<<
1911
1912
1913
>>
January 5
Major Clarence E. Dutton dies in Washington, D.C.
February 22
“The Oregonian” announces that Will Steel has received notice
that the Interior Department has granted him a 20 year hotel
concession in the Park and that he has recently organized a
company for this purpose. Will Steel soon sells his financial
interest in the Crater Lake concession to his Portland real
estate partner, A.L. Parkhurst. Mr. Parkhurst invests over
$80,000 in the Crater Lake Company, but by the time the hotel is
built and the boats placed on the Lake, A.L. is replaced by
other partners, but not before losing most of his money.
July 22
New auto record from Medford to Crater Lake set, 5 hours and 40
minutes. The car made it to within one half mile of the Rim.
August 8
Fred Carrit, pressman for the “Mail Tribune” sets a new land
speed record of walking to Crater Lake in two days on foot,
carrying a 40 pound pack.
September
A windstorm damages many of Camp Crater’s tents. A more
permanent lodging facility is planned.
October 14
Superintendent Arant, reports that the Park’s roads are only
ruts and that the pumice blows out in the summer and washes out
in the winter. They are still using, with little improvement,
the very crooked and narrow road built by the Army from Fort
Klamath to Jacksonville 47 years ago. About five years ago autos
started entering the park and it was quite a curiosity that
there would be more than two automobiles per day on the Rim of
the Crater. Later they became very common and without
restriction until the season of 1911. “Autos restricted in the
park from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. and from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. with the
speed limit set at 6 mph, except on straight stretches of the
road they could increase their speed up to 15 mph, but only if
no teams were in view. Teams have the right-of-way. Autos must
always go to the outside and back up if the road is too narrow
for both to pass.”
October 15
Superintendent Arant reports to the Secretary of the Interior
that the auto has made Crater Lake basically a one day
park. Visitation comes mostly from people who have only Sundays
for recreation and make the round trip in only one day. “The
principle use of Crater Lake is one day visits.”
Winter 1912
William Steel spends the entire winter in Washington, D.C. until
a bill passed Congress granting $50,000 on account for Crater
Lake. The money was made available in 1914.
Park Service uniform button designed by Department
officials. The button uses a stamped, bronze colored button that
is still in use.
Season opens late, in the middle of July until the first of
October. 492 autos. During one day, 39 automobiles visit the
Park. 50% of the people entering Crater Lake, travel by
autos. Superintendent Arant is happy to report to the Interior
Secretary that there have not been any auto/team accidents since
cars were first admitted to the Park.
Congress approves road projects calling for an expenditure of
$627,000 of which $400,000 is to be used for the clearing,
grading and draining of the new highway system and the remainder
for surfacing. Appropriations were made each year until the
outbreak of the World War, at which time the Park was put on a
maintenance basis only.
Colored photographs of Crater Lake are hung on the walls of the
U.S. Capitol. Superintendent Arant attempts to feed and tame the
bears in the Park for the enjoyment of park tourists. He also
carefully trimmed the trees along the roads to “help edify the
park.” The U.S. Congress appropriates $627,000 for roads in the
park. The addition of a second ranger. Extensive vandalism done
to the Lodge and furnishings. $50,000 given for roads.
Season: 5,233 visitors.
<<
1911
1912
1913
>>
