In 1908 Superintendent Arant indicated his concern that summer resort homes might soon be built upon private inholdings (twelve patented land entries totaling 1,914.22 acres) in the park. This would increase the difficulties of administration and add to the aggregate sum which the government would eventually have to pay the owners. Hence he secured the support of department officials in the effort to purchase such claims through condemnation proceedings.
During the winter of 1908-09 a number of park buildings were damaged by the heavy snows. In May and June Arant made his temporary quarters at Fort Klamath, seventeen miles from park headquarters, while supervising repairs of the structures. Using “heavier and stronger timbers, steeper roofs, and improved workmanship” Arant believed that “the collapsing of the roofs in winter” could be avoided in the future. As a result of his efforts, Arant informed his superiors that “all improvements were in as good shape as the limited appropriations would permit.”
Despite the budget limitations of the park Crater Lake continued to be a popular spot for the visiting public. In 1909, for instance, some 4,171 persons (June–163; July–774; August–2,350; September–984) had signed the park visitation book, and Arant estimated that the total number of visitors was 5,000. Visitor accommodations continued to be provided by the Crater Lake Company under the direction of Alfred L. Parkhurst of Portland, who had become president and general manager of the firm after purchasing all of Steel’s stock. His first action as president was to pursue construction of a stone lodge on the rim of the lake, its foundation being completed that year. The company operated two camps–Camp Arant near Anna Spring (opened on July 5), which consisted of white tents and eating facilities, and Camp Crater on the rim near the site of the future hotel (opened on July 20), which consisted of floored tents heated by oil stoves. Some 544 persons (419 at Camp Arant and 125 at Camp Crater) were accommodated in these camps during the summer, most of whom camped for only one or two nights.
At the request of Department of the Interior officials the Geological Survey conducted a topographic resurvey of the park in 1908-09. The purpose of the resurvey was to remonument certain portions of the boundary and secure an accurate administrative map. [11]
During 1909 a movement commenced in Klamath County to force Arant out as superintendent. One of Arant’s neighbors had had the superintendent’s son arrested for allegedly stealing a calf. Arant took up his son s cause in court, thus culminating in a dismissal of charges. As a result of this “neighborhood row,” several men in the vicinity who wished to become park superintendent began waging a publicity campaign against him. Steel, an early opponent of Arant who had become a strong supporter of the superintendent, intervened with Oregon Senator Jonathan Bourne and the effort to oust Arant died. [12]
During the years 1910-12 park operations continued much as they had in earlier years. In May Arant generally made his first trip to the park from his winter quarters in Klamath Falls. May and June were devoted to repairs and improvements to park structures, roads, and trails. These activities included placing new flooring on bridges, repairing fences (Arant recommended in 1911 that the fences be laid on their side in the fall to prevent their destruction), clearing roads and trails of fallen logs, trees, and debris, and repairing the exterior and interior wood framing of park buildings. Each winter the roofs of many of the buildings would collapse from the heavy snow, and each spring Arant would replace the roofs with heavy timbers and make their pitch steeper. The tourist season extended from about July 1 to early October, and Arant generally completed operations to close the park in November before leaving for his winter quarters.
With only one temporary park ranger on duty from July 1 to September 30 Arant found it difficult “to maintain a sufficient guard over the park.” Accordingly, Arant recommended in 1910 that the park should have one permanent year-round park ranger and two temporary rangers on duty from July 1 to September 30. That same year he also recommended that at least one company of soldiers be detailed to duty in the park so that outposts could be established “along the lines of the reserve in the more remote sections, the men to act as scouts, game wardens, and fire guards and to do general ranger duty.”
In 1911 and 1912 Arant proposed other plans for the proper administration and protection of the park. He was especially concerned that there be an adequate force to protect park wildlife against poachers and cope with fires when they broke out. According to his revised proposals there should be one permanent year-round park ranger and five temporary rangers on duty from July 1 to September 30. Five ranger stations should be built, and all should be connected to each other and to the superintendent’s headquarters by telephone.
