Mr. SCRUGHAM. Will you submit to the clerk the language you desire included? Mr. DEMARAY. Yes, sir. MOUNT M'KINLEY NATIONAL PARK, ALASKA Mr. SCRUGHAM. We will next take up the item on Mount McKinley National Park, Alaska. Mr. DEMARAY. I submit the following justification: Amount included in the Budget, fiscal year 1938_. Appropriation, fiscal year 1937 Net increase, 1938 over 1937. $29,000 25,000 4,000 The language change is recommended to authorize the purchase, maintenance, and operation of an automobile for the official use of the superintendent and employees in connection with general park work. The net increase of $4,000 is recommended to provide as follows: Administration and protection; increase, $750.-The additional sum of $750 is recommended for the purchase of feed for 40 dogs and 5 horses. The cost of dog feed has increased greatly and transportation expenses both for freight and personal travel is unusually high in Alaska. Maintenance, repair, and operation; increase, $1,200.-The rigorous climate of the Arctic regions requires that buildings be kept in first-class condition, consequently the additional sum of $500 is recommended for buildings maintenance. An increase of $300 is recommended for necessary repairs to the telephone, sewage, and water systems. Telephone communication in the park is of major importance and storm damage to the system must be repaired. New garbage and sewage disposal burial pits must be provided and repairs must be made to the reservoir at the spring which supplies water to the park headquarters area. The sum of $200 will be required for the maintenance and operation of the passenger car proposed for purchase in the fiscal year 1938. An increase of $100 is recommended to provide for the construction of slush beds for the sanitary system, relocation of dry earth toilets, and for pumping out cesspools and septic tanks. The sum of $100 is required to provide sufficient fuel for heating employees' quarters. Equipment; increase, $50.—The sum of $1,550 is recommended for the purchase of equipment, an increase of $50 over the amount appropriated for 1937. The sum of $750 will be used for the purchase of a passenger car and $800 for the replacement of the present Kohler electric plant, which is 7 years old and inadequate for present requirements. Radio system; incrcase, $2,000.-Some means of communication between rangers stationed in outlying districts—often 25 to 30 miles from a telephone line— is of vital importance, especially during the long, rigorous winters. The cost of telephone extensions would be prohibitive in these areas. In extreme cold weather cases of frozen hands and feet are quite common and, when such instances occur, medical treatment should be given as soon as possible. In one specific instance a man just north of the park froze his feet. Due to stormy weather, it took 1 month before a man could reach a telephone to dispatch a message for aid. As a result of the delay, it was necessary to have his toes amputated. It is proposed to establish a radio system for use of the rangers stationed in the outlying districts. It is estimated that the cost and installation of a suitable system which can be expanded when necessary will amount to $2,000. Mr. SCRUGHAM. There is an increase there of $4,000. Will you explain that, Mr. Demaray? Mr. DEMARAY. Half of that, or $2,000, is for a radio system. In the wintertime our men up there have to patrol the boundaries of the park because of the value of wildlife skins. Without protection trappers and hunters would come into the park and make tremendous inroads on the game. These are out there all by themselves. In one specific instance a man froze his feet just north of the park; and due to stormy weather, it took 1 month before the man could reach a telephone to dispatch a message for aid. It is, in our judgment, inhuman to require rangers to perform patrol duties without furnishing them adequate means of communication. We can for this sum provide them with radios to give them that protection. Mr. RICH. About this radio: You spoke about one man freezing his feet. Doesn't it often happen that men who are out hunting game do the same thing? How many more men outside of this one instance have been in danger of their lives just because you do not have this communication? Mr. DEMARAY. I think every time that a ranger goes out on patrol he is in danger of his life without adequate protection. He may not lose his life and he may not become maimed, but there is this potential danger that he has to face. Mr. RICH. How far does he have to go away from any habitation. by himself? Mr. DEMARAY. There are no habitations there at all. It is the most isolated country that you can think of. Mr. RICH. What I am trying to find out is how far he has to venture away from the nearest fire. Mr. DEMARAY. We have patrol stations 25 to 30 miles apart. In the wintertime the men use dog sleds and dog teams for their travel. He may be caught 15 miles, for instance, away from a station in a bad storm. His dogs would probably get him back to the patrol station. Then he could call up and ask that aid be sent to him. Mr. SCRUGHAM. Are there any further questions on that item? If not, we will turn to the next one. MT. RAINIER NATIONAL PARK, WASH. Mr. SCRUGHAM. This next item is for Mt. Rainier National Park, Wash. Mr. DEMARAY. The justification for that is as follows: The language change is proposed to provide not exceeding $6,000 for the construction of a utility building to house operating crews and equipment engaged in snow-removal operations to make Paradise Valley accessible for winter sports. The net increase of $19,680 is recommended to provide as follows: Administration and protection; increase, $1,570.