National Park Proposed

 

"National Park Proposed". Yreka Weekly Journal. January 11, 1888, p.3, col.4.

National Park Proposed

Since the opening of the picturesque California and Oregon rail route, says the S. F. Chronicle of Dec. 29th, the attention of California travelers has been attracted in a marked degree, to the possibilities of the canyon of the upper Sacramento as a great resort for tourists and sightseers. A happy thought struck one of these travelers the other day, and yesterday afternoon he imparted the idea to a Chronicle reporter.

"Why not," he suggested, have all that great strip of territory along the Sacramento river between Edgewood, in Siskiyou county, and Redding, in Shasta county, converted into a national park? I thought of this as I passed through the canyon on my way down from Portland recently. The scenery there, as you may know, is of the grandest description. There are the magnificent Castle rocks, the romantic Mossbrae falls, the five-peaked volcanic cone of the Black Butte, the lovely Shasta valley, the gigantic pine forests, mineral springs, the towering canyon walls, and above all old Shasta looks severely down upon the scene. I looked upon all this loveliness and said to myself, 'What a pity that the scenic charms of this country are not to be preserved.' The thing could be done. It is only a question of the willingness of the Government and the railroad company."

The railroad magnates were sounded on the subject at once. Charles Crocker and Colonel C. F. Crocker were seen at Fourth and Townsend streets, and the suggestion as presented to them, was met with favor.

"Yes," said the Colonel, "the idea is a good one."

"A very good one," repeated the elder Crocker.

"The stream up there might be stocked with trout and other fish, so that the supply would never run out," suggested General Superintendent Fillmore, who happened to be present.

"The main thing, of course," remarked the Colonel, "would be the preservation of the timber."

"It has been suggested," put in the reporter, "that a strip of land one mile each side of the river be reserved, from Edgewood as far south as Redding, about 100 miles, thus including in the territory set aside for park purposes fully 200 square miles."

"Yes, possibly more," said Colonel Crocker.

"The plan is one involving some difficulty," said Charles Crocker, "but that would all lie with the Government. For our part, we would be willing to reserve all the odd numbered sections included in the strip for the purpose named. The Government might raise some objection to reserving its portion, but I hardly think it would. It would be of great advantage to the State to have such a park opened, as it would attract many visitors from abroad."

The reporter was referred to Land Agent Mills for further information [re]garding the territory mentioned, but as that gentleman was at home ill, the interview was deferred.

It is likely that some of our representatives at Washington will see to the preparation of a bill, to be presented to Congress, providing for the reservation of the land as proposed. It was found on inquiry about town that the plan has already been talked of by prominent men, who unite in the opinion that the project is worthy of consideration.