In the matter of the investigation of the Yosemite Valley Commissioners. Assembly -- twenty-eighth session. N.p., n.d. [Sacramento: State Office, J. D. Young, Supt. State Printing, 1889.]. 23 cm, pp. [1-3] 4-430 [431-432: blank], original pink wrappers printed in black, side stapled. First edition. Hearings were held before special committees of the California legislature in response to widespread criticism of the Yosemite Commissioners which peaked in the pages of the San Francisco Examiner in 1888. Yosemite artist Charles D. Robinson was the most active, though by no means the only critic of the grant's management. His allegations resulted in twenty-two charges against the commissioners, including favoritism in the awarding of leases, fencing and cultivation of valley lands for the benefit of concessionaires, and tree cutting for private gain. The commissioners were exonerated and most of the charges were dismissed. However, the Assembly committee's report recommended that changes be made in grant management (especially with regard to promoting competition), that the commission be reorganized as a body of three members who would reside in Yosemite at least part of the year, and that Congress enlarge the grant to encompass the valley's entire watershed. As a result of the controversy Guardian Mark L. McCord was dismissed and Galen Clark (who had previously served as Yosemite's first guardian, 1866-1880) was appointed as his replacement. Shortly thereafter Congress, rather than enlarging the Yosemite Grant, surrounded it with a national park, leading inevitably to the placement of Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove under federal control as well. This is the rare offprint of this document published in Appendix to the Journals of the Senate and Assembly of the twenty-eighth session of the legislature of the state of California. Volume VIII (Sacramento: State Office, J. D. Young, Supt. State Printing, 1889). The Senate issued a 40 page report the same year. Currey and Kruska 52. Mild wear to edges of the delicate pick wrappers, spine panel tanned. An excellent copy of this massive document. (#179484).
No statement of printing.