-A temporary ranger-naturalist for 31⁄2 months is needed in the Paradise Valley district to provide adequate service to the public visiting the area. An increase of $520 is recommended for the reestablishment of this position, which was abolished in 1934 due to lack of funds. The reestablishment of three temporary ranger positions will require an additional sum of $1,000. An increase of $50 is proposed for furnishing additional fuel for the Longmire Museum, which is now open the year round. Maintenance, repair, and operation; increase, $6,500.-An increase of $2,000 is urgently recommended to provide for snow removal on the road from Narada Falls to Paradise Valley to make the valley accessible for winter sports. The sum of $6000 is included elsewhere in this estimate for the construction of a utility building at Narada Falls, and an amount of $20,000 has been allocated from Public Works funds for the purchase of snow-removal equipment. There has been a tremendous increase in popularity of skiing and other winter sports in the last 2 years, and the ski terrain in Paradise Valley is considered to be the finest in the United States and equal to the famous ski courses of Europe. Open highway accommodations are available to other areas in the Northwest, including Mount Shasta, Mount Hood. Mount Baker, Snoqualmie Pass, and Mount Spokane, but not to Mount Rainier. There it is necessary to hike over steep snow trails on mountainous slopes from Narada Falls to Paradise Valley, a strenuous trip for even the young and hardy. Present funds will not permit the additional expenditure necessary to keep this portion of the road open during the winter. It is anticipated that the opening of the road to Paradise Valley, making that area available for winter sports, will increase travel to such an extent that the additional fees to be collected will soon cover the cost of snow removal. This opinion is based on the interest in winter-sports activities shown by the populace of the Northwest. Six miles of power line from Longmire to Nisqually Entrance were constructed recently with Public Works funds. An additional sum of $1,000 will be required for winter maintenance of the new line and for repair work necessary to keep the Diesel electric-power plant at Yakima in first-class condition. The plant represents an investment of approximately $200,000. An increase. of $1,500 is essential for the expansion of communication facilities to meet the demands for adequate service from the various Government activities, the park operator, and the increasing number of visitors. Additional circuits are needed between Longmire, Paradise Valley, and Yakima Park, and a temporary lineman is needed in the White River district, located 135 miles from headquarters. To improve service it is necessary also to reestablish switchboard service at Paradise Valley, so that local business there will not tie up the main trunk circuits to Longmire. The additional sum of $1,000 is included for necessary repairs to trucks, and $1,000 will be needed to cover the cost of sanitation work at the new Yakima Park. Funds for repairs to trucks have not been sufficient in the past few years, and it has been necessary to curtail repair work to a minimum and transfer funds from other accounts, requiring the curtailment of necessary work in other accounts. The Yakima Park development will require the services of temporary camp caretakers and incinerator operator. Equipment; increase, $5.610.-This increase, plus 33,990 in the account, will provide $9,600 for equipment. An amount of $1,200 is proposed for the purchase of two-ton pick-up trucks to replace two wornout 1929 vehicles, and the sum of $8.000 will provide for one four-wheel drive 5-ton truck with a rotary snowplow attachment for snow-removal operations. An amount of $400 will be needed for the purchase of new and the replacement of broken and worn-out miscellaneous tools and equipment. Utility building, Narada Falls; increase, $6,000.—It will be necessary to provide a utility building at Narada Falls for housing equipment and the operating crew engaged in snow-removal work. The cost of the structure is estimated as follows: Mr. SCRUGHAM. What is the reason for this increase of $19,680? Mr. DEMARAY. $6,500 of this is for maintenance and operation. An increase of $2,000 is asked for snow removal on the road from Narada Falls to Paradise Valley to make the valley accessible for winter sports. The sum of $6,000 is included elsewhere in this estimate for the construction of a utility building at Narada Falls. An amount of $20,000 has been allocated from Public Works funds for the purchase of snow-removal equipment. There has been a tremendous increase in popularity of skiing and other winter sports in the last 2 years, and the ski terrain in Paradise Valley is considered to be the finest in the United States and equal to the famous ski courses of Europe. Then we have 6 miles of power line from Longmire to Nisqually Entrance, which were constructed recently with Public Works funds. An additional sum of $1,000 will be required for winter maintenance of the new line and for repair work necessary to keep the Diesel electric-power plant at Yakima in first-class condition. The plant represents an investment of approximately $200,000. We are asking for $5,610 for equipment. This increase, plus $3,990 in the account, will provide $9,600 for equipment. An amount of $1,200 is proposed for the purchase of two 1⁄2-ton pick-up trucks to replace two worn out 1929 vehicles. The sum of $8,000 will provide for one 4-wheel drive, 