tained for the benefit of the public was never more efficient. The guide service is particularly worthy of complimentary reference. The very intelligent group of men comprising the guide force were exceedingly enthusiastic about their work. They came largely from the faculties of high schools and universities and from college-student bodies.

Every provision was made for the comfort of tramping or riding parties, even to the furnishing of appropriate clothing. Trips to the glaciers and other scenic points of the neighborhood were always appreciated, and the ascent of the mountain was more popular than ever before. During the season more than 300 individuals made this ascent, although among this number were large groups of members of mountaineering clubs camping in the park.

Every precaution was taken to protect the lives and health of the tourists, with excellent results.

LABOR DAY CROWDS.

On Labor Day the largest crowds in the history of the park thronged its hotels and public automobile grounds. Anticipating this holiday visitation, you will recall that we arranged with the Secretary of War for the temporary loan of 500 Army blankets to use in providing adequate sleeping facilities for parties requiring accommodations at the various hotels of the park over and above the maximum equipment available. The blankets were procured from Camp Lewis, and enabled the park administration to meet every demand for bedding.

This, it seems to me, is an excellent example of what can be accomplished in the way of cooperation between Government departments in the interest of the people.

Reverting to the topic of week-end travel, I had occasion to enter the park on two Sunday afternoons in August, and I was astounded to see the number of automobiles on their way out of the reservation. In less than 40 miles I passed over 400 machines.

CONVENTIONS IN THE PARK.

Among the conventions held in the park were the Washington State Bankers' Association, the Knights of Pythias, and Order of the Eastern Star of the State, the West Coast Lumbermen's Association, the Association of Western Confectioners, the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, and the Seattle Rotary Club.

MOUNTAINEERING CLUBS HOLD OUTINGS.

I have already mentioned the outings of the big mountaineering clubs, the Mazamas and the Mountaineers. The former camped on Mazama Ridge, the scene of many happy gatherings of club members in the past. The Mountaineers made a trip around Mount Rainier in the reverse direction of their trip of 1915, which was the first circle tour of the mountain.

Many members of both clubs reached the summit of the mountain and made other trips of unusual interest. The reports of their outings, which will appear later in the year, will be valuable additions to recorded history of the park.

MEMORIAL TO GEN. HAZARD STEVENS.

The Mountaineers propose to erect in the park a memorial to Gen. Hazard Stevens, who died during the past year. Gen. Stevens and P. B. Van Trump were the first to ascend Mount Rainier. The ascent was made in 1870 from a camp near Sluiskin Falls, and it is proposed to erect on this camp site the monument commemorating this event and the interest of Gen. Stevens in the mountain. The form of the memorial has not yet been finally determined, but doubtless it will be a stone bench of appropriate design and suitably inscribed.

WILD LIFE INADEQUATELY PROTECTED.

The lack of a game preserve adjoining the park, especially on the west side, is each year felt more keenly. The deer are not flourishing in the park because they are not protected in their winter feeding grounds on the lower altitudes outside of its boundaries. They are probably not decreasing in numbers, but they are not doing more than holding their own. They are timid and are only seen occasionally by visitors, a situation that is quite unusual when compared with the tameness of deer in most of the other national parks.

A State or county game preserve should be established where these animals need absolute protection at all times of the year, and I trust the authorities having the power to create such a refuge will soon take steps to meet this need. I understand that in the State of Washington the creation of game preserves is not a matter that is generally presented to the legislature.

A BIOLOGICAL SURVEY IN PROGRESS.

Under a cooperative agreement between the United States Biological Survey, the National Park Service, and the State College of Washington a study is being made of the mammals, birds, and life zones of the park. The results of this investigation will form the basis for certain scientific papers and a popular publication that will form a part of the natural history series of this bureau. The expedition is in charge of Dr. W. P. Taylor, of the Biological Survey, and Dr. W. T. Shaw is representing the State College of Washington. Park Ranger J. B. Flett is acting as guide and botanist for the party. Dr. William L. Finley, State biologist of Oregon and well-known photographer of animal life, is making still and motion pictures for the expedition.

This work is highly important and ought to be carried forward in other national parks as fast as possible.

LONGMIRE PROPERTY CHANGES HANDS.

For many years the tract of land held in private ownership at Longmire Springs has been a source of annoyance to local officers of the Service as well as to Government concessioners. This tract was acquired by James Longmire under the mining laws many years ago. A hotel was maintained on the tract for a long time, and in connection with this establishment some use was made of the mineral springs on the property. The old plant fell into disuse, and for some years the property was given no attention

by its owners. It became an eyesore and the object of adverse criticism by hundreds of tourists, who were compelled to observe the place as they raised their eyes to Mount Rainier, towering high above the valley.

Every effort was made to relieve this condition, but to no avail. In 1918 the property was improved by lessees, who built a small hotel plant on the tract, but still insufficient consideration was given to the landscape improvement of the grounds. This year, however, I am pleased to report, the Rainier National Park Co., which owns the other hotels of the park and the transportation lines, purchased the lease of property and is now maintaining it in accordance with the terms of its contract with the department governing its privileges in the park.

This places this private holding in a satisfactory status for the present, but ultimately it should be acquired by the Government, as it is in a part of the park where it will always be an active or prospective source of annoyance and interference in the development of the reservation.

The lease obtained by the Rainier National Park Co. will run for a period of years equal to the unexpired term of the company's lease of Government lands in the park in connection with the operation of its hotels and other enterprises. The officials of the company have promised to cooperate with us in the improvement of the tract, and our landscape engineer has submitted some suggestions for their

use.

