DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,               
CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK,          
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT,     
Medford, Oreg., October 1, 1915.

SIR: The annual report of conditions in the Crater Lake National Park, since the fiscal year ended June 30, 1914, is herewith submitted for your consideration.

GENERAL STATEMENT.

Crater Lake National Park was created by act of Congress approved May 22, 1902, and is located on the crest of the Cascade Mountains in southern Oregon, about 60 miles from the California line. It is approximately 13-1/2 miles east and west and 18 miles north and south, and contains 249 square miles, including the wreck of Mount Mazama, at one time a giant among the mountains of the world. Subsequently all that portion above 8,000 feet elevation disappeared; sank into the bowels of the earth, leaving a vast crater 5-1/2 miles in diameter, which gradually filled with pure, crystal water to a depth of 2,000 feet, on all sides of which the walls of the cauldron still tower to a height of from 500 to nearly 2,000 feet.

It was first discovered by white men on June 12, 1853. There were 22 prospectors in the party, of whom the leader, Mr. John W. Hillman, then of Jacksonville, Oreg., was the last survivor. Mr. Hillman died in Hope Villa, La., February 19, 1915, at the advanced age of 83 years.

It was but little known, even among residents of southern Oregon, when the writer, on August 16, 1885, started a movement for the creation of a national park, which was successful only after 17 years of strenuous labor. Then came a long struggle for development, which is just now beginning to bear fruit. Probably the first step in that direction consisted in stocking the lake with rainbow trout, which was also done by the writer, who, in 1888, carried a few minnows nearly 50 miles and got them into the waters of the lake in good shape. The fishing now is unsurpassed and the fish are of excellent quality.

Map showing routes to Crater Lake.
(click on image for a PDF version)

ROADS.

Several years ago an appropriation was made by Congress for the survey of a comprehensive system of roads within the park, the main feature of which consisted in a road entirely around the lake, close to the rim whenever possible. This survey was made under the direction of the Secretary of War, two seasons being required to complete it, and a report thereof was submitted to Congress, estimating the total cost, including $65,000 for a sprinkling plant, at approximately $700,000, and recommending that it be placed under the continuing contract feature in a manner similar to certain harbors. Of this amount an appropriation was made of $125,000 for use during the season of 1913, $85,000 for 1914, and $50,000 for 1915.

Under these appropriations grading has proceeded steadily, resulting in new roads from the Klamath, Medford, and Pinnacles entrances to the rim of the lake, together with that portion of the rim road extending from Cloudcap, on the easterly side, to the Watchman, on the westerly side, being 44 miles in all.

This is about two-thirds of the roads it is proposed to build. but owing to the fact that the soil is extremely light and cuts deeply by travel, so that late in the season it is almost impassable, it is necessary at this time to pave them, then to construct and pave the remainder of the proposed system.

Map of Crater Lake National Park.
(click on image for a PDF version)

TRANSPORTATION.

A line of automobile stages is maintained by the Crater Lake Co. from Medford, on the main line of the Southern Pacific Railway, and from Chiloquin, on the northerly extension of the Southern Pacific from Klamath Falls, or the Crater Lake cut-off, that has rendered eminently satisfactory service. It is now possible to buy tickets from Portland to California points, or vice versa, and go via Crater Lake, at an additional expense of $13 for automobile fare between Medford and Chiloquin. Private automobiles and vehicles will now find good roads leading to the park during the season not only from Klamath and Medford but also from central Oregon by way of the Pinnacles entrance, on Sand Creek.

HOTELS.

During the season of 1915 Crater Lake Lodge was opened to the public and is located directly on the rim of the lake, nearly 1,000 feet above the water, where comfortable quarters are available for guests. The lodge is a cut-stone building containing about 60 rooms, some of which contain hot and cold water and other conveniences. During the season of 1916 it is proposed to build along the entire front of this building, over 100 feet, a 16-foot porch and pergola, from which one can look directly into the lake, nearly 1,000 feet below. Tents will also be provided for those desiring them.

Besides the lodge, Anna Spring Camp, adjoining park headquarters, 5 miles from the lake, is maintained at cheaper rates, where comfortable quarters may be obtained, together with well-floored tents. A general merchandise store is also maintained at this point, where gasoline and other supplies may be obtained.

Free camping privileges are open to the public, subject only to rules and regulations of the Interior Department.

FISH AND GAME.

There are no fish in any of the waters of the park except the lake itself and Anna Creek, below the falls. Crater Lake is abundantly supplied with a fine quality of rainbow trout, and during the past season I placed 15,000 black spotted fry in the lake successfully that will soon be available. No fishing is permitted except with hook and line, and a limit of five in one day is maintained. The fish are large and the flesh is firm. A few have been taken 28 inches long, weighing 6 or 7 pounds.

The park abounds in black and brown bear, black-tailed deer, cougar, lynx, timber wolves, coyotes, pine marten, fisher, several varieties of squirrels, ringtail grouse, the common pheasant, Clark crow, and numerous varieties of birds common to the country at large.

FOREST FIRES.

The past season was the third unusually dry summer in succession, and forest fires were of frequent occurrence. However, they were kept well under control, so that no serious damage resulted.

WATER SYSTEM.

During the past season a water system was installed at an expense of $1,200 that meets immediate necessities, but should be materially extended as soon as funds will permit. At this time it consists of a main water line approximately 1,000 feet long, containing 332 feet of 3-inch and 670 feet of 2-inch pipe, with branch lines to the various buildings of approximately 500 feet of three-fourths-inch pipe. Modern plumbing has been installed in the superintendent's residence, consisting of bath, toilet, lavatory, kitchen sink, hot and cold water. A sewer system has been installed that can be extended as may be necessary. It is connected with a cesspool 10 feet deep, and as the soil is of an extremely light, porous nature, it will doubtless serve every purpose for many years. However, it is only a question of time when something better will have to be provided. Temporary facilities have been provided, but it will soon be necessary to materially increase the supply of water by providing another tank. A public watering trough and a permanent water supply for the barn have been provided. A new hydraulic ram, fully equal to the present water supply, has been installed, but during the season of 1916 an additional tank should be placed above the present one, which latter should then be used for conserving the overflow for irrigating, and with such facilities there would be adequate protection against fire.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

Telephone facilities of the park have never been satisfactory, so during the past season private lines in the park were purchased and necessary lines constructed. Direct connection with Klamath Falls by way of Fort Klamath has been maintained for a number of years, but never before has there been direct connection with Medford and the Rogue River Valley. I was unable to build beyond the park line, which would leave a distance of 23 miles to connect at Prospect, and as the prospective business would not justify the expense of construction by a commercial organization, I was forced to provide ways and means, which I did by securing sufficient voluntary contributions, with which a good line was built and is now in excellent working order. A switchboard has been provided for the park office, and all lines are controlled therein.

RECOMMENDATIONS.

ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.

The park office has entirely outgrown its usefulness, in that it is totally inadequate for the purpose. The park office proper and the post office are located in a little room 8 by 12 feet, into which at times 40 and 50 people try to crowd and transact business. When the mail arrives on busy days it is simply a physical impossibility to transact business expeditiously or at all satisfactorily either to the public or the employees.

A new modern building should be provided, as soon as possible, of sufficient capacity to meet all requirements for many years to come. The business is increasing rapidly and facilities for the systematic handling of it should keep pace therewith. Aside from convenient facilities for handling a greatly increased business, provision should be made for the public in the way of toilets, waiting rooms, and other comforts and conveniences.

TUNNEL TO THE LAKE.

