A visit to the park during July 17-19, 1920, by members of the House Appropriations Committee, accompanied by NPS Director Mather and E.O. McCormick, vice president of the Southern Pacific Railroad, brought to a head a smoldering dispute between the Park Service and the Crater Lake Company. Although reservations for the visitors were booked in advance, the lodge was not prepared to adequately care for them. This led to considerable criticism, particularly from Mather who reprimanded Crater Lake President Parkhurst and threatened to cancel his concession contract. One of the causes of the dispute was attributed to the fact that the lodge “was not opened in time to get things in working order or the crew organized before tourists began to arrive in larger numbers than had been anticipated.” The incident had a negative impact on park visitation, according to Superintendent Sparrow, because “in some manner the impression got out, about July 15, that this park was closed, and many intending visitors passed us by.” Sparrow took the opportunity to elaborate on some longstanding problems park management had been having with the concessioner:
During the early part of the season the service at the lodge came in for considerable criticism, most of which was justified. This was due, in part, to lack of preparation before the season opened, and inefficient organization, and lack of sufficient supplies. The lighting system was inadequate and the water system failed.
After much fault finding and criticism passed along orally and through newspapers, conditions were very much improved and for the remainder of the season but few complaints were received. A Delco lighting plant was installed which gives satisfactory service. A new pumping plant was installed, which was guaranteed to do the work, but failed entirely, and another unit is now in transit and will be installed at an early date. During this time water was furnished the lodge from the Government plant, which proved adequate for all occasions, but sometimes required a night shift to keep up the supply. Too much of the lodge is used to house employees, and it is my opinion that tents or separate buildings should be provided for the help, and if this were done the lodge, with some tents, should be sufficient to care for guests for another season or two. . . . Regardless of what the plans are for the future, there must be some temporary arrangement made to take care of tourists during the 1921 season.
The public operator has many good boats and launches on Crater Lake, but as yet there is absolutely nothing in the nature of a dock or boat landing. It is recommended that a loose-rock and concrete pier or boat landing be constructed for the convenience of tourists and protection of boats, which are always grounded on rocks when taking on or discharging passengers. . . .
Director Mather was so incensed by the problems with the lodge that he devoted considerable attention to the matter in his annual report for 1920. He described his personal dissatisfaction with the services being offered by the Crater Lake Company:
