***previous*** — ***next***
1902
1902 J.S. Diller’s final geology report published with H.B. Patton.
March 13 1902 To determine the configuration of the bottom of Crater Lake 168 soundings were made under the direction of Major Dutton. Based on the soundings a special map of Crater Lake has been made. From the sounding data, together with information from W.G. Steel, who was present when soundings were made, the bottom has been roughly contoured. The positions of the two-sublascustrine cones were indicated, and it is clear from the soundings that a large mass of lava spread from Wizard Island over the lake floor. It is evident that the depth of the western portion has been greatly reduced by the material erupted from the three small vents upon its floor.
March 20 1902 The Democratic Times of Jacksonville reports that Geo. Ross has died. He participated in the Indian Wars. Mr. Ross was a member of the party of 12 who discovered Crater Lake in 1853. They were in search of a young woman who escaped the massacre of a train of immigrants at Bloody Point, Klamath County, in 1852. But who it was afterward learned, was killed after being taken captive. Mr. Ross was the first white man to look upon the placid waters of this fairy lake, which is now recognized as one of the wonders of the world. He was 75 years of age.
April 19 1902 Crater Lake National Park bill, with some “immaterial” amendments passes the House. (Amendments include provisions for mining.) The bill was assisted through the House by President Roosevelt’s personal intervention. This victory climaxed a 17-year struggle by William Steel and the final passing of Thomas Tongue’s Park Bill. Supposedly Crater Lake is the only National Park where a U.S. President became personally involved in assisting with the passage of the legislation.
Crater Lake Bill Passes the House
Washington, April 19 – Representative Tongue today secured the passage of his bill for the creation of of the Crater Lake National Park in Southern Oregon. The bill withdraws from settlement, entry or occupancy, a tract of 240 squre miles including and surrounding Crater Lake. Control of the park is to rest with the Secretary of Interior, who shall provide rules for the protection and preservation of the natural objects, game and fish, and properly guard against trespassers, and with an adequate force for wardens, prevent and extinguish forest fires-Settlement is not allowed in the park, nor can lumbering or any other business be here in conducted although tourists, pleasure-seekers and scientist will at all times have free access. Authority is granted for issuing permits for the erection and maintenance of restaurants and hotels for the accommodation of visitors.
In order to secure the passage of the bill by unanimous consent, Mr. Tongue had to accept several amendments. A provision was inserted permitting the location of mines withing the park, although, he contends no minerals are to be found there. Sections 4 and 5 were stricken out, there being objects to the appointment of a deputy marshal to reside in the park and to giving the District and Circuit Court of Oregon special jurisdiction within the park. The provision authorized the Secretary of Interiour to detail troops to prevent intruders entering the park or destroying game or natural objects was also objected to and eliminated.
There has been a continual fight against this bill ever since Mr. Tongue first introduced it on entering Congress. Within the past ten days, however, he has been at work with the several departments, and finally secured the approval of the President and Secretary of Agricuture to the pending bill. At the request of the President the Speaker allowed the bill to be considered, a thing never done before and its passage followed. It is not believed there will be any trouble in securing its passage through the Senate.
May 9 1902 Crater Lake National Park bill passes the Senate, after a two week consideration, and needs only the President’s signature. The square, postage stamp shape of the Park was thought to be only temporary, with the Park’s true ecological boundaries to be dealt with at a later date. (See: 1980)
May 22 1902 President Roosevelt signs a bill “establishing a pleasuring ground and a national park at Crater Lake, Oregon.” A few weeks later Congress votes $2,000 for protection and improvements. (May 22nd is the anniversary of the marriage of Will Steel’s parents.)
Theodore Roosevelt signed the legislation that authorized the formation of Crater Lake National Park, in May 1902.
Roosevelt also became personally involved by encouraging the Speaker of the House to allow the authorization bill to come before the House for discussion and a vote. William Steel spoke with both Theodore Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot on the matter of Crater Lake National Park status. [Crater Lake National Park: A History, p. 82]
1) 1872 Yellowstone
2)1890 Sequoia (Sept.25)
3)1890 Yosemite (Oct.1)
4)1899 Mount Rainier
5)1902 Crater Lake
June 7 1902 William F. Arant of Klamath Falls is appointed the park’s first superintendent with a salary of $900 with a horse expense account of $100.
September 11 1902 The Democratic Times reports that J. Frank Warner arrived in Medford on his way to Crater Lake to survey the boundaries of the new national park. The dimensions of the new park are 12 miles by 15 miles. The western portion abuts against the Cascade Forest Reserve, from which it will be separated by a line of government stakes. The work of surveying will probably not be finished until next year.
October 1902 Wiliam Arant assumes duties as park superintend. He lives in a tent at Camp Arant near Annie Springs.
October 28 1902 The new Annie Springs to the Rim road is surveyed at a cost of $158.
November 24 1902 Plans are formed to place a 25 passenger steam launch on the lake.
December 3 1902 The Democratic Times of Jacksonville carried a letter by Park Superintendent William Arant to W. G. Steel telling about the new road that is being built to Crater Lake.
I have today completed the survey for a new road leading from the Jacksonville-Ft. Klamath wagon road to the lake, and instead of going over the high summit on the old road we lave the old wagon road at this point bringing the creek about 10 rods from the head and running first in an easterly direction, thence northerly and northeasterly to the lake. I had previously viewed out the route and was surprised to find that the lake could be reached so easily. But since it has been surveyed and the levels run on the more mountainous parts I find that the route is still more practicable than I had before anticipated.
For the first mail and a half the road will be practically straight and level. Then for about one fourth of a mile there is a grade of about 5 percent. Then for the next two and a quarter miles we have probably 3 percent grade. The last mile only has a heavy grade, there being probably one half of that distance that we found it necessary to run a level on; but only in one place did we find it necessary to make the grade more than 10 per cent, and that is for a distance of three chains, which is about 11.5 percent.
The place where the road approaches the lake is at a low point, near where Agent Applegate’s party was camped when you and your party were here in August last.
From that we follow the rim of the lake and terminate the road at Victor Rock. The entire length of the proposed road is through picturesque and romantic ground, with many fine springs bubbling from beneath the hills and numerous beautiful creeks running through the forests of pine and fir, and the luxuriant grass of the open lands, making most delightful camping grounds. All combined it is one of the most pleasurable resorts of the west. When we get the new road built I am sure you will be pleased with it, as will every other admirer of Crater Lake National Park.
***previous*** — ***next***
***menu***
