Publication No. 74

The Proposed JOHN MUIR-KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK

^ Photographed bs Helen laiken, Jones JOHN MUIR Father of the National Park*

NEW YORK EMERGENCY CONSERVATION COMMITTEE JANUARY, 10*9 VICINITY MAP OF PROPOSED JOHN MUIR NATIONAL PARK CALIFORNIA

1 CEDAR GROVE RECLAMATION WITHDRAWAL 2 TEH I PI TE RECLAMATION WITHDRAWAL 3 PINE EL AT RECLAMATION WITHDRAWAL

MS.T National Park Service

JOHN MUIR Painting by Herbert A. Collins. Sr. The Proposed John Muir-Kings Canyon National Park

NATIONAL PARK project of the Forest Service and the State of California, utmost importance will come be­ up the South Fork of the Kings River to A fore the session of Congress which Cedar Grove, is about to be opened, and opened on January 3rd. 1939. and should brings a change of conditions that threat­ have the immediate attention of conserva­ ens to destroy the wilderness character of tionists throughout the United States. It Kings Canyon. The Redwood Mountain is really two projects combined. sequoia grove, long held by private One renews under favorable circum­ owners who do not want to cut the Big stances the long effort to make Kings Trees, is now menaced by sale for de­ River Canyon a national park of the wil­ faulted taxes, and the only alternatives derness variety. are government purchase, or destruction. The other is to bring Redwood Moun­ tain and Redwood Canyon into the Na­ Logically, both these areas should be tional Park system, and thus avert the dealt with in a single piece of legislation. threatened destruction of the largest of Kings River Canyon and Redwood Moun­ all the stands of giant sequoia. (It should tain are but a few miles apart, lying on be noted that despite the name of this opposite sides of the miniature General grove, it consists of Big Trees. Sequoia Grant National Park. The natural action, gigaulea. not Coast Redwoods, Sequoia therefore, is to combine all three into one sempervirens.) national park, in which the Kings River Both of these conservation projects arc section would be held as a primitive now urgent. A state road, built by the wilderness.

The Gearhart Bill for the John Muir-Kings Canyon National Park

Congressman Bertrand W. Gearhart |ohn Muir s appeal to the American has introduced in Congress a bill, H.R. people resulted in the creation of Yosem- 379-f. to unite in one splendid park Kings ite, Sequoia and General Grant Na­ Canyon, Redwood Mountain and General tional Parks, and he inspired the conser­ Grant National Park. Its name includes vation policies of Theodore Roosevelt. the name of the father of the national He was the tirst to describe the wonder­ park system. John Muir. uniting it with ful Redwood Mountain sequoia grove, Kintts Canyon which he so greatly loved. and he called Kings Canyon more majes-

[1] r—,

Courtesy of the Department of the Interior THE HART TREE - • REDWOOD CANYON Already 2,000 years old when Christ was born, shall this mightiest of living things be cut down and made into fence posts? NO. Write your Senators urging the establishment of the John Muir-Kings Canyon National Park. tic than Yosemite. His appeal to save the largest tree in the world, measured these areas is part of the unfinished busi­ by board feet content. Its fate, if this ness of the nation. grove is not preserved, is to be cut into fence posts and grape stakes. It was nearly half a century ago that John Muir started the movement to make Let nobody think that such trees are the Kings River country a national park, preserved automatically, by providence or and called the attention of nature lovers private owners. The most magnificent of and conservationists to the magnificent all the sequoia groves in private owner­ grove of Big Trees which cover Redwood ship, near Hume, was cut down, and the Mountain and extend down into the trees blown to bits with dynamite, for depths of Redwood Canyon. One tree in grape stakes. Of its natural wonders, this canyon is twenty feet in diameter at America saves only what it determines to a height of 160 feet above the ground— save.

Redwood Mountain Must be Saved

No controversy exists concerning Red­ The cutting now going on is a portent, wood Mountain. Everybody, including a grim warning, of the tragedy that lies the owners, who are familiar with the ahead. The owners must sell the living beauty of that sequoia grove want pro­ trees or lose their property by tax sale. tective action. This is not an instance, The only question is: Shall these giant like that of the Yosemite Sugar Pines, of sequoias be acquired by the government, a government purchase in order to check for permanent preservation, or shall they the avarice of lumbermen. The owners be sold for fence posts and grape stakes? of this grove have held it for many years Redwood Mountain Grove not only is at a financial sacrifice, hoping that it rated as the largest stand of giant sequoias would never have to be cut. But taxes in existence, but it is the only one that are now in default. In an effort to meet covers a mountain top with an almost the taxes, fallen trees, and some that were solid stand of Big Trees. In the Red­ felled by former owners more than 100 wood Canyon portion of the grove, the years ago, are now being cut into fence giant trees stand in great clusters, mixed posts and stakes—but the revenue is trif­ with firs and pines. Innumerable trees ling. And this cutting of down timber exceed twenty feet in diameter at the base. is a serious injury to the forest. The The largest of them, known as the Hart wotk is unsightly, a desecration of a place Tree, is 32 feet in diameter. The famous of untold beauty. The standing trees Sherman Tree in Sequoia National Park, need the nourishment provided by the because of its thick buttresses, is a trifle slow decay of the fallen trees, and the old broader at the base and is a few feet taller, logs lying on the ground, many of them but the Hart Tree, owing to its remark­ more than twenty feet in diameter, moss- ably straight shaft, is seven feet thicker covered and venerable, are of great than the Sherman Tree at a point half beauty and interest. way to the crown. It is the largest living

