SEQUOIA General Information Regarding Sequoia and General Grant National Parks Season of 1917

RULES AND REGULATIONS.

(In effect May 1, 1917.)

GENERAL REGULATIONS.

The following rules and regulations for the government of the Sequoia and General Grant National Parks are hereby established and made public pursuant to authority conferred by the acts of Congress approved September 25, 1890 (26 Stat., 478), and October 1, 1890 (26 Stat., 650), and August 25, 1916 (39 Stat., 535):

1. Preservation of natural curiosities.—The destruction, injury, or defacement in any way of the public property or the trees, vegetation, rocks, minerals, animal and bird, or other life, or other natural conditions and curiosities in the parks is prohibited.

2. Camping.—No camp will be made along roads except at designated localities. Blankets, clothing, hammocks, or any other article liable to frighten teams must not be hung near the road.

Many successive parties camp on the same sites during the season, and camp grounds must be thoroughly cleaned before they are abandoned. Tin cans, bottles, cast-off clothing, and all other débris must be placed in garbage cans or pits provided for the purpose. When camps are made in unfrequented localities where pits or garbage cans may not be provided, all refuse must be burned or hidden where it will not be offensive to the eye.

Campers may use dead or fallen timber only, for fuel.

3. Fires.—Fires constitute one of the greatest perils to the parks; they must not be kindled near trees, dead wood, moss, dry leaves, forest mold, or other vegetable refuse, but in some open space on rocks or earth. Should camp be made in a locality where no such open space exists nor is provided, dead wood, moss, dry leaves, etc., must be scraped away to the rock or earth over an area considerably larger than required for the fire.

When fires are no longer necessary they must be completely extinguished, and all embers and bed smothered with earth or water so that there remains no possibility of reignition.

Especial care must be taken that no lighted match, cigar, or cigarette is dropped in any grass, twigs, leaves, or tree mold.

4. Hunting.—The park is a sanctuary for wild life of every sort and no one should frighten, hunt, or kill, wound or capture any bird or wild animal in the parks, except dangerous animals when it is necessary to prevent them from destroying life or inflicting injury.

The outfits, including guns, traps, teams, horses, or means of transportation used by persons engage 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, must be taken up by the supervisor 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 was not a party to such violation. Firearms will be permitted in the parks only on written permission of the supervisor. Visitors entering or traveling though the parks to places beyond should, at entrance, report and surrender all firearms, traps, nets, seines, or explosives in their possession to the first park officer, and in proper cases, may obtain his written leave to carry them though the park sealed.

5. Fishing.—Fishing is permitted with hook and line only, and never for profit or merchandise. Fishing in particular water may be suspended, or the number of fish that may be taken by one person in any one day from the various streams or lakes may be regulated by the supervisor. All fish hooked less than 8 inches long shall be carefully handled with moist hands and returned at once to the water if not seriously injured. Fish retained should be killed. Twenty fish shall constitute the limit for a day's catch.

6. Private operations.—No person will be permitted to reside permanently, engage in any business, operate a moving-picture camera, or erect buildings upon the Government lands in the parks without permission in writing from the Director of the National Park Service. Application for such permission may be addressed to the supervisor of the parks or to the National Park Service, Washington, D. C.

7. Patented lands.—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 parks, 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 supervisor, 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. Grazing.—Allowing the running at large, herding, or grazing of cattle or stock of any kind on the Government lands in the parks, as well as the driving of such stock or cattle over same, must be avoided, except where authority therefor has been granted by the supervisor. Cattle or stock found improperly on the park lands may be impounded and held until claimed by the owner and the trespass adjusted, in accordance with regulations of March 30, 1912.

9. Saloons and bars.—No drinking saloon or barroom will be permitted upon Government lands in the parks.

10. Advertisements.—Private notices or advertisements shall not be posted or displayed on Government lands within the parks except such as may he necessary for the convenience and guidance of the public, and then only by permission from the supervisor.

