Water and power for San Francisco from Hetch-Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park — Story, Setting & Ideas

Water and Power for San Francisco from Hetch-Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park

by MARTIN S. VILAS, A. M., Member of the Bars of California, Vermont and Washington.

Copyrighted 1915 by MARTIN SAMUEL VILAS

UNSOLICITED STATEMENTS

Of U. S. Senator Elect and Ex-Mayor Phelan, Congressman Raker and San Francisco Officials as to this Article

WASHINGTON, D. C., March 14, 1914.

I can assure you that your clean, clear presentation of the matter was admirable and much appreciated.

(Member of Congress from California and author of the Raker Bill).

SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., February 4, 1914.

I think it was a valuable contribution to the data on that subject and indicates a considerable study upon your part.

(Member of Board of Supervisors, City of San Francisco).

SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., February 2, 1914.

I read your article in the _Chronicle_ on Hetch Hetchy and want to compliment you on the thoroughness with which you handled the subject.

(Clerk, Board of Supervisors, City of San Francisco).

SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., January 29, 1914.

I ... feel that you are entitled to considerable praise for the concise and clear manner in which you have covered a very comprehensive subject.

(Member of Board of Supervisors, City of San Francisco).

SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., January 29, 1914.

I read with much interest and satisfaction your very comprehensive and accurate article on the Hetch-Hetchy.

(Ex-Mayor of San Francisco and U. S. Senator elect from California).

SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., January 26, 1914.

I beg to compliment you on the clearness and conciseness with which you have stated many of the controversial points involved in same. I have had so much of it in the past year and I had to take up so many angles of the conflict that your resumé is decidedly refreshing.

(City Engineer, City of San Francisco).

SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., January 29, 1914.

... I beg to say to you in person what I long since wrote to the editor of the _Chronicle_. I stated to him that the article was a very valuable contribution to the literature on the Hetch-Hetchy subject, and was the best general exposition of the case that I had read in any newspaper and that, furthermore, the article was practically free from error. I have long since added it to my scrap book.

ALEXANDER T. VOGELSANG.

(Member of Board of Supervisors, City of San Francisco, and member of law firm of Vogelsang & Brown).

SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., February 6, 1914.

I consider it the best resumé of the Hetch-Hetchy scheme that has been written. I sent to the _Chronicle_ for ten more copies after reading it in order that I might use it in the future.

I trust that the article will have a very wide circulation, for it cannot but help convince every fair minded individual not only that San Francisco’s application for rights has not been hastily considered but fair play demanded the grant.

Speaking for myself, I thank you very much for your kindly interest in the matter and for your very careful and comprehensive article.

(City Attorney of the City of San Francisco).

HOW THE RAKER BILL AFFECTS YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, SAN FRANCISCO, AND THE REST OF CALIFORNIA

Facts Regarding Mountain Supply

History of City’s Fight for Pure and Adequate Water

BENEFITS TO BE DERIVED

Bay Counties and Irrigation Districts Provided for In National Grant

The Raker Bill, named for John E. Raker of Modoc county, Cal., a member of Congress, was reported unanimously by the House Committee on the Public Lands at the special session of Congress in the summer of 1913, after a hearing occupying several days, and under its recommendation passed the House. This bill was reported favorably by the Senate Committee on the Public Lands, and, after a hard fought contest, occupying a week on the floor of the Senate, passed that body December 6th, 1913, by a vote of 43 to 25. It received the approval of President Wilson and became a law on December 19, 1913.

The enactment of this bill ended a continuous effort on the part of San Francisco, covering a period of many years, to obtain the legal right to take water from Hetch-Hetchy. It marked the end of a contest, spirited and hard fought, which was participated in by the magazines and press the country over, and in which the great majority of publications outside of California opposed the plan of San Francisco.