How Ore Good ltan Trid in Vain to F!oh1 The US Govemment's Sensehss hnd Grab

I'ou haue heard, u,s complain 4 l*4truths (or lwfi-lies) in gooernment publicatians, whbh lead n ntisinlormation and misunderstand,ing by the public. Read, this remarkable letter lrorn Harry Willi,a,ms, proprietor ol Dad,'s Camp at the mouth ol the Klamath, to the Natinnal Park Seraice in San Francisco, and, d,raw your ou)n conclusions.

Edward A. Hummel Regional Director National Park Service San Francisco.

Calif.

Dear Mr. Hummel:

I am writing in response to National Park Services study of the coast redwoods of California.

My comments are directed to the portion of the report presenting three plans for the prbservation of the coast redwoods for public enjoyment by federal acquisition of lands now in private ownership. All three plans contemplate substantial land acquisitions solely for tJre purpose of incorporating in a proposed redwood national park stretches of ocean blufi and beach. Unfortunately, the suggested acquisitions of ocean frontage, having no direct relation to the preservation of the redwoods and thus being incidental to the primary purpose of the study and ieport, do not reflect the same careful consideration and analysis that support the proposals for acquisition of redwood stands and watershed areas. inoll some nve m'es or the proposed acquisi.

The report is almost devoid of factual data to support the suggested acquisitions of ocean frontage. The few background staterr€nts concerning tle ocean frontage are generalities which are inaccurate and misleading.

The report states that the suggested federal acquisitions for the proposed redwood national park would include 'ol3 miles of wild ocean bluff and beaches in one of the only remaining locations in the world where the original redwood forests sweep down in natural ecological transition to the ocean." This statement gives the impression that redwood forests sweep down to the ocean the entire length of the 13 miles of shoreline. This is not the case.

The redwoods approach the oeean only along a four-mile segment of this shoreline ,immediately bordering the present Prairie Creek Redwood State Park.

*"r'"H'";1f,ifi,*i:i:iffim: ward frim the northern boundary of the

Prairie Creek Redwood State Park. No' redwoods whatsoever grow on this strip of shoreline and there ari no redwoods in the immediate vicinity. If this strip were in' corporated in the proposed redwood- na; tional park it would not border the inland area of the park but would constitute an isolated appendage. Moreover, the first four miles of this five'mile strip is a strip of precipitous ocean bluffs with virtually no usable beach area. The last mile on the north is a mile of beach frontage at the mouth of the Klamath River. The re' port contains a photograph of a portion -of this beach frontage at the mouth of the Klamath with a caption stating that the mouth of the Klamath adjoins Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park and that it is o'still wild, rugged and beautiful."

The mile of beach at the mouth of the Klamath does not presently adjoin Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, but rather is separated from it by the four'mile stretch of precipitous ocean clifis. This beach is t'beautiful," and some might characterize it as 'orugged" but it is far from olwild."

This mile-stretch of beach comprising approximately one hundred acres was allotted to my father, a full-blooded American Indian, by the federal government in 1891. It was deeded to him by the federal government in 1907. Sincc 1914, for a halfcentury, this so-called "wild" beach has been developed and operated, first by father and later by myself and my sons and daughters as a recreational area and fishing resort catering to the public.

Alter writing this letter on Oct. 30, 1964, Mr. Williams refused, nourishment and, some ueeks later d,ied, "ol a brohen heart" at the thought ol losing his property, his daughter reports. Dad's Camp was completely d,estroyed by the llood.-Editor.

Our charges to the public for the use of our facilities are, and always have been, most moderate. Our present charge for day use of our facilities is only 75 cents per car and for overnight camping is only $1.50 per car, These charges are less than the current charges for comparable facilities in most of the state parks in California.

These large crowds to which we (:ater are drawn to this beach by the excellent fishing at the mouth of the Klamath. Although we welcome all mcmbers of the public, whether fishermen or not, nearly all of the people making use of our facilities throughout our fifty years of operation have been fishermen. The beach is not appealing solely for camping or picnicking inasmuch as it is usually {og-shrouded and often swept by strong winds.

The beach would be too isolated {rom the redwood area o{ the proposed redwood national park to in any way contribute to the public enjoyment of the redwoods themselves. Because of the prevailing inclement weather conditions it would not be an aDpealing beach lor the average park r-isitor not desirine to fish.

T'he usefulesss of the beach as a public recreational area rvould in no wav be enhanced by incorporating it as a national park. In all probabilitl., the use limitations that would necessarily be incident to the operation of this beach as part of the National Park System would makc the beach Iess available to the public.

I hope and trust that the Park Service will insist on a much more thoroueh investigation oI the ocean frontage propos"d park. In all probability, the use limitations to be incorporated in the redwood national park and a careful consideration of the wisdom of such incorporation before the final report is prepared for submission to the Secretary of the Interior. When this has been done, I am confident that the service will accede to my request.

Sincerely yours,

H ar ry V illitti'ns, Owner DAD'S CAMP Klamath" Calif.