AUTOMOBILE TRANSPORTATION PERMITS
The matter of operating automobile transportation lines in Crater Lake National Park appears to be one in which during the past year officials of the Crater Lake Company and the Klamath Development Company, of Klamath Falls, have taken a somewhat active part resulting to a certain extent! apparently, in strained relations between the two companies.
The Crater Lake Company has for the past three years been granted an annual permit to conduct an automobile, passenger service in the park, which it appears was maintained as follows:
Season of 1910:
Operated steamer Klamath from Klamath Falls to Agency Landing, where connection was made with automobile; daily service. Also maintained daily automobile service from Medford for one and one-half months, when line was abandoned on account of the physical condition of the road.
Season of 1911:
Operated steamer Klamath from Klamath Falls to Rocky Point Landing, on Pelican Bay, where connection was made with automobile; daily service except Sunday. Also maintained semi-weekly automobile service from Medford for two months, when the machines were withdrawn on account of the physical condition of the roads.
Season of 1912:
Maintained semi-weekly automobile service from Medford throughout the season, road good. Made three round trips a week by automobile from Chiloquin, on new line of Southern Pacific Company, meeting all trains. Made special trips by automobile from Agency Landing; no regular boat service to landing last year. . . .
Referring to a letter written on behalf of the Klamath Development Company by Stratton, Kaufman & Torchiana, of San Francisco, transmitted to the Department by Senator Perkins, and particularly to the statement therein that “Parkhurst is unable to handle the service and has but a few cars–not in good condition,” you are advised that Mr. Parkhurst has furnished me with the number, kind and power of cars owned and hired by the Crater Lake Company and operated by it in transporting passengers to and from the park during the last three seasons, which are as follows:
Season of 1910.
Owned one 40 horsepower Locomobile, seven-passenger.
Owned one 50 horsepower Matheson, seven-passenger.
Owned one 40 horsepower Stoddard-Dayton, seven-passenger.
Hired one 40 horsepower Studebaker-Garford, seven passenger.
Hired one 40 horsepower Locomobile, seven passenger.Season of 1911:
Owned one 40 horsepower Locomobile, seven passenger.
Owned one 50 horsepower Matheson, seven-passenger.
Owned one 40 horsepower Stoddard-Dayton, seven passenger.Season of 1912:
Owned one 40 horsepower Locomobile, seven-passenger.
Owned one 50 horsepower Matheson, seven passenger.
Hired two 40 horsepower Ramblers, seven-passenger.
Mr. Parkhurst assured me that these cars were kept in good repair and in serviceable condition at all times. He further stated that the Crater Lake Company offered to run an automobile between Harriman Lodge and Crater Lake last season whenever there would be four or more passengers.
During the season of 1913 the Crater Lake Company contemplates furnishing a daily automobile service from Chiloquin to the lake–thirty-six miles–and special automobile service from Medford to the lake–eight-five miles–though on this line Mr. Parkhurst has stated the company is prepared to establish and maintain any service the Department may require.
As it appears to be the intention of the Southern Pacific Company to operate daily trains via Klamath Falls to Chiloquin this season, and having assured the Crater Lake Company, I understand, that it will co-operate with it, giving much better service to that point than last year- -which was the first year trains were run over this portion of the road–the Chiloquin route to Crater Lake is unquestionably the most practical and convenient at the present time, and should meet the demands of persons desiring to visit the lake from Klamath Falls and vicinity, the distance by rail from Klamath Falls to Chiloquin being but twenty-eight miles.
