automobile tickets of passage, for which a charge is made by the department, are a source of considerable revenue, it seems that an expense for this purpose is warranted.

FOREST FIRES.

Almost constant wet weather during the past summer prevented danger at any time of forest fires, and in few cases were the usual summer fire patrols considered necessary.

IMPROVEMENTS.

Fire lanes. The crew of men constructing fire lanes in the southeast corner of the park last fall completed about 10 miles of new fire lanes, as far as the crossing of the Yellowstone River, when they discontinued the work on account of bad weather. A total of 31 miles of fire lanes were constructed season of 1914, at an average cost of $60.20 per mile. About June 1 a crew was again put into the field, and during the month of June went over and repaired 75 miles of old fire lanes at an average cost of $18.34 per mile, the high rate being due to the fact that one of the fire lanes repaired-the one from Soda Butte Creek up Lamar River and down Pelican Creek to Mary Bay, 48 miles in length-had not been repaired for several years and needed more work than usual. Since July 1 this crew has repaired 154 miles of fire lanes at an average cost of $10.23 per mile, and built a new fire lane from the crossing of the Upper Yellowstone River west as nearly as practicable along the south boundary, to connect with the one built last season, 6 miles northeast of Snake River Station, a total of 27 miles, at a cost of $32.12 per mile. All fire lanes were gone over and repaired during the season, except the one from Snow Pass to the Gallatin road, through Fawn Pass, a distance of 24 miles.

The wire fence around the pasture at Mammoth Hot Springs, used in summer for the show herd of buffalo bulls, was repaired in April and May, requiring 70 new cedar posts to replace those that had rotted off. Two thousand seven hundred feet of this fence was taken down and moved in, to get it away from the stage road from Tower Falls to Mammoth, and this required 135 new posts. Due to change of location, it took 3,000 feet of fencing to replace the 2,700 feet taken down. Most of this work was done by regular employees. A new log house was built at the mouth of Rose Creek on Lamar River, for use of the buffalo keeper. It is built of logs with shingle roof, finished inside with beaver board. The main part is a onestory building 30 by 30 feet, with porch over the front door, brick chimney in the center, and is divided into dining room 15 by 15 feet, living room 15 by 15 feet, and three bedrooms each 10 by 15 feet. Built on the same line in front is an addition 12 by 14 feet, one story built of logs, with brick chimney, and porch on the back side over the door. This work has all been done by park employees, in addition to their regular duties, and has only recently been completed. The cost of the material was $654.19.

Telephone lines. Under a decision by the Comptroller of the Treasury that the Interior Department may improve and extend the park telephone system which was built at the expense of the War Depart

ment, the sum of $10,000 was allotted for the extension and repair of the system, in connection with the opening of the park to automobiles. The engineer officer in charge of road improvements in the park found that he was badly in need of efficient telephone service in connection with his work of building and repairing roads, and he was permitted to install telephones on the park line at all of his principal road camps in the park, greatly facilitating his work. He also secured a small allotment of funds from the road appropriation for keeping up the line, and he has kindly had all of the work on the lines done by his crews, under his supervision and mine, bills to be paid by this department except for a small portion which is covered by his allotment. By this cooperation, expense is reduced, and the telephones installed in the road camps are also frequently very convenient for use of our patrols in making reports and in checking automobiles. It was over a telephone in one of the engineer camps that the first news of the holdup of July 9 was received at headquarters, several minutes earlier than it would have been received from the nearest soldier station.

The material necessary for the extension and repair of these lines was purchased by special authority from the Signal Corps of the Army, at a minimum figure, and shipped on a Government bill of lading from Omaha, Nebr. The work completed during the summer was as follows:

A new line from Norris, via Canyon to Lake Outlet, 27 miles, at a cost of about $120 per mile. A new line from the western entrance of the park to Firehole Cascades, where it connects with the NorrisUpper Basin line, a total of about 16 miles, at an approximate cost of $172 per mile for the first 9 miles from the west boundary, and about $119.50 per mile for the remaining 7 miles. A new line from Canyon to Tower Falls Soldier Station, about 20 miles, at a cost of about $106 per mile. The building of these new lines made the Government lines, which had heretofore been carried on poles of the hotel company between Norris and Lake Outlet, and on the poles of the Yellowstone-Western Stage Co. to the west boundary, entirely independent, and established communication between Canyon and Tower Falls via Dunraven Pass, necessary in checking automobiles. Repairs were also made to telephone lines as follows:

Norris to Upper Basin, about 29 miles, at an approximate cost of $52 per mile. Thumb to Lake Outlet, about 16 miles, at an approximate cost of $60 per mile. About 12 miles of the line east from Lake Outlet toward Sylvan Pass Station, at an approximate cost of $72.50 per mile. And the line from Tower Falls Station to Headquarters, 18 miles, at an approximate cost of $44.60 per mile. No repair work was done on the balance of the Sylvan Pass line, on the line from Thumb to Bechler Station via Snake River Station, or from Swan Lake flats to Gallatin Station, except slight repairs made by park employees or enlisted men. The lines from Fort Yellowstone to Gardiner, and from Fort Yellowstone to Norris have been kept in repair by enlisted men.

Checking stations.-Under allotments from park revenues, stations for checking automobiles were constructed as follows: A log building 14 by 14 feet at the west boundary entrance, with tarred paper and gravel roof, at an approximate cost of $200; a similar building at a cost of about $100 at the north end of Dunraven Pass about 11 miles

from Canyon Junction; and a log building 14 by 28 feet inside measurements, with shingled roof, at Madison Junction, 14 miles from the west boundary, at a cost of about $250. The engineer officer also kindly had this work done by his crews who were on the ground, thus saving considerable expense of moving special crews out long distances to those points. Additional checking stations were authorized, but were not found necessary during the short season for automobiles since August 1. The Engineer Department buildings at Beaver Lake, between Fort Yellowstone and Norris, and at De Lacy Creek, between the Upper Basin and Thumb, were also used as checking stations.

With permission of the department, the Engineer Department built a short spur of railroad track into the park from the Oregon Short Line Railroad depot at Yellowstone, Mont., for the purpose of switching and unloading road oil into their storage tank at that point.

The military authorities have torn down and destroyed the old barracks and stables originally known as Camp Sheridan, located close to the road opposite Jupiter Terrace, thereby greatly improving the appearance of the landscape at that point.

NATURAL PHENOMENA.

Few changes of any importance have been noted in the geysers, hot springs, etc., during the past year.

An earthquake was noted at 7.55 a. m. on May 8. Three distinct shocks were noticed at Grand Canyon and Tower Falls, and one was noticed at Mammoth Hot Springs. No damage was done.

CONCESSIONS.

CONCESSIONERS HOLDING PRIVILEGES FOR A YEAR OR MORE IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK UNDER EXISTING CONTRACTS, WITH RENTALS AND OTHER TAXES EXACTED.

Yellowstone Park Hotel Co.-Contracts (two) dated February 26, 1913, run for period of 20 years, and grant to company right to use certain land in the park and erect and maintain thereon hotels and necessary buildings connected therewith. Annual rental: Forty dollars per acre on 29.44 acres, $1,177.60. News-stand privilege at hotels and lunch stations, $750. Usage tax, 1915, 25 cents per capita on guests during 1915 season, $6,722.

Yellowstone Park Transportation Co.-Contract dated February 26, 1913, runs for period of 20 years, and authorizes company to establish and maintain a stage and transportation line and agrees to lease necessary land at eight designated sites on which to construct and maintain buildings required for accommodation of stock, carriages, employees, etc.

Annual rental: Forty dollars per acre on 27.16 acres, $1,086.40. Usage tax, 1915, 25 cents per capita on passengers carried during 1915 season, $1,655.25.

Yellowstone Park Boat Co.-Contract dated February 7, 1913, runs for 10 years, and lease dated May 19, 1914, for 9 years from February 7, 1914, grants to company privilege of maintaining, operating, and conducting on Yellowstone Lake and such other park lakes as may be designated, motor boats and launches, motor vessels, rowboats, and dories for accommodation of tourists, with right to sell and rent fishing tackle and sell fruits, nuts, confectionery, books, periodicals, cigars, tobacco, and camping supplies, and lease or sell bathing suits. Contract agrees to lease lands on shores of Yellowstone Lake on which wharves and ways are constructed, and at other points to be agreed upon on which to erect buildings for storage of equipment, accommodation of employees, etc.

Compensation for boat privilege, $100 per annum.

at $40 per acre, $74.37.

Annual rental on 1.8592 acres,

Wylie Permanent Camping Co.-Contract of May 4, 1906, runs for 10 years from March 31, 1906, and grants transportation privilege in park, with sites for maintenance of permanent camps therein, and right to conduct lunch stations at points near Gibbon River and West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake.

Annual rental: Ten dollars per wagon (not less than 50 to be used) on 158 wagons used during 1915 season, $1,580. News-stand privilege at permanent camps, $500. Usage tax, 1915, 50 cents per capita on passengers carried during 1914 season, $2,376.50. Shaw & Powell Camping Co-Special permanent camping license issued April 19, 1913, and running for a period of one year from May 1, 1913, or until such time as may be revoked, authorizes it to maintain, conduct, and carry on the business of transporting tourists in and through the park and provide for their accommodation at permanent camps to be established on sites at designated points in the reservation and to maintain a lunch station on Madison River between the present Wylie camp and the State line.

Annual rental: Ten dollars on each wagon used (75 passenger and 10 freight wagons used 1915 season), $850. News-stand privilege at permanent camps, $100. Usage tax, 1915, 25 cents per capita on passengers carried during 1914 season, $606.25.

Holm Transportation Co.-Contract entered into March 14, 1913, with company for the period of one year from and after March 31, 1913, authorizes the establishment and maintenance of a stage and transportation line in the park, with the right to use and occupy such parcels of land as may be necessary at or near designated points therein on which to construct and maintain suitable buildings and inclosures for accommodating stock, carriages, and employees. Supplemental agreement entered into with company on January 23, 1914, extending the contract further for a period of three years from March 14, 1914.

Annual rental: Forty dollars per acre on approximately 1.915 acres, $76.60. Usage tax, 1915, 25 cents per capita on passengers carried during the 1915 park season, $36. George Whittaker.-Contract dated March 13, 1913, for period of 10 years, grants use on 24,000 square feet of land at or near Mammoth Hot Springs, with privilege of maintaining a dwelling, store, and post office.

Annual charge, $100. Usage tax, 1914, $800 per annum. Total, $900.

Yellowstone-Western Stage Co.-Contract dated January 26, 1915, anuthorizing, for the term from January 1, 1914, to December 31, 1915, establishment and maintenance of a stage and transportation line, and permitting the use of certain parcels of land in connection with such privilege, aggregating 13 acres, together with use of buildings located thereon, approximately 47 in number, for accommodating stock, carriages, and employees.

Rental for period of contract: Forty dollars per acre on 13 acres, $520. For use of buildings, $2,500; 25 cents per capita tax on passengers carried during 1915 park season, $4,934.25.

Pryor & Trischman.-Contract dated August 26, 1908, running for period of eight years, from April 3, 1908, issued to George R. and Anna K. Pryor, interest of former transferred to Elizabeth Trischman through assignment approved by Department of the Interior October 29, 1912, grants use of tract of land near Mammoth Hot Springs in park, containing 13,800 square feet, on which to maintain dwelling, store, and soda fountain.

Annual rental, $50; usage tax of $115 per annum. Total, $165.

C. A. Hamilton.-Contract dated November 23, 1914, running for a period of three years, from August 13, 1914, issued to Mary R. Klamer, widow of Henry E. Klamer, and by her transferred through assignment approved by Department of the Interior June 25, 1915, authorizes use of 2-acre tract of land at or near Upper Geyser Basin, with privilege of maintaining thereon building or buildings for use as dwelling and conduct of a general store.

Annual rental, $100; usage tax, $1,200 per annum. Total, $1,300.

F. Jay Haynes.-Contract of May 25, 1914, for period of three years from April 1, 1914, authorizes use of 0.64 acre of land at Mammoth Hot Springs and 1 acre at or near Upper Geyser Basin, with privilege of maintaining buildings thereon for the preparation and sale of photographic views. Contract also agrees to lease not to exceed 1 acre of land at or near Grand Canyon for buildings for photographic purposes.

Annual rental: Forty dollars per acre on 2.64 acres, $105.60. For privileges accorded, $1,000 at Mammoth Hot Springs, $1,000 at Upper Basin, and $500 at Grand Canyon. Total, $2,605.60.

Henry J. Brothers.-Contract of July 1, 1914, for a period of 10 years from same date authorizes use of approximately 24 acres of land, at $40 per acre, $100, to be leased to him at Upper Geyser Basin, with privilege of maintaining bathhouse and bathing pools. Compensation for bathhouse privilege, $200 per annum.

Annual rental, $40 per acre for land leased; also $200 for privilege. Payments to begin one year from time bathhouses opened to public July 1, 1915.

Personally conducted camping party and special licenses issued in the Yellowstone National Park during the season of 1915.

1 Roseborough and Grant had special permission to erect a permanent storage camp at Apollinaris Spring, but did not avail themselves of it. 2 W. N. and O. M. Hefferlin had special authority for season 1915 for four permanent camps for their patrons, which they erected and operated.