Historic Roads in the National Park System

Cover

Contents

Preface

Introduction

Early Roads

The Development of Park Roads

Teamwork/Cooperative Efforts

Evolution of Parkways

World War II and Beyond

Understanding and Managing Historic Park Roads

Bibliography

Historic Roads in the National Park System

Historic regulations such as these first governed the use of automobiles in national parks.

1—578r

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.

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REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE ADMISSION OF AUTOMOBILES INTO THE YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK FOR THE SEASON OF 1915.

(EFFECTIVE AUGUST 1, 1915.).

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
WASHINGTON, D. C., July 7, 1915.

Pursuant to authority conferred by section 2475, Revised Statutes, United States, and the act of Congress approved May 7, 1894, the following regulations governing the admission of automobiles into the Yellowstone National Park are hereby established and made public:

1. Automobiles.—The park is open only to such automobiles as are operated for pleasure and not to those carrying passengers who are paying, either directly or indirectly, for the use of the machine.

2. Motorcycles.—Motorcycles are not permitted to enter the park.

3. Tickets of Passage.—Ticket of passage must be secured and paid for at the checking station where the automobile enters the park. This ticket must be conveniently kept, so that it can be exhibited to park guards on demand, and must be surrendered at the last checking station on leaving the park. Tickets of passage will show (a) name of owner, (b) license number of automobile, (c) name of State issuing license, (d) make of machine and manufacturer's number, (e) name of driver, (f) seating capacity of machine, and (g) number of passengers.

4. Fees.—Fees are payable in cash only, and will be as follows for each trip through the park:

For runabouts or single-seated cars	$5.00
For five-passenger cars	7.50
For seven-passenger cars	10.00

5. Muffler cut-outs.—Muffler cut-outs must be closed while approaching or passing riding horses, horse-drawn vehicles, hotels, camps, or soldier stations.

6. Distance Apart.—Gears and Brakes.—Automobiles while in motion must not be less than 100 yards apart, except for purpose of passing, which is only permissible on comparatively level or slight grades. All automobiles, except while shifting gears, must retain their gears constantly enmeshed. Persons desiring to enter the park in an automobile will be required to satisfy the guard issuing the ticket of passage that the machine in general, and particularly the brakes and tires, are in first-class working order and capable of making the trip, and that there is sufficient gasoline in the tank to reach the next place where it may be obtained, and carry two extra tires. For this purpose, all drivers will be required effectually to block and skid the rear wheels with either foot or hand brake, or such other brakes as may be a part of the equipment of the automobile. Gasoline can be purchased at regular supply stations as per posted notices.

7. Speeds.—Speeds must be limited to 12 miles per hour ascending and 10 miles per hour descending steep grades, and to 8 miles per hour when approaching sharp curves. On good roads with straight stretches, and when no team is nearer than 200 yards, the speed may be increased to 20 miles per hour. Horns must be sounded at all curves where the road can not be seen for at least 200 yards ahead, and when approaching teams or riding animals.

6. Teams.—When teams, saddle horses, or pack trains approach, automobiles will take the outer edge of the roadway, regard-less of the direction in which they may be going, taking care that sufficient room is left on the inside for the passage of vehicles and animals. Teams have the right of way, and automobiles will be backed or otherwise handled as may be necessary so as to enable teams to pass with safety. In no case must automobiles pass animals on the road at a greater speed than 8 miles per hour.

9. Fines.—Fines or other penalties will be imposed for arrival of automobiles at any point before approved lapse of time, hereinafter given, at the following rates: $0.50 per minute for each of first five minutes; $1.00 per minute for each of the next 20 minutes; $25.00 fine or ejection from the park, or both, in the discretion of the Acting Superintendent of the park, for being more than 25 minutes early.

10. Penalties.—Violation of any of the foregoing rules or general regulations for government of the park will cause revocation of ticket of passage, and in addition to the penalties hereinbefore indicated will subject the owner of the automobile to any damage occasioned thereby, immediate ejectment from the reservation, and be cause for refusal to issue new ticket of passage to the owner without prior sanction in writing from the Secretary of the Interior.

11. Accidents.—Men, due to breakdowns or accidents of any other nature, automobiles are unable to keep going or to reach the next stopping place on time, they must be immediately parked off the road, or where this is impossible, on the outer edge of the road, and wait until the next schedule for automobiles past that point, or until given special permission to proceed by park guards.

12. These regulations and schedules do not apply to automobiles passing over the county road in the northwest corner of the park, en route to the town of Yellowstone, Montana.

STEPHEN T. MATHER,
Assistant to the Secretary of the Interior.

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SCHEDULES AND GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS.

Automobiles may leave the park by any one of the authorized routes of entrance. Automobile drivers should compare their watches with the clocks at checking stations.

Automobiles stopping over at points other than the hotels and permanent camps will be allowed to resume travel only at such time as permits them to fall in with a subsequent regular automobile schedule past the point of stop-over. Such automobiles while stopping over must park out of sight of, or at least 100 yards from, the main road.

Automobiles stopping over at permanent camps must leave the same at the proper time to conform with the published schedules from the nearest hotels. Detailed times of departure to comply with this provision will be posted at the particular camps concerned.

When, due to breakdowns or accidents of any other nature, automobiles are unable to keep going, or to reach the next stopping place on time they must be immediately parked off the road, or where this is impossible, on the outer edge of the road, and wait until the next schedule for automobiles past that point, or until given special permission to proceed by park guards.

Automobiles will not be permitted for use on local trips around hot springs formations or other points of interest off the main roads, except in the case specially noted at Artist Point, in the morning schedule from the Lake Hotel to Canyon Hotel.

Speeds.—Speeds must be limited to 12 miles per hour ascending and 10 miles per hour descending steep grades, and to 8 miles per hour when approaching sharp curves. On good roads with straight stretches, and when no team is nearer than 200 yards, the speed may be increased to 20 miles per hour. No automobile shall pass another while in motion going in the same direction.

Horns.—The horn will be sounded on approaching curves, stretches of road which can not be seen for about 200 yards, and driving or riding animals; also on meeting other machines.

Teams.—When teams, saddle horses, or pack trains, approach, automobiles will take the outer edge of the roadway, regardless of the direction in which they may be going, taking care that sufficient room is left on the inside for the passage of vehicles and animals. Teams have the right of way, and automobiles will be backed or otherwise handled as maybe necessary so as to enable teams to pass with safety. In no case will automobiles pass animals on the road at a greater speed than 8 miles per hour.

In addition to the schedules herein given, automobiles must keep clear of any horse-drawn passenger vehicles running upon regular schedules which may be following them; and upon overtaking any horsedrawn passenger vehicles running upon regular schedules, automobiles must not attempt to pass or approach closer than within 150 yards of the same.

Reduced engine power—Gasoline, etc.—Due to the high altitude of the park roads, averaging nearly 7,650 feet for the belt line and east, north, and west entrances, the power of all automobiles is much reduced, so that about 50 per cent more gasoline will be required than for the same distance at lower altitudes. Likewise one lower gear will generally have to be used on grades than would have to be used in other places. A further effect that must be watched is the heating of the engine on long roads, which may become serious unless care is used. Gasoline can be purchased at regular supply stations as per posted notices.

Last Modified: Mon, Aug 23 2004 10:00:00 pm PDT
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