[3] diing in the world ; it has been living for Seventy-five per cent of the timber in this 4,000 years. acreage is sequoia. Redwood Mountain and Canyon were under indirect option Since the wood of the giant sequoia is to the government less than ten years ago not of great commercial value, being too for 5350,000. At that time, however, brittle for use as lumber, the cost of ac­ destruction of the forest was not immi­ quiring this grove of 2.680 acres is low. nent, and no action was taken.

Kings Canyon for a Wilderness Park

Kings Canyon already belongs to the for the authorized Isle Royale Na­ people, and can be included in a national tional Park. Both will be main­ park without purchase. All that is needed tained as wilderness areas. The prob­ is for the people to realize the necessity lems of administration arising in lor such action, a necessity which now be­ connection therewith, and the ques­ comes critical. tions arising in connection with the proposed Kings Canyon* National The problem is to keep it a wilderness. This problem has led to a proposal of the Park, point to the need for a greater first importance by Secretary of the In­ stability of policy than can be in­ terior Ickes. He asks that Congress "de­ sured by administrative orders. Areas fine and set standards for wilderness na­ dedicated as wilderness national tional parks", and that Congress shall set parks should be protected forever by particular standards for the John Muir- provisions of law designed for that Kings Canyon National Park which shall purpose. This in addition to the pro­ make it impossible for any government tection all national parks receive by bureau to break down its wilderness law against commercial activities. status by building roads and hotels. His "I shall welcome it if the Con­ proposal is broad enough to cover the gress of the United States will de­ Olympic National Park and other por­ fine and set standards for wilderness tions of the national park system for national parks, as well as provide which wilderness status is desired. for wilderness areas to be proclaimed The statement by Secretary Ickes, issued and similarly protected by law in on December 29, 1938, opened with a re­ other national parks. I suggest the affirmation of a statement by him in following statutory safeguards for 1935, pledging administration of the re­ the Kings Canyon National Park if gion along wilderness lines, and advocat­ and when it is established: ing boundaries that would take account "1. Prohibit by law the building of the economic needs of the San Joaquin of any roads or truck trails in the Valley. Then he said: park, except on the floor of the val- "Since 1935, the Olympic Na­ * The proposed John Mnir-Kiinrs Canyon Na­ tional Park has been established, and tional Park. (A separate bill has been In­ troduced for wilderness areas in all national most of the lands have been acquired parks.)

[4] ley of the South Fork of the Kings The importance of this proposal by River, below its junction with Roar­ Secretary Ickcs is increased by the fact ing River. that the California office of the Forest "2. Require that all buildings in Service, which now administers the Kings the park shall be erected with gov­ River region, has within the past few ernment funds. months announced the virtual abandon­ ment of its own past policy of preserving "3. Exclude all public housing the Kings River country as a primitive structures, except trailside shelters, wilderness by administrative order. from the park, except in the valley of the South Fork of the Kings With the day approaching for the River below Roaring River,* allow­ opening of the new road to Cedar Grove, ing in that area simple cabins which up the South Fork of the Kings, the re­ may be rented to visitors but not gional office of the Forest Service has de­ leased. clared for a system of reservoirs through­ "4. Permit public and private out the mountains, and has declared that packers to use the park without dis­ the publicly owned timber in this area crimination, subject to general regu­ must be held available for lumbering, al­ lations. though it has practically no commercial "5. On account of the relative value. This cannot be called an official absence of automobile roads, provide declaration of Forest Service policy, for it that the existing Sequoia-General is contrary to the publicly declared posi­ Grant automobile fee shall admit to tion of all chiefs of the Forest Service Kings Canyon. who have spoken on the subject, and runs counter to the official orders of the Sec­ "By these policies, written into retary of Agriculture making this a primi­ law, the Kings River wilderness can tive area. But it shows plainly that the be maintained forever in its present only sure way to preserve this mountain grandeur, and dedicated to recrea­ wilderness is to make it a wilderness na­ tional use consistent with its wilder­ tional park, protected not merely by ad­ ness aspect." ministrative orders of a government bu­ * The Gearhart Rill specifies Copper Creek, reau or department but by an Act of two miles above Roarinp River, but still on the valley floor. Congress.

