Creator

Binger Hermann

Creator

Binger Hermann

Recipient

John Muir and Warren Olney

Transcription

DEPARTMHfT OF THE INTERIOR,
COPY General Land Office,
WASHINGTON, D. C. March 10, 1899,Mr. John Muir, Resident, and
Mr. warron Olnoy, Vice-President, Sierra Club,
San Francisco, California.

Gent1amen:-

Replying to your telegram of March 7, 1899, I have to say that the evidence before this office ie overwhelmingly against sheep-grazing in the Sierra Forest Reserve.
The reasons stated for opposing the pasturage of sheep within said reserve aro of the most substantial and convincing character, and come from what appears to be disinterested souroes. The Forest Superintendent and Supervisors have made exhaustive reports opposing it.
There are four petitions from Madera county signed, respectively, by 40, 52, 105 and 117 citizens, and two from Tulare County signed by 72 and 120 citizens, all opposing sheep-grazing in the reserve.
In reply to letters of Inquiry by Superintendent Newhall, Mr. Marion Medley of Lodge, Mr. F. Femmons of Gertrude, Mr.George Telford, Mr. w. P. Hedgepeth, and Mr. A. w. Frederick, make statements which Indicate that sheep should be excluded from the reserve. This offioe is also in receipt of letters from Mr. Wm. Hoskins of Lodge, Mr. Goo.Solby of Ksngsburg, Mr. John S. Eastwood of Fresno, and Mr. John G. Eckles of the Weekly Review, Porterville. to the same effect.

02550

The only loiters favoring the sheep come from Mr. L. J. Miller He ears that sheep-grazing has no serious effect "upon the water flow in any way. but has a tendency to prolong the water flow, as the snow rests longer upon clean ground than upon ground encumbered with brush". He says that sheep men are willing to pay as high as five dollars per season for eaoh 640-aere government tract, and that the public interests would be best served loy permitting sheep to enter the reserve, and argues generally in favor of allowing limited pasturage within the reservation.
In view of all the facts as presented to this office, superintendent Newhall was advised, by letter of February 13, 1899, that no modification of the existing regulations would be made and that the sheep must be excluded from tho reserve.

Very respect fully,

Blnger Hermann,
Commissioner.

Location

Washington, D.C.

Date Original

1899 Mar 10

Source

Original letter dimensions: 27 x 20 cm.

Resource Identifier

muir10_0693-let.tif

File Identifier

Reel 10, Image 0693

Collection Identifier

Online finding aid for the microform version of the John Muir Correspondence http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt0w1031nc

Copyright Statement

Some letters written to John Muir may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Owning Institution

Holt-Atherton Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library. Please contact this institution directly to obtain copies of the images or permission to publish or use them beyond educational purposes.

Pages

2 pages

Keywords

Environmentalist, naturalist, travel, conservation, national parks, John Muir, Yosemite, California, history, correspondence, letters

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