From Crater Lake Lodge to the lake is a drop of nearly 1,000 feet, and to reach the lake a trail of 2,300 feet is provided. Owing to the rugged nature of the rim, this trail is necessarily steep and hard to climb, and many visitors are unable to go over it, so that they are denied the privilege of fishing or boating on the lake. This condition of affairs is a disappointment to many visitors and some sort of provision should be made to overcome it. A lift or other installation within the rim is wholly impracticable, for the reason that every spring enormous slides of snow and rocks would sweep any sort of framework into the lake. Under such conditions I would suggest the construction of a tunnel from a convenient point on the road, several hundred feet below the rim, to the surface of the water. With this end in view, an appropriation of $1,000 is desired, with which to make investigations, surveys, etc.

PARK BOUNDARIES.

Since my report for 1914 was issued the matter of extending the park boundaries so as to include Mount Thielsen, Diamond Lake, and Old Bailey has been considered by the forest supervisors and myself, and we have agreed to report jointly in favor of the following limits:

Commencing at the western extremity of the south boundary of the Crater Lake National Park, thence west approximately three-quarters of a mile to the boundary between Klamath and Jackson Counties, thence north along said county line to a point on the boundary between Douglas and Jackson Counties, thence east to a point due north of the present western line of the park, thence north to a point 2 miles north of the sixth standard parallel, thence east to a point on the east boundary of the Umpqua National Forest, thence southerly along the said eastern boundary of the Umpqua National Forest to the present north line of the Crater Lake National Park.

It is to be hoped that Congress will accept these lines and establish a permanent boundary during the next session and that the system of roads now under construction within the park will be immediately extended to the new territory.

DRIVING LOOSE STOCK THROUGH THE PARK.

Eight permits were issued during the season for driving loose stock through the park, as follows: On June 18, 1915, a permit was granted to J. E. Pelton to drive 270 loose cattle from Roseburg, Oreg., to Fort Klamath, Oreg.; on June 27 a permit was granted to H. M. Morgan to drive 20 loose cattle from Trail, Oreg., to Fort Klamath, Oreg.; on August 1 a permit was granted to J. C. Fichter to drive 91 loose cattle from Myrtle Point, Oreg., to Fort Klamath, Oreg., and again on August 12 a permit was granted to him to drive 9 loose horses from Fort Klamath, Oreg., to Myrtle Point, Oreg.; on September 10 a permit was granted to Edward Cook to drive 3 loose cattle from Fort Klamath, Oreg., to Butte Falls, Oreg.; and on September 23 a permit was granted to Jay J. Arant to drive 902 loose sheep from Fort Klamath, Oreg., to Prospect, Oreg. Total, 902 sheep, 384 cattle, and 9 horses.

CONCESSIONS.

The following concessions have been granted:

AUTOMOBILES AND MOTOR CYCLES.

During the 1915 park season there were issued 2,231 round-trip automobile permits at $1 each and 13 season automobile permits at $5 each (apart from the 7 automobiles used by the Crater Lake Co. for commercial transportation business); also 30 round-trip motorcycle permits at $1 each, with a total return of $2,004, as against 1,047 round-trip auto permits at $1 each, 8 season auto permits at $5 each, and 18 motorcycle permits at $1 each, with a total of 1,105 during the 1914 park season.

VISITORS.

At the close of September there were 11,371 visitors, as against 7,096 at the same time in 1914, divided as follows:

Visitors to Crater Lake National Park (by States and countries).

Every State in the Union was represented excepting South Carolina, South Dakota, and Virginia.

Cancellations in the post office amounted to $130.20, and 87 money orders were issued, amounting to $1,100.09, as against $108.43 in cancellations and 73 money orders, amounting to $638.53, in 1914.

Respectfully,

WILL G. STEEL,     
Superintendent.

The SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.

RULES AND REGULATIONS.

GENERAL REGULATIONS OF MARCH 30, 1912.

By an act of Congress approved May 22, 1902, the tract of land bounded north by the parallel 43° 4' north latitude, south by 42° 48' north latitude, east by the meridian 122° west longitude, and west by the meridian 122° 16' west longitude, having an area of 249 square miles, in the State of Oregon, and including Crater Lake, has been reserved and withdrawn from settlement, occupancy, or sale under the laws of the United States, and dedicated and set apart forever as a public park or pleasure ground for the benefit of the people of the United States, to be known as Crater Lake National Park.