Unsurpassed Beauty of the Kings Canyon Wilderness

No area in the United States, in the gion contains no mines of conse­ whole world, perhaps, better deserves pro­ quence ; it is too high and too rocky tection. Almost fifty years ago, in 1891, for agriculture, and even the lum­ John Muir wrote as follows in the Cen­ ber industry need suffer no unreason­ tury Magazine: able restriction. Let our law-givers "All this wonderful Kings River then make haste, before it is too late, country should be comprehended in to save this surpassingly glorious re­ one grand national park. The re­ gion for the recreation and well-

[5] Courtesy of the Department of the Interior

TEHEPITE DOME - • - GIANT RIVAL OF HALF DOME IN YOSEMITE

[6] being of humanity, and the world Though there is no commercially avail­ will rise up and call them blessed." able timber in important quantities, the mountain slopes are picturesquely wooded, The Kings River country is a sort of and the valley floors present beautiful combination of "Yosemite Valleys" and vistas of western yellow pine and incense highlands as wild as the Himalayas. It cedar, with Jeffrey pine and Alaska cedar contains five valleys that rival Yosemite at higher levels, and, close to timberline, in the height of sheer walls rising from the rarer foxtail pine. These forests, with 3,000 to 3,000 feet above the canyon the flowers of the alpine meadows, and floor. Higher up, the crest of the Sierra the beautiful streams, serve to soften the Nevada range is a tumbled array of wild grandeur of the granite mountains, mountains, unequalled on the North and provide the warm touch of Nature's American continent lor the mass effect of companionship. the peaks, palisades, minarets and glacial cirques. Scattered all through them are It is no wonder, then, that ever since high mountain lakes, summer snowfields, the Kings River country became known and the beginnings of creeks which in to white men, it has been the loved resort the deep canyons become clear mountain of mountaineers, and that bill after bill rivers breaking continually into water­ has been introduced in Congress to make falls and cascades. it a national park.

One of the Greatest Mountain Panoramas in the World

Time and again, noted American states­ country on the face of the earth that com­ men, scientists, writers and naturalists pares with the country in this proposed have called upon Congress to bring this park." region into the national park system. Dr. Repeatedly, the Sierra Club of the David Starr Jordan, then president of Pacific coast, whose membership includes Leland Stanford University, raised his leading mountaineers, professional men voice for such a movement in 1899: and business men, has proposed or in­ "I have never seen a more magnificent dorsed legislation to make the Kings mountain panorama," he said in that year. River region a national park. Testimony "I have seen the mountains of this con­ is universal, not merely that it measures tinent from Alaska to Mexico, and I have up to the highest ideals of what a na­ tramped many mountain miles in the tional park should be, but that it would Alps, but such a comprehensive view of rank at once with the most magnificent mountain masses and peaks and amphi­ parks in the world. Gilbert Grosvenor, theaters and canyons, of all the details of editor of the National Geographic Maga­ mountain sculpture on the tremendous zine, declared that he had seen in this scale. ... I have never before seen." region "at least 100 waterfalls that if they Emerson Hough, world-travelled na­ were in Switzerland would have become ture writer, declared that "there is no celebrities."

[7] These enthusiastic descriptions relate try above the canyons, rising up to 14,000 to the canyons, ranging in elevation from feet. In these areas, there is practically 5,000 to 9,000 feet, and to the high coun­ no commercially accessible timber.

Opportunity to Save Wonderful Forests

Before the park boundaries are finally tiful stands of western yellow pine, in­ drawn, careful surveys should be made to cense cedar and other conifers. None of see how much protection can be given to this timber, which lies in the national sequoia groves which still lie outside the forest, can be logged without ruining the national park system. Redwood Moun­ approach to the park. Its commercial tain Grove, which most needs protection, lies on the other side of General Grant value is trivial. No sound reason exists National Park. Along the South Fork of why these forested slopes, on the south the Kings, below Cedar Grove, are sev­ side of the South Fork should not be eral small groves of Big Trees, with beau­ brought into the park.

No Interference with Present Recreational Developments

However, even though Kings Canyon, the primitive character of the Kings Can­ Redwood Mountain and General Grant yon country. Secondly, the Forest Ser­ National Park are made one national vice has developed the region of Hume park, there is no reason to establish a Lake as a summer resort, with summer continuous park from General Grant to home sites leased to residents of the San Kings. In fact, that is undesirable. First, Joaquin Valley. A development of this a physical separation would emphasize type does not belong in a national park.

