort stations and ranger stations at Alder Creek on the Wawona Road, at the El Capitan Checking Station at the foot of the Big Oak Flat Grade, and at Soda Springs; and the extension of the sewer system into Camps 11, 12, and 14 including the installation of an electrically controlled and operated pumping station in Camp 12. Road construction work under force account was also carried on, on the Wawona Grade between the floors of Yosemite Valley and Inspiration Point where nearly 2 miles of the existing road was widened to 20 feet, grades modified, and sharp turns eliminated, and on the roads in the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees where approximately 4 miles of existing roads were likewise reconstructed. The maintenance of buildings and structures and the maintenance and operation of the water and sewer systems were also carried on under the direction of the resident engineer, as were also road surveys and general layout surveys in connection with the development of the new administrative center. PROTECTION DEPARTMENT The usual activities of fire suppression, traffic control, sale of permits, protection of fish and game, distribution of information to the public, etc., were carried on as usual by the ranger service under the supervision of the chief ranger. This work was done under the most severe handicaps under which the ranger service has ever been called upon to function. Wholly undermanned and unfortunate in securing a high percentage of unsatisfactory temporary rangers it is suprising that the situation was handled as satisfactorily as it was. It is a significant fact that the park is operating with a smaller ranger force than in 1916, with the travel more than six times as large. There is no question but that under the present conditions with the undermanned organization and inflexible methods of employing temporary rangers, this park has not been supplying service in the way of protection to its resources and to the public, and in the way of information to the public, that should be given and it is sincerely hoped that another year a more adequate ranger force may be authorized. ELECTRICAL, TELEPHONE, AND TELEGRAPH SERVICE Power. No marked extensions were made to the park electrical system during the year. However, on November 13, 1924, as a result of a contract previously negotiated, the San Joaquin Light & Power Corporation completed a transmission line from El Portal to the park power plant and there it connected with the lines of the park system. Under this connecting agreement the park is enabled to purchase power at a low rate from the San Joaquin Light & Power Corporation during periods of low water and in cases of emergency breakdowns and also is enabled to sell surplus power generated at its plant to the corporation at such time as they are able to use such surplus power. Since the completion of the connection on November 13, 1924, the park plant has been able to deliver surplus power continuously and with the improved water conditions since the end of the drought period it has not been necessary to purchase power at any time from the San Joaquin Light & Power Corporation. As a further result of this connection the output of the power plant has greatly increased. Telephone service.-Material improvement was made to the park telephone system during the year. With the completion of the new administration building a new two-position combination battery and magneto switchboard was installed. All wires connected to this exchange enter the building underground. The exchange is equipped with 100 common battery lines and 20 magneto lines. It has an ultimate capacity of 400 common battery lines and 40 magneto lines and is also designed to have additional operator's position installed as increased demands necessitate. This gives the park first-class modern exchange equipment and has greatly increased both local and long distance service. Thirty-six miles of new single wire telephone lines were built during the year, 18 miles of which were built between Merced Lake and Glen Aulin via Boothe Lake and Tuolume Meadows, 15 miles between Aspen Valley Ranger Station and Pate Valley, and 3 miles between Cascades and Big Meadows. Twenty-two hundred feet of lead encased telephone cable was placed underground in connection with the installation of the new switchboard thereby making possible the elimination of a number of unsightly telephone pole lines. Telegraph service.-While the park is equipped with the necessary facilities for the maintenance of continuous telegraph service to the outside and every effort was made on our part to give such service, on account of construction operation in connection with the building of the Exchequer Dam, the new Yosemite all-year highway, and the new section of the Yosemite Valley Railroad, interruptions to service were frequent and oftentimes of long duration. Long-distance telephone service was similarly affected with the result that communications with the outside was far from satisfactory. MECHANICAL SERVICE Under the supervision of the master mechanic the machine shop was operated continuously throughout the year. All motor-propelled equipment was kept in continuous operation except during periods of overhauling and in cases of repair made necessary by breakdowns while in service. TIMBER OPERATIONS The timber operations of the Yosemite Lumber Co. and the cutting of wood and timber for fuel and other purposes in the park were supervised by the park forester. The Yosemite Lumber Co. employed an average of 385 n men at their logging camps during the logging season. They cut and shipped to their mill 72,667,779 feet, board measure, of logs taken from 1,832 acres of land of which 475 acres was in the park and 508 acres in the Stanislaus National Forest. During the year a total of 1,8251⁄2 cords of wood was cut, of which 1,428 cords was cut for Government consumption and the remainder for use of operators and permittees in the park. About one-half of this wood was cut on the floor of Yosemite Valley from dead and fallen timber, and the remainder along the Wawona Road and the roads in the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees in connection with the reconstruction of these roads. During the year the park forester also accurately measured all trails in the park and prepared a complete list of signs for adequate marking of the park trail system. Under his supervision there were also produced 108,500 shakes from insectkilled sugar pines along the Wawona Road. EDUCATIONAL WORK The new museum building constructed by the American Association of Museums from funds contributed by the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial Fund, was completed in May, 1925. This building was erected at a cost of $50,000 and the work of equipping it is now under way. It should be ready for operation some time during the autumn of 1925. In the meantime the operation of the old museum was continued throughout the year with very gratifying results in the way of attendance, a total of 38,115 people having visited the museum during the year. More than 35,000 of these visited the museum during the months of May, June, July, and August. The American Association of Museums, together with others, also contributed toward the installation of a lookout and branch museum at Glacier Point. The nature guide work, including regular nature guide trips, lectures, and camp fire talks, was continued with excellent results, more than 5,000 people taking the nature guide trips and 39,176 attending the lectures and camp fire talks. A careful estimate shows that more than 83,000 people have been served by the educational department. A new feature inaugurated this year was the Yosemite Field School of Natural History. This school was conducted under the direction of Dr. H. C. Bryant, whose services were kindly loaned by the California State Fish and Game Commission, a continuation of close cooperation the commission has been giving for the past five or six years. The Secretary's approval of a broad educational program in the national parks has done much to stimulate those in charge of the work and also to stimulate public interest in this additional public service. COOPERATIVE FEDERAL AND STATE ACTIVITIES Other Federal and State departments and bureaus continued cooperative activities in the park. The Department of Justice, through the United States commissioner, a resident of the park, conducted all trials of violation of park regulations and penal Federal and State laws. During the year 46 cases were tried by the commissioner, resulting in 30 convictions and 16 acquittals. A total of $410 in fines, and jail sentences aggregating 41 months and 25 days were imposed upon defendants found guilty. The Post Office Department conducting post office activities greatly improved its service during the year by leasing a building constructed under contract specifically for post office purposes. This new building is located in the new administrative center. The Department of Agriculture cooperated in many activities. The Bureau of Entomology continued its investigation of insect-control work; the Forest Service cooperated in fire-control work; the Bureau of Animal Industry and the Biological Survey cooperated in controlling the hoof-and-mouth epidemic among the deer; and the Bureau of Public Roads acted in the capacity of consulting engineers on road contract work. Each of these bureaus has given whole-hearted and valuable cooperation in its respective field. The Treasury Department, through the United States Public Health Service, continued its cooperative efforts in assisting in the handling of sanitation and health problems. The State of California, through the California State Fish and Game Commission, furnished approximately 400,000 trout fry for stocking the streams and lakes of the park and the governor of the State has definitely assured the National Park Service that a hatchery will be installed in Yosemite in the near future where not less than 1,000,000 trout fry may be produced annually for distribution in the waters of the park. The State also provided primary school facilities in a building erected by the State in 1917. The gradual increase of all-year operations brings yearly a larger permanent population with demand for increased school facilities. The present building can accommodate comfortably in its 2 rooms 50 children. During the season just passed, however, a maximum of nearly 75 children were instructed, and it was necessary to erect a tent to furnish additional space. PROPOSED INTERDENOMINATIONAL CHAPEL During the year the California State Federation of Churches began an active campaign for permanent installation of adequate church facilities, the object being the building of a nonsectarian church where services may be supplied members of all faiths. A separate organization, including representatives of practically all faiths on its board of directors, has been incorporated for the express purpose of raising funds for a new chapel and the furnishing of church facilities temporarily until permanent facilities are available. The consummation of plans of this corporation will provide church facilities available to all Christian faiths without discrimination. During the summer of 1925 Catholic services were provided in the old chapel while Protestant services were conducted in the auditorium of Pillsbury's studio. These latter services drew large numbers of people averaging through the peak of the season approximately 300 and reaching a maximum of nearly 600. In fact, on two or three occasions room was not available to seat everybody desiring to attend. PUBLIC UTILITIES-FRANCHISES AND PERMITS The outstanding feature in public utilities operation was the consolidation of the hotel,' camp, and transportation operations heretofore handled under separate franchises by the Yosemite National Park Co. and the Curry Camping Co. This consolidation not only angurs for Better and more uniform service to the public, but permits more extensive financing for development. While the working out of legal technicalities of the new corporation was not completed this season, nevertheless the two concerns were operated as one under a consolidation agreement approved by the department. The experience of this year's consolidated operation indicates clearly that the unification makes for increased harmony between the operators and the Government, and increased and more satisfactory service to the public. As a result of the moving of the various independent studios to the new village longer term contracts are being issued to these independent operators who, in previous years, have conducted their businesses on year-to-year permits. The following franchises and permits were in effect, or in the course of approval, during the season of 1925: 14 per cent of gross revenue, $250 minimum. 221⁄2 per cent of operating profits after deduction of 6 per cent on physical investment. $1 per cent to 4 per cent of gross revenues, depending upon amount. Lease, special use, and water-power permits under acts of February 7, 1905, segregating lands from Yosemite National Park and placing same in Sierra and Stanislaus National Forests Period Intermediate... Name and privilege granted Yosemite Valley R. R. Co. Lease dated Sept. 5, 1905, to construct and 1 Per annum, on demand of Secretary of Interior. Compensation exacted 1 $1,000 Variable. All operators and permittees conducting business in the park report the most successful year of any in the history of the park. HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL SERVICE The hospital and medical service, including dental service, continued to be operated under the direction of Dr. Claude H. Church. A materially increased demand for these services was noticeable throughout the year and again forced attention to the great need of more adequate hospital facilities, particularly in the shape of a new hospital building. TRAVEL Travel to the park during 1925 showed a material increase over that recorded for any previous year. Following upon the heels of extreme drought conditions that prevailed during the season of 1924, accompanied by the hoof65283-257 |