The park by said act is placed under the exclusive control of the Secretary of the Interior, and these rules and regulations are made and published in pursuance of the duty imposed on him in regard thereto.

1. It is forbidden to injure or destroy in any manner, any of the natural curiosities or wonders within the park, or to disturb the mineral deposits in the reservations, except under the conditions prescribed in paragraph 11 of these regulations.

2. It is forbidden to cut or injure any timber growing on the park lands, except for use in the construction of places of entertainment and in connection with the working of located mining claims, or to deface or injure any Government property. Camping parties and others on the reservation will be allowed to use dead or fallen timber for fuel in the discretion of the superintendent.

3. Fires should be lighted only when necessary and completely extinguished when not longer required. The utmost care must be exercised at all times to avoid setting fire to the timber and grass.

4. Hunting or killing, wounding, or capturing any bird or wild animal on the park lands, except dangerous animals when necessary to prevent them from destroying life or inflicting an injury, is prohibited. The outfits, including guns, traps, teams, horses, or means of transportation used by persons engaged in hunting, killing, trapping, ensnaring, or capturing such birds or wild animals, or in possession of game killed on the park lands under other circumstances than prescribed above, will be taken up by the superintendent and held subject to the order of the Secretary of the Interior, except in cases where it is shown by satisfactory evidence that the outfit is not the property of the person or persons violating this regulation and the actual owner thereof was not a party to such violation. Firearms will only be permitted in the park on written permission from the superintendent thereof.

5. Fishing with nets, seines, traps, or by the use of drugs or explosives, or in any other way than with hook and line, is prohibited. Fishing for purposes of merchandise or profit is forbidden. Fishing may be prohibited by order of the superintendent in any of the waters of the park, or limited therein to any specified season of the year, until otherwise ordered by the Secretary of the Interior.

All fish less than 8 inches in length should be at once returned to the water with the least damage possible to the fish. Fish that are to be retained must be at once killed by a blow on the back of the head or by thrusting a knife or other sharp instrument into the head.

6. No person will be permitted to reside permanently, engage in any business, or erect buildings, etc., upon the Government lands in the park without permission, in writing, from the Secretary of the Interior. The superintendent may grant authority to competent persons to act as guides and revoke the same in his discretion. No pack trains will be allowed in the park unless in charge of a duly registered guide.

7. Owners of patented lands within the park limits are entitled to the full use and enjoyment thereof; the boundaries of such lands, however, must be determined and marked and defined, so that they may be readily distinguished from the park lands. While no limitations or conditions are imposed upon the use of such private lands so long as such use does not interfere with or injure the park, private owners must provide against trespass by their stock or cattle, or otherwise, upon the park lands, and all trespasses committed will be punished to the full extent of the law. Stock may be taken over the park lands to patented private lands with the written permission and under the supervision of the superintendent, but such permission and supervision are not required when access to such private lands is had wholly over roads or lands not owned or controlled by the United States.

8. Allowing the running at large, herding, or grazing of cattle or stock of any kind on the Government lands in the park, as well as the driving of such stock or cattle over same, is strictly forbidden, except where authority therefor has been granted by the superintendent. All cattle or stock found trespassing on the park lands will be impounded and disposed of as directed in regulations approved March 30, 1912.

9. No drinking saloon or barroom will be permitted upon Government lands in the park.

10. Private notices or advertisements shall not be posted or displayed on the Government lands within the reservation, except such as may be necessary for the convenience and guidance of the public.