Power Companies Fought Park

Why is it that with such transcendant value except for recreation, and should be qualifications, Kings Canyon has not yet put into the national park system. But been made a national park? Primarily, California regional employes of the For­ it is the old story of commercial opposi­ est Service have taken an opposite posi­ tion. tion. Thus a controversy has grown up where there is no reason for one. The Forest Service has, in the past, strongly supported the proposal to make The fight against the Kings River park the Kings River country a national park. was originally a power company fight. Three chiefs of the Forest Service, in suc­ The big electrical utilities believed that cession, have declared that this beautiful they could develop an abundance of cheap part of the High Sierras has no important electricity on the Kings. They made en-

[8] tries on easily reached locations at Cedar the Gearhart bill, with a provision that Grove and Tehipite, and threw their in­ they may be added by presidential proc­ fluence against a national park. lamation if the reclamation plans are abandoned, and that lands above high Experience taught the power companies, water shall be added if the dams are however, that power generated on steep built. mountain rivers with a low summer flow and no storage capacity was expensive. A 150-foot dam at Cedar Grove would Output was governed by the minimum not flood the beautiful Cedar Grove Val­ flow. Such power was far more costly ley, and if built, no higher dam should and uncertain than power produced from be permitted. Conservationists need to be a single dam and a huge reservoir on a on their guard here, and they must also be river with a heavy flow, like Boulder Dam. on their guard against the stirring-up of So the big power companies dropped needless antagonisms. To destroy Cedar their entries on the Kings River. Grove and Tehipite would be criminal sacrilege. To create a national park cen­ That should have paved the way for tering in these two spots of supreme the park, but a needless obstacle arose. beauty, and at the same time destroy them, San Joaquin Valley farmers use the waters would be a shocking travesty. It would of the Kings River for irrigation, and repeat and magnify "the crime of Hetch they buy electric power for pumping sup­ Hetchy." plemental water from shallow wells in late summer. The irrigation interests are The residents of the San Joaquin Val­ now seeking an irrigation dam at Pine ley are entitled to all of the Kings River Flat, far below the proposed park, to im­ water for irrigation (for they need it all), pound the whole flow of the river, and and to all they need for power. Since they have also make power entries at power development is flexible, this prob­ Cedar Grove and Tehipite, following lem should be worked out to satisfy the abandonment of those sites by the public needs of the valley in full, and at the utilities. same time make no needless sacrifices of the beauty of the region. The impression developed that there was a conflict between the irrigation in­ This is a problem which can be settled terests and the park. There need be none. after the Reclamation Service completes The Reclamation Service is now making, its survey. Park advocates are putting no for the first time, a power survey of all legal impediments in the way of power three forks of the Kings River. It is development at sites now entered upon. known that, on the basis of water storage, On that basis, and because the people of there are better power sites on the North the San Joaquin Valley realize the great Fork of the Kings, well outside the park value of national park status for the area, than at Cedar Grove or Tehipite. Kings River highlands, the Kings River If the survey shows rock conditions favor­ Water Association has withdrawn its re­ able to dam building, power interests will cent opposition to the park. naturally shift to the North Fork. One would suppose that this under­ These two reclamation withdrawals, standing would end the fight against the however, are excluded from the park, by park. It has gone a long way toward

[9] Reproduced by permission of Mrs. Wanda Muir Hanna Drawing by John Muir

General view up the South Fork of the Kings River, from near the head of the trail. "By no work of words, however great, may the tremendous impressiveness of these mountain sculptures be made manifest."—JOHN MUIR (Unpublished journals) ending it, for it has enabled many sup­ pathizers. The opposition has dwindled porters of the park to speak out, who to four minor but extremely vocal ele­ formerly were forced to be silent sym­ ments, as follows:

The Four Opposing Groups

1. A few farmers—possibly a dozen— shed, are killed within the area proposed who graze several hundred head of cattle for the park. Many sportsmen, moreover, in the summer time in the little alpine do not realize that if the high country is meadows which are scattered through the made a wild life sanctuary, the breeding- granite mountains, at high elevation. The stock will increase, and game will be exact number of cattle likely to be af­ more plentiful outside the park. fected is only 993, which is about one to 3. Slimmer home owners. San Joa­ each 460 acres in the park area. It was quin Valley residents have heard the false formerly many times greater. Elimination report that this is part of a move to place of grazing, by gradual reduction, would all the High Sierra from Sequoia Na­ work no more hardship on these farmers tional Park to Yosemite, and down to the than the routine removal of cattle from foothills, in a national park. This is over-grazed mountain meadows which oc­ based on a mis-statement of a recommen­ curs regularly through cancellation of dation of the National Resources Com­ Forest Service permits. But the Gearhart mittee. Park boundaries are expressly bill specifically allows present permitees drawn to exclude all parts of the national to renew grazing permits during their forest open to summer home building. lifetime, subject to regulation for the protection of the land. •i. Regional office of the Forest Ser­ 2. Sportsmen. Many deer-hunters ob­ vice. The last and most important ele­ ject to turning this high country into a ment of opposition has come from the re­ game sanctuary. This is partly due to gional office of the Forest Service at San sentiment, certain hunters liking to hunt Francisco, and the forest supervisor's of­ in special areas with which they are fice at Portetville, California. Opposition familiar, but is more largely due to mis­ from this source is the only one that understanding. Forest Service statistics really counts at present. It stimulates and show that only five per cent of the deer directs the other three groups, and it is killed in the Sequoia and Sierra National seeking again to turn the irrigation inter­ Forests, which include the Kings water­ ests against the park.

[10] Chiefs of Forest Service Favor National Park There is no reason to believe that the of the Forest Service, testified as follows hostility of the San Francisco and Porter- before a committee of Congress in 1924: ville offices of the Forest Service repre­ "I am quite familiar with this area sents the view of the Forest Service at personally, having been a local for­ Washington, or of the Department of est ofhcer in that section for a num­ Agriculture.§ Owing to the policy of de­ ber of years. When you consider centralized administration of the national all that is involved in this tract, the forests, regional offices frequently adopt fact that the entire country is above policies, and pursue them for a long time, 5,000 feet in elevation, with the ex­ contrary to the policies of the Department ception possibly of a few of the can­ to which they belong. yon bottoms; that it contains ten For instance, the regional office of the peaks with an elevation in excess of Forest Service at Portland, and the forest 14,000 feet; and that it contains supervisor at Port Angeles, Washington, three of the outstanding canyons of conducted exactly the same kind of a fight the West, the Tehipite on one fork against the Olympic National Park that of Kings River, the South Fork of is being conducted against Kings Canyon; Kings River, and the Kern River but the Forest Service at Washington Canyon,* combined with a wonder­ helped in a friendly way to draw the ful region of lakes and Alpine for­ boundaries of the Olympic park, and the ests, the combination has fixed this Secretary of Agriculture made a report to area in my mind for a good many Congress which aided in the passage of years as one of the places which the bill. should be established and adminis­ tered as a national park." The proposal to create a Kings Canyon Henry S. Graves, who preceded Mr. National Park has been before Congress Greeley as chief of the Forest Service, several times, and chiefs of the Forest also publicly indorsed the proposal to Service have been among its strongest in- make the Kings Canyon a national park. dorsers. William B. Greeley, when chief Mr. Greeley's successor, Chief Forester Robert Stuart, publicly announced that § Just as this pamphlet pies to press, word comea that Secretary of Agriculture Wallace there had been no change in the Forest has written a letter to Secretary Takes (Feh- ruary 8, i!).'!!)). Indorsing the John Muir- Service indorsement of the region as park. Kings Canyon National Park, which means that the Forest Service will support it. This ought to wipe out most of the opposition to * Tlie Kern Itiver Canyon lias since been added the park. to Sequoia National Park.

Opposition of California Forest Service Officers is Unwarranted Indications are that the forest officers In 1936, they announced a policy of in California are acting on their own in­ strict wilderness protection for all of the itiative, without authority, and this is Kings River region east of the Cedar made more probable by the inconsistency Grove valley, with roads and all forms of of their position. commercialism totally excluded.

[u] Courtesy of the Deportment of the Interior VISTA FROM COPPER CREEK TRAIL, KINGS RIVER CANYON

[12] On October 11, 1938, they reaffirmed developed with a great series of power, this policy of wilderness protection, and flood control and irrigation reservoirs. at the same time announced that the en­ Thus they went the limit in both direc­ tire Kings River drainage area, which tions. would include the wilderness, should be

California Forest Service Officers Abandon Wilderness Policy

To show how completely changed is River High Sierra from "a priceless wil­ the position of the California Office of derness" to a region with "resources vital the Forest Service, it is only necessary to to the welfare and prosperity of Califor­ quote from their statement of October nia?" The answer is not difficult to find. 11, 1938: During the months of October and No­ "A large Wilderness Area has vember, sentiment for a wilderness na­ been set aside, and is fully protected. tional park gained extensive headway in ... It preserves the priceless High California. If the wilderness protectors Sierra as a wilderness." were going to ask Congress to establish a national park, local Forest Service offi­ On December 2, 1938, they abandoned cials, always jealous of national parks the wilderness policy altogether, and de­ and in opposition to the creation of any clared that "the proposed Kings Canyon new park, would have to get their sup­ National Park in the high Sierra would port at the other extreme, by advocating lock up national forest resources vital to commercial exploitation. This they have the welfare and prosperity of California." done, even though they had to conjure What was it that, between October 11 the commercial resources out of thin air, and December 2, changed the Kings and eat their own past pledges.

