At Mammoth Hot Springs are several buildings formerly occupied by soldiers of this military post which might be put to better purposes than those for which they are now used. There is a real demand for a museum, and I recommend that the feasibility of rearranging the interior of one of these buildings be investigated, and if it is found the same can be accomplished for reasonable cost, plans be drawn and contract let for the construction work necessary to establish this museum.

MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK.

The present road, leading from the park entrance to the top of the great mesa, is poorly located and unnecessarily long. The recommendations regarding this road submitted by the superintendent should, in my opinion, be carried out.

Many of the ruins are in such shape that it is practically impossible to get about among them. I would urge that a sufficient appropriation be secured to permit the Smithsonian Institution to carry on the work of restoration recommended by the superintendent.

The many relics of a forgotten race that were once in this park have been scattered to the four corners of the world. Those which were retained by the residents of the district are slowly disappearing. If a museum, even of the smallest kind, were erected in the park, most of these relics could be secured either by loan or gift and some of the implements, textiles, and other objects of interest could be permanently preserved.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK.

This park is the newest in the system. The first steps that should be taken, in my opinion, are the preliminary investigations looking forward to a complete road and trail system. This park will doubtless receive the greatest tourist travel of all of the mountain parks, and I recommend that plans for its development be at once undertaken on a broad and comprehensive scheme.

I would suggest also that no steps be taken in the granting of cencessions in this park until a policy is established for their operation similar to that which is now being developed in Yosemite and Mount Rainier National Parks. The crying need of this park for the next two years will be roads and trails.

PLATT NATIONAL PARK.

Platt National Park, like the Hot Springs Reservation, lays claim to its place in the category of national parks by virtue of the healthgiving waters to be found there. The accommodations and facilities for the proper use of these waters, however, have not been developed in any way commensurate with the real value of the water. There are two ways in which this water could be used and placed at the disposal of the great number of people who might be benefited by them:

1. By erecting a large hotel or sanitarium in the park. 2. By bottling the waters for distribution.

I believe these two possibilities should be thoroughly investigated and the choice determined. It is possible that both might be advisable. The principal question, however, is the quantity of the various waters that can be secured.

The French Republic operates a bottling plant at Vichy Springs and sends water from these springs to all parts of the world. If the flow of water in the various springs in Platt National Park is of sufficient volume or can be developed, I believe that it will be the part of wisdom to see that these waters are more generally distributed. Last year over 50,000 gallons of water were shipped by private individuals from Platt National Park to all parts of the country.

It will be entirely feasible, in my opinion, to secure the cooperation of a concessionaire to build a hotel or the bottling plant on a long-term and profit-sharing lease, providing a sufficient quantity of water is available. I would recommend, therefore, that the flows of these springs be thoroughly tested and the possibility of increasing them investigated. If the results justify, I would further recommend that steps be taken to secure a concessionaire who will carry on the operations in accordance with the above outline.

HOT SPRINGS RESERVATION.

There are two important problems in this reservation that should receive immediate attention. First is the public bath operated by the Government where medical services and treatments are free to those who are unable to pay for them. The present bathhouse is crumbling with decay, unsightly, insanitary, and reflects anything but credit upon the Federal Government.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been relieved of suffering and as many have had their lives saved to them by virtue of the medicinal qualities of the waters of Arkansas. It is a great institution and one that fully warrants the hearty support of our Federal Government. The bathhouses that are privately owned are many of them luxuriously appointed, and the growing contrast between the people who have money and can afford these bathhouses and the conditions with which the poor are confronted in the free bathhouse is one that arouses righteous anger. I can not conceive a more noble act or more justifiable expenditure of public money than the erection of a new and beautiful bathhouse as a gift from the Federal Government to the suffering poor of this country.

The second feature that needs attention is the general development of the reservation from the standpoint of a landscape architect. Several plans have been submitted for the reservation, but none has been adopted.

WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK.

As a curious wonder, I doubt if there is anything in this country which equals the Wind Cave in this park, which contains over 90 miles of explored passages which are hung with stalactites and sparkling crystals.

The cave, however, is in utter darkness and the tourists visiting it are only able to secure a glimpse now and then while a bit of

magnesium tape is being burned by the guide. I recommend that a system of lighting the cave be worked out. A test is now being made with storage batteries loaned by the Edison Electric Co. The object of using storage batteries is to avoid the necessity of running wires through the cave. If these prove succesful it will be possible to carry the batteries from the various chambers for re-storing.

The results to date indicate that this method of lighting the cave will probably be feasible, and if upon further test our present opinion is corroborated, I would recommend that some of the main chambers be equipped with these storage-battery lights.

Respectfully submitted.

MARK DANIELS,

General Superintendent and Landscape Engineer of National Parks.

1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 19/3 1914 Appropriations, revenues, and visitors, Sequoia National Park.

Sapoo

45,000

49000

85,000

30000

25,000

20000

15,000

10,000

5,000

Appropriations under Interior Department, revenues, and visitors, Yellowstone National Park. Appropriations for road work under War Department not included in this diagram.