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Show SCENIC UTAH'S ADVANCE TOLD TO PRESIDENT Secretary Work, in Report, Describes De-scribes Improvements Made In National Parks Area (Salt Lake Tribune) WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 The north rim of the Grand canyon has at last come into its own. In his annual an-nual report to the president, Roy O. West, secretary; pi the interior, discussing dis-cussing improvements in the Grand Canyon national park, confines himself him-self either to developments recently made on the north rim, or to new means of travel from the north to the south rim. The improvements made last season by the Union Pacific Pa-cific on the north rim are duly acknowledged. ac-knowledged. In his report, Secretary West says: "One of the most important accomplishments ac-complishments of the year at the Grand Canyon national park was the opening to the public of the Grand Canyon lodge, built by the Utah Parks Company, a subsidiary of the Union Pacific system which was dedicated to public use on September Sep-tember 14, 1928, with appropriate ceremonies. "The lodge consists of a central building containing lobby, lounge, dining room, recreation hall, kitchen and other facilities. Sleeping accommodations accom-modations are provided by log cabins, cab-ins, each containing two rooms. In addition to 100 standard cabins there are twenty so-called de luxe cabins, each equipped with private bath, porch and fireplace. "Unusual engineering difficulties were involved in the construction of the hotel and related facilities. .Among other problems, there was involved the transportation of materials ma-terials a distance of 200 miles from the railroad and over roads, which, due to heavy snow conditions, made travel unusually difficult, especially since construction work proceeded throughout the entire winter. "The problem of furnishing an adequate supply of water and electrical elec-trical energy was successfully met by a hydro-electrical plant and a pumping plant by means of which the water from .Roaring Springs creek is lifted against a static head of 3870 feet to storage tanks on the rim of the canyon. "Two trail developments were of outstanding importance. One was the completion and opening of the Kai-bab Kai-bab trans-canyon trail, affording spectacular views and reaching from rim to rim. The other was the transfer trans-fer of title to the famous Bright Angel trail from Coconino county to the federal government, after several sev-eral years of controversy. Immediately Immedi-ately upon the taking over of the trail by park authorities the collection col-lection of the $1 toll was discontinued. discon-tinued. "On September 15, 1928, Bryce canyon, formerly a national monument, monu-ment, became the twentieth national park of the system. The new park contains 22 square miles. Authority to give this area national park status was contained in two acts of congress. The first, approved June 7, 1924, provided for government maintenance. main-tenance. "As compensation to Coconino county for the Bright Angel trail, the United States had previously agreed to reconstruct and improve the Williams approach road to the south rim, and a contract letting the first part of this work was signed the same day the deed for the trail was accepted. "The construction of the new Kai-bab Kai-bab suspension bridge was an important im-portant link in the Kaibab trans-canyon trans-canyon trail. This bridge, unlike the old one which is replaced, is free from vibration and will accommodate accommo-date an entire string of pack or saddle sad-dle horses at one time. Formerly, in using the old swinging bridge, it was necessary for tourist parties to dismount in crossing, the animals being taken over one at a time. This caused congestion and delay at one of the hottest points on the trans-canyon trans-canyon trip. "Another bridge which will be of great benefit to many visitors is that now being constructed across the Colorado river at Lee's ferry by the state and federal governments. This bridge, which is expected to be csm-pleted csm-pleted and dedicated next spring, will greatly facilitate park-to-park travel in the southwest and make possible motor travel between the north and south rims without long detours through adjoining states. "Travel during the year Increased to 167,226, which was 3 per cent more than last year. Especially noticeable no-ticeable was the increase in north rim visitors, the total number entering en-tering there being 18,834." The secretary also makes note of developments in Zion park and of the conversion' of Bryce canyon into a national park, saying: "The outstanding event of the year was the commencement of construction construc-tion of the Zion-Mt. Carmel road. This highway, when completed will connect Zion, the Grand canyon and the new Bryce Canyon national park. The state of Utah is now working at its end of this highway high-way and is also improving a section sec-tion of the Arrowhead trail near the Arizona state line. "Travel showed a great increase, with 30,016 visitors as against 24,-303 24,-303 in 1927. "Upon recommendation of the national na-tional park service seven sections of land were withdrawn from the public pub-lic domain by executive order pending pend-ing a studyi as to the advisability of adding these lands t the park. There is still a further area, not yet withdrawn, that should be considered con-sidered for addition to Zion. Included Includ-ed in this area are some interesting cliff dwellings, as well as spectacular spectacu-lar canyon country. "Cheap power for all park operations oper-ations was made available through the extension of the power lines of the Dixie Power Company into the park. The Nevada Contracting Company, Com-pany, which is building the Zion-Mt. Zion-Mt. Carmel highway, financed the building of the necessary power lines. "The public utility operators extended ex-tended their facilities at Zion lodge by the erection of a number of new cottages and a swimming pool Under an agreement reached with the Union Pacific system, which owned the private holdings within the area, its lands were deeded to the federal government and title passed to the United States on September Sep-tember 15, automatically creating the park. State lands within the area were exchanged for other lands outside out-side the park boundaries. |