"California Mountaineers"—and Lobbyist Dunwoody

In this connection, it is important to California Mountaineers, in opposing consider the attitude of an organization the Kings Canyon park proposal, adopted called California Mountaineers Incorpo­ as their slogan the "preservation of the rated. It was formed in the summer of wilderness." The Forest Service, they 1938, with a membership of San Joaquin said, would preserve the wilderness, Valley sportsmen and business men. Most while as a national park, it would be of its members, probably, are against a na­ overrun with roads and hotels. tional park solely because hunting would not be allowed in it. However, that is When the Forest Service regional of­ not indicated as the main motive, nor fice abandoned its policy of wilderness does it appear to be the motive of the protection, and Secretary Ickes asked that leaders. roads and hotels be excluded by law.

[13] Calitornia Mountaineers Incorporated sition, though in reality an overwhelming should logically have joined the move­ majority of San Joaquin Valley organiza­ ment for a wilderness national park. tions support the park, and many of its strongest supporters are in the State Instead, it shifted the emphasis in its Chamber of Commerce. propaganda to follow the change in For­ est Service policy. By the end of 1938, One of the recent coups of the Dudley- this organization of wilderness defenders Friselle organization was a free trip was saying that the Kings River wilder­ through the Kings River country, in ness must not be made into a national which the guests were twenty-one Cali­ park because it was needed for lumber­ fornia newspaper publishers, writers, and ing, power, irrigation and grazing. others, who also attended a banquet at the Porterville office of the Forest Service, This is mystifying, until you know who with a program of addresses against the are back of California Mountaineers, Inc. national park. Afterwards, articles ap­ Its secretary and principal organizer is peared in California newspapers which Ernest Dudley, of Exeter, California, seemed to indicate a belief that national banker and former employee of the For­ parks, which bring millions of dollars of est Service. Co-organizer with Dudley is tourist money into California every year, Parker Friselle, of Fresno, California, are harmful to the state. another former employee of the Forest Service. These two men practically ARE Many influential newspapers of the California Mountaineers, Inc. So far as state are strong supporters of the Kings its policies are concerned, it is an offshoot Canyon Park. Harry Chandler, publisher of the California regional office of the of the Los Angeles Times, has expressed Forest Service. the belief that fully 1,000,000 of the population of California were drawn Dudley and Friselle also hold key posi­ there originally by the national parks in tions in the State Chamber of Commerce, the state. This is supported by the edi­ and have a further tie-up with Charles G. tor of John Muir's Journals (published Dunwoody, the chamber's professional as " |ohn of the Mountains"), who says lobbyist. The three of them control the of Muir: "Lured by his incomparable de­ conservation committee of the chamber, scription of Big Trees and Yosemite won­ and regularly use it to fight any national ders, the tide of tourist travel began to park proposal. Dunwoody is being sent pour westward to the Sierra. Someone to Washington, D. C, to fight the park has said California made John Muir. In project in Congress. His propaganda that sense, it is equally true John Muir facilities in California are causing a flood 'made' California." of letters against the plan to go to Cali­ fornia congressmen. S. B. Show, regional chief of the For­ est Service in California, carried this Dudley and Friselle represent the work­ campaign a step farther in an address in ing management of the opposition to California on December 2, when he an­ Kings Canyon National Park. They are nounced, to quote the San Francisco Ex­ strategically situated to create the appear­ aminer, that "the Service would fight 'any ance of a widespread, spontaneous oppo­ extension of national parks in the state'."

[14] Courtesy of the Department of the Interior MUIR PASS - - - ELEVATION 12,059 FEET

Courtesy of the Department of the Interior SIMPSON MEADOWS - - - WAIST-HIGH WITH ALPINE FLOWERS

[15] The real significance of that statement better administered if placed in national is not in its hostility to national parks, parks. but in its irresponsible assumption of The regional forest director objects to authority. A regional employee of a gov­ creating a national park in the Kings ernment bureau is making policy for the River country because, he says, it would Chief of the Forest Service, the Secretary divide the national forest "by an illogi­ of Agriculture, and the President of the cal boundary." Nearly every national United States. Nor does he even confine park in the United States has a similar himself to public lands. "illogical boundary"—that is, it adjoins a Mr. Show complains that there are al­ national forest. Are we then to abolish ready four national parks in the state, the national parks system, even when na­ containing 1,246,366 acres, which he con­ tional parks are older than the national siders too many and too much. It might forests? Sequoia National Park is older be said, in reply, that there are eighteen than the adjoining Sequoia National For­ national forests in California, containing est, which puts the argument in reverse, 19,423,135 acres, covering one-fifth of —and right in the Kings River country. the land surface of the state. This is not The whole argument is in conflict with too many, and not too much, provided the interests of California. John Mitir's the land is best suited for administration name, attached to a national park of the under national forest law—but some of first order, is probably the greatest un­ it is not. Portions of this land would be developed resource California possesses.

