Anyone who visits the park today can see the volcanic steam vents. mud pots. boiling lakes. and hot springs which signal the continuing volcanic turmoil beneath the surface. The park ranges in elevation from 5.200 feet to 10.457 feet at the summit of Lassen Peak. and displays great contrast between the areas denuded by volcanic debris during the last century. and the heavily forested mountains which have been untouched by lava and cinder. One of the areas of great historic significance in the park is the emigrant trail by which early settlers traveled by covered wagon from the East into Oregon and California. The administration proposed a section 3 which provides "Notwithstanding the provisions of section 1 of the act of August 9. 1916 (39 Stat. 442). the area designated by this act as wilderness shall not be entered upon or utilized for flowage or other purposes in connection with the development of a Government reclamation project." While there may be some justification for such a provision. the Park Service recommendations. transmitted to the Congress. merely contain the assertion that section 3 is necessary without any explanation of the reasons behind the provision. I would prefer to wait until the Senate Interior Committee has held hearings on this bill to judge the wisdom of such a provision.
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emigrant