Creator
E[dward] T. Parsons
Recipient
Theodore Roosevelt
Transcription
[illegible]
November 25, 1907.
Theodore Roosevelt,
President of the United States,
Washington. D. C.
Honored Sir:
Several weeks ago I addressed a communication to the Hon. James R. Garfield, Secretary of the Interior, protesting against the use of the Hetch-Hetchy Valley, one of the most magnificent and hospitable features of the Yosemite National Park, as a reservoir for a proposed water system for the City of San Francisco. In that letter I set forth somewhat in detail, both from the standpoint of a lover of nature and also from the standpoint of a tax-payer and property owner in the district proposed to be served, a series of valid reasons against this unwarranted encroachment on one of the most valuable possessions of the Nation.
This communication was duly acknowledged on behalf of Secretary Garfield by one of his assistants.
I wish, however, to place myself on record with you, knowing your convictions and your attitude in favor of the protection of the possessions of the people against the aggressions of self-seeking coteries or cliques.
It is admitted that there are other ample and abundant sources of water supply for the City of San Francisco and this admission is made even by the few who are urgently pushing this scheme. So far as I have been able to ascertain, the chief and about the only reason advanced by those favoring this scheme is that it would be somewhat cheaper than other possible sources where there would be some legally acquired adverse rights to purchase.
The growing opposition, which starting from and originating among the best people of San Francisco, and which is rapidly spreading throughout the country, against this destruction as a place of resort of the Hetch-Hetchy Valley warrants on your part a most careful consideration of the entire proposition; and such an investigation would undoubtedly satisfy you of the availability of other sources of water supply and justify you in preventing this act of destruction and desecration.
I have the honor to be
Yours sincerely,
[illegible]
06242
Location
[place unknown]
Date Original
1907 Nov 25
Source
Original letter dimensions: 28 x 20.5 cm.
Recommended Citation
Parsons, Edward T., "Letter from E[dward] T. Parsons to Theodore Roosevelt, 1907 Nov 25." (1907). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 3840.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/3840
Resource Identifier
muir16_1223-let.tif
File Identifier
Reel 16, Image 1223
Collection Identifier
Online finding aid for the microform version of the John Muir Correspondence http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt0w1031nc
Copyright Status
Copyright status unknown
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
1 page
Keywords
Environmentalist, naturalist, travel, conservation, national parks, John Muir, Yosemite, California, history, correspondence, letters