This Is Not a Conflict Between Bureaus

The unfortunate effect of such a cam­ tion, power dams throughout the wilder­ paign as the San Francisco regional office ness, and "a comprehensive series of of the Forest Service is conducting is to (flood control) reservoirs throughout the give an impression that the creation of a drainage"; that the area is vitally needed national park must be made a contest be­ for grazing; that lumbering must be per­ tween two government bureaus, to see mitted on these public lands; then Kings which shall administer an area. Nothing Canyon should not be made into a na­ could be farther from the truth. It is a tional park. choice for the people to make between But if, as three chiefs of the Forest two systems of administration, two meth­ Service have testified, and as any com­ ods of use, two concepts of protection, petent engineer would testify, none of under radically different sets of national these things is true, and the region is law. what they say it is—a scenic wilderness If it is true, as the regional office of of unexampled beauty—it should be the Forest Service stated in the Porter- made into a wilderness national park.f ville, California, Recorder of October 11, 1938, that the waters of the Kings River f The idea of flood-control dams in the upper Kings drainage is a weird one indeed. "must be impounded back in the moun­ Dams built in narrow canyons, pitching Bharply downward, have no storage capac­ tains," with "many reservoirs" for irriga­ ity either for flood-control or for irrigation.

[16] On the basis of merit, these claims of the destruction of this mighty wilderness; economic value may be disregarded. But as a notice that no area of magnificent gran- they cannot be disregarded as a threat to deur is safe until it is safeguarded by law.

The Forest Service Cannot Guarantee Protection of the Wilderness

Even if the principle of wilderness pro­ if a park is created?* Would they be tection had not been abandoned by the equally certain to be excluded by national regional office of the Forest Service, forest regulations? One may judge of there would be no assurance of continued that, possibly, by reading a letter which protection. A declaration for reservoirs Forest Supervisor Frank R. Cunningham, in the wilderness is a declaration for of Porterville, California, wrote to J. A. roads, thus, in effect, over-ruling the pre- Cecil, of Woodlake, California, April 6, 1 c- [ 1932, outlining Forest Service plans for vious promise of the Forest Service, that development of Kings River Valley at it would build no roads above Zumwalt Cedar Grove: Meadow, near Cedar Grove. The value of any departmental rule against roads "I believe that accommodations may be judged by the recent statement of should be provided that will fit the a national forest supervisor in the state desires and purses of all classes of of Washington. When appealed to for people. My present idea is that there a road into the wilderness area of the shall be two hotels, one near the Olympic National Forest, Supervisor upper end of the valley and one near Bruckart replied, as quoted in the Mason the lower end. A close study may County Journal, Shelton, Washington, of determine that there will be suffi­ September 15, 193S: cient business to justify more. One It already lies within the primi­ of them should be prepared to cater tive area, so we cannot build roads to the class that has plenty of money, under the primitive area regulations. and wants to spend it; the other to If it is kept out of the national park, those who wish to enjoy themselves however, the primitive area regula­ with comfortable, but not over-ex­ tions could be relaxed with a little pensive accommodations." pushing of the Secretary of Agricul­ Since another man is now in charge ture, as he controls all primitive- at Porterville, this plan may no longer areas." be in vogue. Assume that it is not. Compare that with the proposal of a What protection is there for the wilderness national park, in which the Kings River wilderness when a local preservation of the wilderness would be * The Genrhart bill, in the clause limiting written into law. housing In the valley of the South Fork of Ihe Mine:*, does not specifically exclude hotels What about hotels, which Secretary from the type of housing to he built. The bill can and should be amended to limit the Ickes has asked Congress to exclude by housing to cabins, which would harmonize with the wilderness character of the rest of law from Kings Canyon National Park. the Kings River region.

r. i? 3 forest supervisor can rule its destinies in park wilderness areas. In contrast to this the manner denoted by the words: "My attitude of the Park Service, the Porest present idea is that there should be two Service has just opened a palatial new hotels":-' hotel, costing over a million dollars, in The National Park Service has been the Mt. Hood wilderness. The past posi­ justly criticized for the park hotels built tion of these two branches of the govern­ under Director Mather in the 1920s, and ment—National Park Service and Forest lor the concessionaire system ol which Service—is obviously reversed. But that they are a part. Secretary Ickes, in his is not enough. There must be protection 1938 report just submitted to Congress, by law. ami that is what Secretary Ickes has asked tor legislation which would is asking in behalf of the Park Service- make it possible to get rid of this sys­ protection against the insidious pressures tem, and he is asking Congress to tor- that come from outside, and against the bid the construction of hotels in national effect ol changing government personnel.