11. Travel on trails.—Pedestrians on trails, when animals are passing them, must remain quiet until animals have passed.

Persons traveling on the trails of the parks, either on foot or saddle animals, must not make short cuts, but must confine themselves to the main trail.

12. Horse-drawn vehicles.—Saddle horses, pack trains, and horse-drawn vehicles have right of way over motor-propelled vehicles at all times.

13. Concessioners.—All persons, firms, or corporations holding concessions in the parks must keep the grounds used by them properly policed and maintain the premises in a sanitary condition to the satisfaction of the supervisor. No lessee or licensee shall retain in his employment a person whose presence in the parks may be deemed by the supervisor subversive of good order and management of the parks.

14. Employees of the concessioners.—Transportation, camp, and hotel concessioners will require each of their employees to wear a metal badge with a number thereon, the name and the number corresponding therewith being registered in the supervisor's office. These badges must be worn in plain sight on the hat or cap. Concessioners must also report the fact of discharge of employees; if for cause, such cause must be stated.

15. Mining claims.—The location of mining claims is prohibited within the parks.

16. Dead animals.—All domestic animals that may die on the Government lands in the parks at any tourist camp, or along any of the public thoroughfares, must be immediately removed to a point not nearer than one-fourth mile from such camp or thoroughfare, and there be buried at least 2 feet beneath the ground by the owner or person having charge of such animal.

17. Miscellaneous.—Travel.— (a) Freight, baggage, and heavy camping outfits on sidehill grades throughout the parks must take the outer side of the road while being passed by passenger vehicles in either direction.

(b) Wagons used in hauling heavy freight over the park roads must have tires not less than 4 inches in width.

(c) All vehicles must be equipped with lights for night travel. At least one light must be carried by horse-drawn vehicles, and it must be carried on the left front side of the vehicles in a position such as to be visible from both front and rear.

18. Miscellaneous—General.—(a) Campers or others must not wash clothing or cooking utensils in, or otherwise pollute, the waters of the rivers and creeks of the parks, or bathe in any of the streams near the regularly traveled thoroughfares in the parks without suitable bathing clothes.

(b) Stock must not be tied so as to permit their entering any of the streams of the parks. All animals should be kept a sufficient distance from camping grounds not to litter the ground and make unfit for use the area which may be used later as tent sites.

(c) Campers and all others, save those holding licenses from the Secretary of the Interior, are prohibited from hiring their horses, trappings, or vehicles to tourists or visitors in the parks. No pack trains will be allowed in the parks unless in charge of a duly registered guide.

(d) All complaints by tourists and others as to service, etc., rendered in the parks should be made to the supervisor, in writing, before the complainant leaves the park. Oral complaints will be heard daily during office hours.

19. Dogs and cats.—Cats are not permitted on the Government lands in the parks, and dogs only to those persons passing through the parks to the territory beyond, in which instance they must be kept tied while crossing the parks. This rule does not apply to trained dogs used by Government employees in extermination of predatory wild animals.

20. Fines and penalties.—The supervisor is hereby authorized and directed to remove from the park lands all trespassers and all persons who render themselves obnoxious by disorderly conduct or bad behavior, and to enforce these rules and regulations and the provisions of the acts of Congress, the penalty for violation of which is summary ejection from the parks, or a fine not to exceed $500, or both. Persons ejected from the park will not be permitted to return without permission, in writing, from the Secretary of the Interior or the supervisor of the park.

AUTOMOBILE AND MOTORCYCLE REGULATIONS.

Pursuant to authority conferred by the acts of Congress of September 25, 1890 (26 Stat., 478), October 1, 1890 (26 Stat., 650), August 25, 1916 (39 Stat., 535), the following regulations governing the admission of automobiles and motorcycles into the Sequoia and General Grant National Parks are hereby established and made public:

1. Entrances.—Automobiles may enter and leave the Sequoia National Park on the west from Visalia and Lemon Cove by any of the three entrances from Three Rivers, i. e., the Giant Forest Road, the Middle Fork Road to near Moro Rock, and the Mineral King Road.

Automobiles may enter and leave the General Grant National Park on the Millwood Road, the North Road, and the Stephens Grade Road.

2. Automobiles.—The parks are open to automobiles operated for pleasure, but not to those carrying passengers who are paying, either directly or indirectly, for the use of machines (excepting, however, automobiles used by concessioners under permit from the department). Careful driving is demanded of all persons using the roads. The Government is in no way responsible for any kind of accident.

3. Roads.—Hours.—The use of automobiles and motorcycles will be permitted on the Giant Forest Road, from the western boundary of the Sequoia National Park to Giant Forest tourists' camp grounds and return at all hours.

The use of automobiles and motorcycles will be permitted only on the Millwood Road, the North Road, and the Stephens Grade Road in the General Grant National Park between the hours of 6 a. m. and 7 p.m.

4. Motorcycles.—Motorcycles are admitted to the parks under the same conditions as automobiles, and are subject to the same regulations as far as applicable.

5. Permits.—Permits for the Sequoia National Park may be obtained from the supervisor at Three Rivers, Cal., or his authorized representative at Cedar Creek station on the Giant Forest Road in the park, and must be presented to the supervisor or his authorized representative at the Cedar Creek station on exit from the park.

Permits for the General Grant National Park may be obtained from the supervisor at Three Rivers, Cal., or his authorized representative at the rangers' headquarters on the Government road in the park, and must be presented to the supervisor or his authorized representative at the rangers' headquarters on exit from the park.

Permits will show (a) name of station where permit is issued, (b) name of owner or driver, (c) State and license number of automobile.

6. Fee.—The fee for an automobile or motorcycle permit in the Sequoia National Park is $2.50, and in the General Grant National Park is 50 cents. These fees are payable in cash only. Permits are good for the entire season, expiring on December 31 of the year of issue.

7. Distance apart.—Gears and brakes.—Automobiles while in motion must not be less than 50 yards apart, except for purpose of passing, which is permissible only 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 ranger issuing the automobile permit that all parts of machine, 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. The automobile must carry at least one extra tire.

8. Speeds.—Speed is limited to 8 miles per hour except that on good roads with straight stretches and when no team is nearer that 200 yards, the speed may be increased to 15 miles per hour. Speed indicated on sign boards along the road will control in all cases.

9. Horns.—The horn will be sounded on approaching curves or stretches of road concealed for any considerable distance by slopes, overhanging trees, or other obstacles, and before meeting or passing other machines, riding or driving animals, or pedestrians.

10. Lights.—All automobiles must be equipped with head and tail lights, the headlights to be of sufficient brilliancy to insure safety in driving at night, and all lights must be kept lighted after dark when automobile is on the roads. Headlights must be dimmed when passing other automobiles or horse-drawn vehicles.

PRINCIPAL AUTOMOBILE ROADS IN CALIFORNIA.

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

12. 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 are 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 speed greater than 8 miles per hour.

13. Accidents.—When, due to breakdowns or accidents of any other nature, automobiles are unable to keep going, they must be immediately parked off the road, or where this is impossible, on the outer edge of the road.

14. Stopovers.—Automobiles stopping over at points inside the parks must be parked off the road, or where this is impossible, on the outer edge of the road.

15. Reduced engine power, gasoline, etc.—Due to the high altitude of the park roads, ranging as high as 8,000 feet, 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 gear lower 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 grades, which may become serious unless care is used. Gasoline can be purchased at regular supply stations as per posted notices.

16. Exceptions.—Paragraphs 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 hereof are not applicable to motor traffic on the Middle Fork and Mineral King Roads in Sequoia National Park.

17. Fines and penalties.—Violation of any of the foregoing regulations for government of the park shall be punishable by revocation of automobile permit, by immediate ejection from the parks, or by a fine of not to exceed $500, or by any combination of the three, and be cause for refusal to issue new automobile permit to the owner without prior sanction in writing from the Secretary of the Interior