11. The act provides that, under such regulations as the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe, the reservation shall be open "to the location of mining claims and the working of the same." It was not the purpose of this provision to extend the mining laws to the park without limitation, but only to authorize the location and working of mining claims thereon, under regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior, and in such manner as not to interfere with or prejudicially affect the general purpose for which the reservation was established. It is therefore prescribed:

(a) That persons desiring to locate mining claims within the park shall enroll their names and addresses with the superintendent of the reservation and shall file with such superintendent a description, in writing, of the land desired to be located. They shall also file with the superintendent evidence that they are severally qualified to make locations under the mining laws, and before entering upon the park for such purpose they must obtain from the Secretary of the Interior, through the superintendent, a written permit to do so. Such permit will be issued only upon condition that the applicant or applicants therefor, while upon the reservation, will not destroy or damage any game, fish, timber, or natural objects therein, and will strictly observe and comply with the requirements of the law and these regulations.

(b) Lands in the park upon which valuable deposits of mineral shall have been or may be found may be located under the mining laws by any person or persons duly qualified and holding a permit such as is described in the preceding paragraph, and such person or persons, his or their successor or successors in interest, may work the claim or claims so located; but in carrying on the work he or they shall in all respects observe and comply with the provisions of the statute creating the park and with these regulations: Provided, That such person or persons may, as the proper working of such mining claim or claims shall require, be permitted to use for mining purposes such timber or stone found upon the land located as in the judgment of the superintendent may be so used without injury or damage to the reservation "as a public park or pleasure ground:" And provided further, That within 30 days after the location of any mining claim within the park, and before development work thereon shall be commenced, a copy of the notice of location shall be filed with the superintendent, together with proof satisfactorily showing that discovery of a valuable mineral deposit has been made within the limits of the location, and, if it be a placer location, that every 10-acre tract embraced therein has been found to contain valuable deposits of mineral.

(c) The statute does not authorize the purchase of or the acquisition of the legal title to lands located as mining claims within the park. The rights of the locator or locators, therefore, will be at all times subject to forfeiture upon breach of any of the conditions mentioned in the permit herein provided for, or upon refusal or failure to comply with any of the provisions of the statute or of these regulations.

(d) Upon breach of any such conditions or upon refusal or failure to comply in all respects with the provisions of the statute and of these regulations, or where locators of mining claims do not appear to be acting in good faith, or who after location do not work their claims in such manner as to show good faith in the assertion thereof, the superintendent will revoke their permits, forthwith remove them from the park, and report the facts to the Secretary of the Interior.

12. Persons who render themselves obnoxious by disorderly conduct or bad behavior, or who violate any of the foregoing rules, will be summarily removed from the park and will not be allowed to return without permission, in writing, from the Secretary of the Interior or the superintendent of the park.

No lessee or licensee shall retain in his employ any person whose presence in the park shall be deemed and declared by the superintendent to be subversive of the good order and management of the reservation.

13. Any person who violates any of the foregoing regulations will be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than one year, and shall be liable for any loss sustained by the United States as a result of such violation, as provided by the act creating the park.

14. The superintendent designated by the Secretary is hereby authorized and directed to remove all trespassers from the Government lands in the park and enforce these rules and regulations and all the provisions of the act of Congress aforesaid.

INSTRUCTIONS OF SEPTEMBER 17, 1913.

Visitors to the Crater Lake National Park are hereby notified that when dogs are taken through the park they must be prevented from chasing the animals and birds or annoying passers-by. To this end they must be carried in the wagons or led behind them while traveling and kept within the limits of the camp when halted. Any dog found at large in disregard of these instructions will be killed.

REGULATIONS OF MARCH 30, 1912, GOVERNING THE IMPOUNDING AND DISPOSITION OF LOOSE LIVE STOCK.