DEVELOP CARBON RIVER NEXT.

The heavy travel to the southwestern portion of the park, which is the only section fully developed with roads, has convinced both the national park service and the Rainier National Park Co. of the importance of developing other sections of the reservation. Logically the Carbon River region should be opened next. It is the key to the northwestern section of the park, and is in a very beautiful area. Four years ago I had a road surveyed up the Carbon River Valley, and each year since, except one year of the war, we have submitted an estimate for the construction of this highway.

The route of this proposed road is up the Carbon River to the Carbon Glacier, a point which can be made the starting point for walking and saddle-horse trips to Spray Park, Mist Park, and Moraine Park, from which most striking views of the mountain are to be obtained. The total length of the road in the park would be approximately 7 miles, but our plans contemplate building 33 miles additional through the Rainier National Forest to connect with the State highway.

STATE ROAD to carbON REGION.

Pierce County recently approved a bond issue of $2,500,000 for the construction of many miles of paved road. One of the projects comprehended in this bond issue is the completion of a paved automobile road to Fairfax, 5 miles from the park boundary, within two years. This work will be continued to the forest boundary, declare resolutions recently proclaimed by the commissioners of the county.

Thus within two years paved roads will lead almost to the northwestern corner of the park. The time has come when we would have to build up the Carbon River Valley as a measure of cooperation with the county in this big road enterprise if the more pressing need of developing the upper valley in the park as a tourist resort did not exist.

The road from the forest reserve line to the neighborhood of the Carbon Glacier, approximately 11 miles, will cost $100,000.

HOTEL WILL FOLLOW ROAD.

As soon as the Carbon River road is completed the Rainier National Park Co. will be in a position to undertake the establishment of facilities for accommodating the traveling public. A hotel site has already been selected.

A PAVING PROGRAM SUGGESTED.

The bond issue of Pierce County also covered the paving of the Nisqually approach road to the park entrance. About half of this road is paved at the present time. When this splendid improvement is complete travel over the road may be expected to grow to many times its present volume. This prospect invites the question whether we ought not soon to plan the paving of part of the park highway, at least to Nisqually Glacier, and the widening of the road to Narada Falls and Paradise Valley.

AN IDEAL ROAD SYSTEM OF THE FUTURE.

The White River road, in the northeastern section of the park, was closed to traffic this year because of lack of funds to make necessary repairs. It is 10 miles in length and was built by a mining company operating in Glacier Basin. Two years ago approximately three miles of the road was realigned and widened, and the remaining portion of the road must be similarly improved before it will be a good automobile road. This work should be undertaken next year, as the McClellan State highway will be completed to the White River entrance of the park. Ten miles of the road are still to be finished, but the work is in progress and will be finished early next season.

After the White River road is improved and the Carbon River road is completed to the glacier we may properly suggest the construction of the first link in a road around the mountain. This would leave the Nisqually road near Narada Falls and proceed through Stevens Canyon to the Ohanapecosh River region at the southeastern corner of the park, thence up the river and Chinook Creek to Cayuse Pass-a distance of 28 miles. Eight miles farther on, such a road would connect with the White River road.

Following the building of this highway, the route connecting the Carbon and Nisqually roads naturally would be adopted for the next project. This would leave, as the last section to be completed, the road between Glacier Basin and the Carbon River district.

Here is a broad scheme of development that should be carried out without the loss of a year's construction work; and, after all, in

these days of enormous road-building projects, this has no unreasonable or impracticable features.

TRAILS TO KLAPACHE RIDGE.

The only trail built during the year afforded a side trip from the west-side trail system. It ascends Klapache Ridge north of St. Andrews Creek and then continues on this eminence to St. Andrews Park.

OHANAPECOSH HOT SPRINGS.

I renew here my recommendation of last year, that the lines of the park be extended to take in the Ohanapecosh Hot Springs. This would add only a very narrow strip to the park. The springs have great possibilities of development for the benefit of the public, and it would be our policy to develop them in a way that would give tourists the best and freest use of them consistent with their proper upkeep.

Some other minor adjustments in the south boundary should be made in legislation providing for the inclusion of the hot springs. On April 16, 1919, Supt. D. L. Reaburn, who had been in charge of the park since June 1, 1915, was granted, at his request, an indefinite leave of absence, and Mr. Roger W. Toll, of Colorado, was appointed as his successor. Mr. Toll has had many years' experience in mountaineering in the national parks, and his education and training peculiarly fit him for the new work he has undertaken. He has long been a member of the Colorado Mountain Club. His volume entitled, "Mountaineering in the Rocky Mountain National Park," was issued by the National Park Service early in the summer.

CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK.

The most important feature in the development and administration of this park this year was the completion, after several years' work, of the road around the rim of the lake. This was finished and opened to the public on August 2. I made this trip of 35 miles soon after the road was opened and found it a wonderful scenic tour.

ENGINEERING WORK TRANSFERRED.

Prior to this season the engineering work of the park has been under the direction and control of the Corps of Engineers of the Army. The sundry civil act of July 19, 1919, transferred this work to the National Park Service. All property and equipment of the Engineer Corps that was purchased with park funds have been delivered to this bureau and, anticipating this transfer of control, the Engineer Corps placed the direction of the improvement work in the superintendent of the park at the beginning of the season in order that he might organize a force of employees that would serve the park throughout the working period, and might proceed in strict accordance with his plans for the year's development.

With the transfer of jurisdiction over this engineering project, the Interior Department gained complete control of the last national park in which authority was divided between it and the War De