5-ton truck with a rotary snow-plow attachment for snow-removal operations. So that a large part of the total increase that we are asking is for winter operations. We frankly tell you that. It is $6,000 for the utility building and $8,000 for snow-removal equipment. That makes $14,000. Then there is $1,000 for a power line, which makes $15,000; and $1,200 more for additional funds for keeping the roads open. Mr. O'NEAL. Are fees charged for skiing and that sort of thing? Mr. DEMARAY. Yes. Fees are charged. There is enough collected from those revenues from automobiles coming up there in the wintertime to practically pay for this expense. Mr. LAMBERTSON. It is all quite local in the wintertime, is it not? Mr. DEMARAY. It is to a great extent local, although there is such an interest in winter sports on the Pacific coast that visitors come up there all the way from California, and from Oregon where they have this opportunity for winter sports. Mr. O'NEAL. You think that that is practically self-supporting, do you? Mr. DEMARAY. I believe it is; yes, sir. Mr. RICH. In what other parks do you make any specialty of winter sports? Mr. DEMARAY. There are two parks where we make a specialty of it; namely, Yosemite and Mount Rainier. We go to considerable expense in connection with our winter operation in those two parks. In the other parks it is largely incidental. The roads are kept open, and it is very much more local in all other parks. Mr. CAMMERER. These winter sports are of wonderful benefit in the way of outdoor recreational work for people all over the country. In the olden days you and I were glad to skate on a pond or on a toboggan slide. But the modern generation, especially in the past 2 years, have taken to skiing and snowshoeing. Up in New England and in New York there are regular loads of them go out on the trains over the week end and during the week also. It has swept the country like wildfire. You can see thousands of them skiing on the hillsides. They just come there, and we have to take care of them. If you don't have comfort stations for them, for instance, they just have to go behind a tree. Mr. SCRUGHAM. There is no question about the desirability of such a thing. 139751-37-pt. 1—34 PLATT NATIONAL PARK, OKLA. Mr. SCRUGHAM. The next item is for the Platt National Park, Okla. Mr. DEMARAY. Our justification for that is as follows: Platt National Park is located in southern Oklahoma, adjacent to the city of Sulphur. The mineral water produced by the springs in the park is used by thousands of people each year because of its reputed healing properties. The park was established by act approved July 1, 1902, ratifying and confirming an agreement with the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indian tribes to cede certain lands to the United States. The area of the park is 848.31 acres. The estimate of $20,600 for 1938 is the same as the total appropriation for 1937. ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, COLO. Mr. SCRUGHAM. The next item is Rocky Mountain National Park, Colo. Mr. DEMARAY. Our justification for that is as follows: Rocky Mountain National Park is located in northwestern Colorado, 70 miles northwest of Denver. It straddles the Continental Divide, and contains the most rugged and representative scenic portion of the Front Range in Colorado. The road across the Continental Divide reaches an elevation of 12,183 feet and is the highest automobile road in the National Park system. The park was established by act approved January 26, 1915, as amended, and comprises an area of 259,411 acres. The estimate of $82,000 for 1938 is the same as the total appropriation for 1937. SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK, CALIF. Mr. SCRUGHAM. The next item is the Sequoia National Park. Appropriation, fiscal year 1937__. Net increase, 1938 over 1937. $104, 100 99,500 4,600 The net increase of $4,600 is recommended to provide as follows: Administration and protection; increase, $1,320.—The recommended increase is to provide for the employment of a timekeeper and an assistant purchasing and voucher clerk for a period of 6 months each. Park operations expand considerably during the summer season and administrative work lags and permanent personnel must work considerable overtime to handle even the most urgent matters. Maintenance, repair, and operation; increase, $2,030.—The additional sum of $910 is required for the maintenance of 13 miles of the Generals' Highway between the western boundary of Sequoia National Park and the southern boundary of General Grant National Park which has been designated as an approach road and will be turned over from the Bureau of Public Roads during 1937. An increase of $400 is recommended to provide for maintenance of extensions to the electric and water systems, constructed with emergency funds. The additional sum of $720 is recommended for the employment of a mechanic for 6 months to assist in the repair of machinery and equipment which are used more extensively as a result of rapidly growing winter activities in the park. Equipment; increase, $1,250.-The sum of $4,750 is recommended for the purchase of equipment, an increase of $1,250 over the 1937 allotment of $3.500. Of this amount, $750 is included for the replacement of a car purchased in 1924 and which has no turn-in value. The balance of $4,000 will be used for the purchase or replacement of tents, ranges, steel cots, mattresses, office equipment. electric refrigerators, and other miscellaneous small tools and equipment, and for the purchase of 3%-ton pick-up trucks to replace similar vehicles purchased in 1928 and 1929, now in poor condition. |