Horses, cattle, or other domestic live stock running at large or being herded or grazed in the Crater Lake National Park without authority from the Secretary of the Interior will be taken up and impounded by the superintendent, who will at once give notice thereof to the owner, if known. If the owner is not known, notice of such impounding, giving a description of the animal or animals, with the brands thereon, will be posted in six public places inside the park and in two public places outside the park. Any owner of an animal thus impounded may, at any time before the sale thereof, reclaim the same upon proving ownership and paying the cost of notice and all expenses incident to the taking up and detention of such animal, including the cost of feeding and caring for the same. If any animal thus impounded shall not be reclaimed within 30 days from notice to the owner or from the date of posting notices, it shall be sold at public auction at such time and place as may be fixed by the superintendent, after 10 days' notice, to be given by posting notices in six public places in the park and two public places outside the park, and by mailing to the owner, if known, a copy thereof.

All money received from the sale of such animals and remaining after the payment of all expenses incident to the taking up, impounding, and selling thereof shall be carefully retained by the superintendent in a separate fund for a period of six months, during which time the net proceeds from the sale of any animal may be claimed by and paid to the owner upon the presentation of satisfactory proof of ownership, and if not so claimed within six months from the date of sale such proceeds shall be turned into the Crater Lake National Park fund.

The superintendent shall keep a record, in which shall be set down a description of all animals impounded, giving the brands found on them, the date and Locality of the taking up, the date of all notices and manner in which they were given, the date of sale, the name and address of the purchaser, the amount for which each animal was sold and the cost incurred in connection therewith, and the disposition of the proceeds.

The superintendent will, in each instance, make every reasonable effort to ascertain the owner of animals impounded and to give actual notice thereof to such owner.

REGULATIONS OF MARCH 30, 1912, GOVERNING THE ADMISSION OF AUTOMOBILES AND MOTOR CYCLES.

Pursuant to authority conferred by the act of May 22, 1902 (32 Stats., 202), setting aside certain lands in the State of Oregon as a public park, the following regulations governing the admission of automobiles into the Crater Lake National Park are hereby established and made public:

1. No automobile will be permitted within the metes and bounds of the Crater Lake National Park unless the owner thereof secures a written permit from the superintendent or his representative.

2. Applications for permits must show: (a) Name of owner, (b) number of machine, (c) name of driver, and (d) inclusive dates for which permit is desired, not exceeding one year, and be accompanied by a fee of $1 for a single round trip through the park or a fee of $5 per annum for each machine for personal use and not for hire.

Permits must be presented to the superintendent or his authorized representative at the rangers' headquarters on the Government roads. Permittees will not be allowed to do a commercial transportation business in the park without a special license therefor from the Secretary of the Interior. All permits granted at any time when automobiles can enter the park will expire on December 31 of the year of issue.

3. The use of automobiles will be permitted on the Government roads from the southern and western boundaries of the park between the hours of 6.30 a. m. and 10.30 a. m., and between the hours of 3.30 p. m. and 6.30 p. m.

4. When teams approach, automobiles will take position on the outer edge of roadway, regardless of the direction in which they are going, taking care that sufficient room is left on the inside for the passage of teams.

5. Automobiles will stop when teams approach and remain at rest until teams have passed or until teamsters are satisfied regarding the safety of their teams.

6. Speed will be limited to 6 miles per hour, except on straight stretches where approaching teams will be visible, when, if no teams are in sight, this speed may be increased to the rate indicated on sign boards along the road; in no event, however, shall it exceed 15 miles per hour.

7. Signal with horn will be given at or near every bend to announce to drivers of approaching teams the proximity of an automobile.

8. Teams have the right of way, and automobiles will be backed or otherwise handled, as necessary, so as to enable teams to pass with safety.

9. Violation of any of the foregoing rules or the general regulations for the government of the park will cause revocation of permit, will subject the owner of the automobile to any damages occasioned thereby and to ejectment from the reservation and be cause for refusal to issue a new permit to the owner without prior sanction in writing from the Secretary of the Interior.

10. All persons passing through the park with automobiles are required to stop at the superintendent's headquarters or the rangers headquarters and register their names.

11. These rules are also applicable to motor cycles, which may use the park roads on payment of a fee of $1 for each machine per annum. Permits issued therefor shall expire on December 31 of the year of issue.