Letter from John Muir to [Robert Underwood] Johnson, 1909 Apr 3.

Creator

John Muir

Creator

John Muir

Recipient

[Robert Underwood] Johnson

Transcription

[illegible]Martinez, Cal., April 3,1909.Dear Mr. Johnson:You have had no response to your many good, wise letters of late because my daughter Helen has been very sick in a hospital in Los Angeles with some sort of typhoid fever. She is now, I am happy to say, rapidly convalescing and we hope that she will soon be as well as ever.In reply to your last of March 17th,I spent an evening a day or two ago with Colby and Bade, and we are unanimous(1) In applying to Secretary Ballinger for a revocation of the grant. We do not believe that the enemy has made anything like a conquest of the Secretary, and that the chances for a revocation are good. But if we should fail in this that(2)In accordance with your suggestions, proceedings should be instituted to enjoin the Secretary and the Supervisors on the grounds specified in your letter.Be assured, My Dear Johnson, that your efforts of behalf of Hetch Hetchy are enthusiastically appreciated by all of us. After you got well you have shown all your oldtime indomitable heroism in our big battle so completely won, and in accordance with former letters to you, I now remind you that I shall be glad to have you send me in an account of your money expenses, which I shall gladly pay.I had a grand time with Borroughs at the Petrified Forest and the Grand Canon just before Helen's illness and in R.U.J. 2.Pasadena for a few days after she was out of danger.Public opinion in our big fight has been constantly growing in our favor, and if watchful, I cannot see that, even without a revocation of the grant, that they can ever be successful in braking up our grand Yosemite National Park, though, ofcourse, we must continue to be on the watch for new attacks conducted in the darkness.I will try to gather up the comments and libels of the San Francisco prostitute press and forward them, though, in my opinion, they are not worthy of any attention whatever. I shall also try to put on record a history of former efforts and battles for conservation in the 80s for your coming article on "The Pioneers of Conservation." I have felt all along that, in spite of all that I could do, I have been awarded the praise and glory which rightfully belonged to you. This I shall try to put on record either in a new chapter that may be added to my "National Parks" or in the new book which I hope to get out ere long on "The Yosemite and Other Yosemites."Now and ever, my dear Johnson, I amFaithfully Yours[illegible]Mr. R.U. Johnson,The Century Magazine,New York, N.Y.