A National Park Should Guarantee Protection to Kings Canyon and Redwood Mountain

There is a place on the public lands must be made on the basis ol national of the United States for activities ol policy. practically all kinds- mining, grazing, The theories ot the Forest Service arc lumbering, reservoir building, hunting, perfectly proper when applied to lands the operation of hotels, lodges and camps, that are primarily ol commercial value, as well as open-air camping. with incidental value tor recreation. They But there is no place for any non- are destructive when applied to lands of recreational commercial activities in any the highest scenic quality, including area that deserves, because of its surpass­ scenic forests. ing beauty, to be in the national park system, and no place for elaborate rec­ It there is a reason lor having a nd reational facilities in a national park of tional park system at all, there is reason the wilderness variety. for having a national park in the Kings Canyon country, and in the nearby se­ It is not a question whether one gov­ quoia groves which still remain outside ernment bureau or another shall have- the protection of federal law. Of all the charge of an area, except in relation to the difference between the functions of lands to be found in the United States. the two bureaus, i.e., the difference in no region exists that surpasses Kings their methods of administration. Public Canyon and Redwood Mountain tor su­ lands belong to the nation, no matter preme magnificence in all the qualities what bureau controls them. Decisions that go to make up a national park.

[18] Pbotoeraph by vVillard C Van Name BIG TREES {Sequoia gigantea) OF REDWOOD MOUNTAIN

[19] Kings Canyon and Redwood Mountain for a Memorial to John Muir

Let this Park be established as a mem- vation and well-being of humanity" it has orial to John Muir, the great student not yet been done. The fifty years will and lover of our western mountains, the be up in 1941. The park can and will father of the national park system. Let be established in 1939, if the American it not be said that fifty years after John people respond, and carry to Congress the Muir uttered his appeal "to save this sur- power of their determination, passingly glorious region for the preset-

CONSERVATIONISTS—Please Help the Campaign for the John Muir-Kings Canyon National Park We beg you to: Write short simple letters to your two senators and to your representa­ tive, telling them that you approve the project to establish the John Muir- Kings Canyon National Park. Ask organizations to pass resolutions. Send these resolutions to your senators and representatives. And send them to the newspapers. Write letters to the newspapers, endorsing the proposed park. Mention especially that it is supported by the Department of Agriculture, as well as by the Department of the Interior. Ask the editors of newspapers and magazines to publish articles and editorials favorable to the proposed park. Send all such articles and edi­ torials to your congressman. Distribute this pamphlet, which is free while the supply lasts. Send us the names of people interested. Contribute money, which will go directly into our campaign—for print­ ing, postage, etc. Tell everyone you know of this opportunity to establish a national park of untold beauty.

Norn. Bills have been introduced to authorize the President to establish per petual wilderness areas in National Parks and National Monuments. They are Senate Bill 1188, introduced by Senator Adams of Colorado, and House of Representatives Bill No. 3648, introduced by Representative De Rouen of Louisiana. When writing letters of endorsement of the John Muir-Kings Canyon National Park, please add a sentence, saying that you also favor these bills. Emergency Conservation Committee MRS. C. N. EDGE, 7:54 Lexington Avenue, New York

[20] The Emergency Conservation Committee

Conservation Series Illustrated

Please send rue the following Conservation Units:

Unit I: ^Shortage of Waterfowl copies Unit II: *Hawks copies Unit III: ^Eagles copies Unit IV: Fish-Eating Birds copies Unit V: Owls copies Unit VI: Our Nation's Forests copies •Supply temporarily exhausted. Xew editions In preparation.

! cheque Enclosed please find j money-order i for $ { stamps (Including postage: single copies 10c each: 12 copies for $1; 100 copies for $7.50.) Please also send me the following free publications which I have cheeked:

No. 75. Conservation Conic and (lei II! 71. The Proposed John Muir-Kings Canyon National Park 71. The "Sportsmen's" Heaven is Hell for Ducks 61. Three Seasons at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary 59, Finishing the Mammals 55. "Framing'' the Birds of Prey. 5th edition, revised Mi. Where Do Yon Stand on the Matter of Shooting? Reprints: Preface to "Fish-Eating Birds" Is Nature-Wasting Safe?

If more than three of the above are requested, please send 10 cents for cost of mailing.

EMERGENCY CONSERVATION COMMITTEE, Mits. C. N. EDGE, ('htiiniutu. 7.'J1 Lexington A\emie. New York, N. Y.

Name (I'l.KASi: l'KINT)

Street

Citv State

This material is suitable for teachers, ami for high school and college students. Courtesy of the Museum of Vertehrute Zoology MOUNTAIN SHEEP Mountain sheep have almost disappeared from the Kings Canyon area. They may be brought back if this area is given park status.

Just as this pamphlet goes to press, word comes that Secretary of Agriculture Wallace has written a letter to Secretary Ickes (February 8, 1939), indorsing the John Muir-Kings Canyon National Park, which means that the Forest Service will support ft. This ought to wipe out most of the opposition to the park.