Mr. Pickett. Do you want to throw more of it into the national
forest %

Mr. CuKTiN. Yes, sir. TlieSecretary of the Interior stated that the
only objection was that it wouldn't leave the body of the land com-
pact; but you can see it can not be held compact, because this is all
private propertj^ [indicating]. As it exists now, the Government can
not fence its own lands, because it can not get on that patented land.
It can not put a fence on my land.
Mr. Pickett. Does this involve getting that private land?

Mr. CuRTiN. It was all patented years ago.
Mr. Pickett. Is it going to be acquired by the Government in any
way ?

Mr. CunTiN. It would be against all Government pohcy to buy that
land.
Mr. Fergtjsson. The idea is to place the owners of these private
lands under the jurisdiction of the Forest Service, rather than under
the jurisdiction of the Interior Department l

Mr. CuRTiN. Yes, sir.
Mr. Raker. So that you will be permitted to use this land for graz-
ing purposes % That is the condition, isn't it %

Mr. OuRTiN. That is the condition exactly.
Mr. MoNDELL. The Government coukln't set aside any land for
that purpose if it didn't have any land to graze upon %

Mr. Cltrtin. This land in here is land which doesn't belong to the
park at all, which lias no scenic beauty whatever.
The Chairman. Couldn't it even be honiesteaded?

Mr. CtTETiN. No, sir.
The Chairman. I know, but the way it is now, couldn't it be
homesteaded %

Mr. CuETiN. The land isn't worth it.
Mr. MoNDELL. What is the present boundary of the National park ?



WESTERN BOUNDARY OF YOSEMITE NATIONAL PABK. 5

Mr. CuRTix. This heavy bhio Ime.
