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Show Big Things for Zion Nat. Park, Says Mather Washington, Dec. S. "With fur. ther road improvements, which is ' slowly but steadily going forward in southern UtaJi and in the Arizona ! strip north of the Grand canyon Utah's scenic attractions combined with the north rim of the Gmv.d Canyon Can-yon National park, are nci-omiug more readily accessible. When the beauty, variety and colorfulness of these attractions become better known I predict there will be no more popular tourist trip than this in America." This is taken from the annual report re-port of Stephen T.Mather, director of the national park service, and a great believer in the future of southern Utah and northern Arizona, as the great scenic attractions of the United States. In his report, dealing with Zion park and the work being done there, Director Mather says: "Stimulated by the visit of the late President Harding to Zion park, the attention of the traveling public was particularly directed to this gorgeously gorgeous-ly colored section of southwest Utah and travel the past summer has largely large-ly exceeded that of previous years. Many notable visitors have been in the park and classes from several colleges col-leges have made it their summer study room. . Development timer Way. "The development of tourist accommodations accom-modations and facilities in the park by the Utah Parks company has not progressed as rapidly as was expected expect-ed largely by reason of the disapproval disapprov-al of their plans for the construction of a large hotel on the floor of Zion canyon. I was never favorable to this project, and although plans drawn for the proposed hotel were approved by the fine arts commission, I felt that the construction of a large hotel in the canyon was not the proper development. I am glad to say the construction of the hotel was abandoned aban-doned and instead an ample central building with cottages for sleeping quarters conveniently located near by are now being constructed. The new camp development, now well under way, should be ready by the opening of the 1925 season. The present camp was operated very satisfactorily this year and its management assures exceptionally good tourist accommodations accommod-ations for next year. The new hotel at Cedar City, the starting point of southern Utah trips, was placed in operation this year and is a notable improvement. The Utah Parks company com-pany is also undertaking the development develop-ment of tourist accommodations at the Cedar Breaks area and within the Bryce canyon national monument, elevation of which to national park status has been provided for by act of congress when all alienated lands within the area are first secured for the United States. Improved transportation trans-portation facilities also may be recorded re-corded this year, these being conducted conduct-ed by the Utah-Arizona Parks Transportation Trans-portation company, under an agreement agree-ment with the Utah Parks Company. Road, Trail Improvements. "With the deficiency appropriation for 1923 and 1924 for road and trail construction, signal progress has been made in the development of roads and trails in Zion park. The road from the park entrance to the public camp was entirely reconstructed and has been in use all the season. From the public camp to Cable mountain, one and a half miles of new road have been completed, and from this point tO thp. Tpmnlo nf einoTTTo-iro t-Ua road will end a short distance below the Narrows, the road is now under construction and will be completed for travel its entire length next season. sea-son. This road work includes the construction of five new bridges on the road from park entrance to Cable mountain. The bridge at Rockville-spanning Rockville-spanning the Virgin river, also provided pro-vided for ia the deficiency appropriation, appropria-tion, is nearing completion. The construction of this bridge makes possible pos-sible the Zion park-North Rim of Grand canyon cut-off road, which will shorten the distance between these two points about thirty miles. The Utah and Southern California Automobile Auto-mobile associations, cooperating, hare placed metal direction signs along the highways leading to the park from southern CaJifornia and from Salt Lake City, Utah. The most notable improvement in Zion park, however, has been the remarkable trail construction con-struction that has been accomplished. accomplish-ed. The West Rim trail, four and a half miles in length, with a nine-mile loop on top of the west rim, is perhaps per-haps one of the most scenic trails in the national park system. The Lady Mountain footpath, two miles in length, has over 1400 steps chiseled out of the rock, two ladders, and 2000 feet of hand cable. It is a spectacular foot trail and the views from the summit of Lady mountain are especially magnificent. A third new trail known as the Highliue trail, . one and a half miles in length, has |