COPY OF A COMMUNICATION OF THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR SUBMITTING A SUPPLEMENTAL ESTIMATE OF APPROPRIATION FOR ADMINISTRATION AND PROTECTION OF THE YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, CARING FOR BUFFALO, ETC., FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1916. JANUARY 18, 1915.-Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith, for the consideration of Congress, copy of a communication of the Secretary of the Interior, of the 14th instant, submitting a supplemental estimate of appropriation in the sum of $68,570, for administration and protection of the Yellowstone National Park, caring for buffalo, etc., for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1916, which he desires to have substituted for the estimate of $8,500 included in the annual Book of Estimates for 1916, page 819. The Secretary of the Interior, in his communication, explains the reasons for submitting the substitute estimate at this time. Respectfully, W. G. McADOO, Secretary. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, SIR: There is transmitted herewith a supplemental estimate in the sum of $68,570 for administration and protection of the Yellowstone National Park, caring for buffalo, etc., for the fiscal year 1916. This sum is requested in lieu of the sum of $8,500 included in the Book of Estimates of Appropriations required for the service of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1916. (H. Doc. 1394, 63d Cong., 3d sess., p. 819.) The necessity for submitting this supplemental estimate is that the law requires annual estimates to be submitted to the Treasury on or before October 15 of each year. On October 15, 1914, it had not been determined by this department to request Congress to relieve the Secretary of War of the duty of providing troops for protection of the park. There is also transmitted copy of a letter from the Secretary of War, dated May 1, 1914, in relation to relieving the War Department of the duty of providing troops for protection and improvement of the Yellowstone National Park under the act of March 3, 1883; and in Yosemite, Sequoia, and General Grant National Parks under the act of June 6, 1900, from which it will be seen that the estimated expense of maintaining troops in the Yellowstone National Park, exclusive of transportation of officers, men, and supplies, based upon an average for the past four years, amounts to about $275,000 per annum. There are also transmitted copies of various letters from the records and files of this department bearing upon the cost of the taking over by the Interior Department the administration of the affairs of the Yellowstone National Park. I have therefore to request that there be submitted to Congress the supplemental estimate in the sum of $68,570, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1916. This supplemental estimate has received the approval of the President. Respectfully, FRANKLIN K. LANE. The honorable the SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. Statement of funds necessary for civil administration and protection of the Yellowstone National Park, and to purchase or replace so much of the equipment therein as is necessary and now being used by the military force guarding the park. Salaries in addition to those already estimated for: Supervisor, per annum.... Clerk, per annum.... 2 switchboard operators, $900 each.... 2 linemen, six months each year, $450 each. 1 electrical engineer, per annum.. 1 assistant electrical engineer, per annum. 1 assistant electrical engineer, for 4 months, $100 per month.. 1 mechanic plumber, per annum.. 1 mechanic, blacksmith.. 1 mechanic, carpenter... 2 teamsters, $720 per annum each.. Laborers 1 to care for supervisor's office, administrative building, toilets, 2 to remove garbage and ashes, etc., $720 each per annum.... Park rangers 1 chief ranger, per annum... 4 assistant chief rangers, $1,350 each, per annum.. $3,000 1,500 1,800 900 1,500 1, 200 400 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,440 900 1, 440 1,440 1,500 5, 400 Salaries in addition to those already estimated for Continued. 17 rangers, first class, $1,200 each, per annum. 9 rangers, $900 each, per annum.. Total of salaries.... Cost of freighting supplies from railroads to headquarters and Purchases, etc.: For 4 horses, $600; 2 wagons, $250; 2 sets of double harness, $100 (for express work).. .$20, 400 $54, 520 1,000 950 To equip plumber's shop with tools, implements, etc., $300; plumber's supplies for one year, $200. 500 To equip carpenter's shop with tools, implements, etc., $300; carpenter's supplies for one year, $200. 500 To equip blacksmith's shop with tools, implements, etc., $300; blacksmith's supplies for one year, $200.. 500 For ranges and heating stoves for the buildings of Fort Yellow- 500 For coal and wood for the buildings at Fort Yellowstone used for administrative and residence purposes, and for coal oil for 15 ranger stations... For purchase of telephones and repairs to telephones on hand, $100; purchase of material for repair of about 250 miles of telephone line, $500.... Purchase of one year's supply of hay, oats, and straw for 2 new teams of 2 horses each. Total for the purchase of material, equipment, and supplies.. The above amounts should be increased by $8,500 total for administration and protection, and maintenance of buffalo, appropriations already submitted, pursuant to section 10 of the sundry civil act approved Aug. 1, 1914, less the salaries of 1 chief scout, $1,200, and 2 regular scouts, $900 each per annum, $1,800: $1,200+$1,800=$3,000: $8,500-$3,000= 500 3,000. 600 500 Total for administration and protection of park, maintenance of 8, 550 5,500 68, 570 Acting Superintendent Yellowstone National Park. JANUARY 14, 1915. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, The honorable the SECRETARY OF WAR. for your MY DEAR MR. SECRETARY: It has been customary department, upon request of the Secretary of the Interior, to detail troops under the authority contained in the act of June 6, 1900 (31 Stat., 618), for the protection of the Sequoia and General Grant National Parks, Cal. Upon careful investigation of the subject the department has reached the conclusion that it will not be necessary to request you to detail troops for duty in the parks above mentioned during the season of 1914, as the appropriation for these parks, in connection with the revenues therefrom, will permit of their maintenance without the usual assistance of the troops. I desire in this connection to express the appreciation of this department for the very material service heretofore rendered by the officers and troops of the War Department in the protection of the reservations above mentioned. Cordially, yours, ADOLPH C. MILLER, Assistant to the Secretary. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 27, 1914. To the honorable the SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. SIR: I have the honor to inform you that on the annual inspection of Fort Yellowstone, Wyo., and the troops there stationed, the inspector, under date of September 18, 1913, submits, among other things, the following remarks: 20. Post transportation is used to a very considerable extent for park purposes other than military. The only transportation in the park supplied by the Interior Department consists of two horses and one single-seated buggy, furnished for the use of the superintendent. The legitimate demands upon the transportation of the post are excessive, and, in my judgment, the Interior Department should supply transportation sufficient for park purposes other than those pertaining to the military. 22. The garrison has been employed extensively in road work in the park. Besides being detrimental to military instruction and training, such employment I believe to be improper and unwarranted. 23. The garrison has also been employed extensively in the construction and maintenance of telegraph and telephone lines throughout the park. It would appear that these lines should be constructed and maintained by the Interior Department, as their only necessity to the military is in the performance of their park duties; but, as they are essential in the performance of such duties, they must be maintained. Practically the same questions as to the transportation raised in the remarks of the inspector (20) were raised in relation to the transportation at the Yosemite and Sequoia Parks in California in 1912. This department has no funds for transportation other than that connected with the military administration of Fort Yellowstone, and it is manifest that the troops should not be employed for maintaining grade and telephone lines. I have the honor to ask whether it will not be possible for your department to supply its transportation and to see that the troops are relieved from such unmilitary work as is referred to in the abovequoted remarks of the inspector. Very respectfully, LINDLEY M. GARRISON, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, Yellowstone Park, Wyo., March 26, 1914. The SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR, Washington, D. C. SIR: In reply to your letter of the 18th instant, transmitting copy of a letter from the honorable the Secretary of War, of January 27, 1914, quoting from the remarks of the military inspector on his inspection of Fort Yellowstone, 1913, with reference to post transportation being used for purposes other than military, employment of troops in road work, and employment of the garrison in construction and maintenance of telegraph and telephone lines, and asking if it is not possible for the Interior Department to supply its transportation and to see that the troops are relieved from the unmilitary work referred to, I have the honor to report as follows: It should be made clear that Fort Yellowstone and its administration is but one factor in the work assigned the troops. The special duty is to see that the laws and regulations are enforced in a reservation containing 3,348 square miles. This territory contains large herds of game, thousands of fur-bearing animals, and is the storehouse of nature's wonders. These can not be protected from Fort Yellowstone; in consequence there have been established 15 outlying stations and as many patrol stations (snowshoe cabins) throughout the park, so situated as to best serve the particular locality. Detachments are stationed at the soldier stations the year round, and the snowshoe cabins are equipped and provisioned for the use of the patrols on their trips. A map is inclosed showing the divisions of the park into sections and the location of stations and cabins in each. Some of these stations are accessible by wagons, others are not; none of the cabins can be reached by wagons, hence the need of a pack train. The plateau of the park is nearly 8,000 feet in altitude, so the snow and cold come early and remain late; in consequence the freighting season is short necessitating an increase of 24 draft animals over the post allowance. The transportation conveys all the supplies except coal, hay and grain from the railroad to the post, supplies the outlying soldier and patrol stations, distributes hay to the game within a radius of 10 miles of Fort Yellowstone, and furnishes passenger vehicles for certain Government officials in the performance of their public duties, all of which is strictly military, excepting distributing hay for game, which is done during the period of deep snow when the teams used are not needed for military purposes, and furnishing transportation to Government officials which is for the best interests. of the public service. It is only fair to presume that Congress intended that troops authorized by it for special work in the park should be properly outfitted and equipped for that work. The increase over the post allowance of transportation is a small drain on the Army appropriations in comparison to the forty or fifty thousand dollars that would be required of the Interior Department to install and equip the plant, to make it independent of the quartermaster teams, and place that department in a position to supply all the outlying stations, and this would be followed by a yearly drain of approximately $10,000 to maintain, and there would be presented the spectacle of two fully equipped plants to serve a common purpos?. The garrison has been employed extensively in road work in the park, etc." Before June, 1912, the appropriation for roads, bridges, etc., for that fiscal year had been exhausted and, due to a presidential veto of the sundry civil bill, the appropriation for the next fiscal year was not made in time to be available for the tourist season. The melting snows of May and June wash out the roads and culverts to such an extent that the roads are not passable for passenger |