The San Francisco call., 1909-12-22
ARMY OFFICER
OPPOSES CITY
AT WATER SITE
Major William w. Forsyth, in
Command at Yosemite, Is
Cause of Many Delays
Refuses to Allow San Francisco
to Work at Lake Eleanor,
as Authorized

An unsuspected source of opposition
to San Francisco's water project has
been located in Major William w. For
syth, guardian of the Yosemite ma
tional park. Although his duties are
primarily to police the reservation he
| has undertaken TO obstruct the city
and to nullify the permits granted by
the federal government. He has even
gore to the extent of ignoring letters
! addressed to him by the local officials
on subjects pertaining to the develop
ment of Lake Eleanor.
The attisrde of Major Forsyth was
revealed largely through the recent
visit to Washington of City Attorney
Percy V. Long While at the national
| capital Long learned that many of the
orders regarded as unfriendly to San
Francisco had not sprung originally
from the department OF the interior,
but had their inspiration with Major
| Forsyth.
81 found,- said Long yesterday, "tbat
we will have no trouble as long as we
go forward with the work at Lake
Eleanor. Such obstacles as we have
encountered have been due largely to
matters of red tape as far as the OFF,
cials at Washington are concerned. j
discovered, however. that Major For
syth. guardian of the Yosemite ma
tional park, Is against the eity's going
into the park at ALL He seems fixed
In this idea and has sought to obstruct
us wherever possible. Every time we
desire to act under our permits Major
Forsyth insists upon delay until he
can communicate with Washington.
.The major is regularly under the
war department, hut as guardian of the
park he reports to the interior depart
ment. Our permits to cut timber and
to clear the dam sites must all pass
through his hands, as he exercises gem
enral supervision. There is no DISPOSE
tion among the federal officials to in
terfere with us In the slightest degree
as long as we adhere strictly to the
terms of the Garfield grant and carry
ON the work at Lake Eleanor. For
syth insists, however, on carrying
every point to Washington before he
will allow the city to go ahead.
'srhe little controversy over timber
cutting WINS due more to the precise
methods of the national government
aud the opposition of Major Forsyth
than anything else. 1 am satisfied that
all the matters will be cleared In time
| Long is corroborated In his view OF
Major Forsyth's hostility by practical
ly every member of the city govern
ment who has come in contact with that
| official. others spoke in the same
strain as Long. City Engineer Marsden
Manson dealt directly with Major For
syth in arranging for the clearing OF
the Lake Eleanor dam site. In this
matter Major Forsyth took a unique
position. He would not allow Manson
to cut the timber without a. permit A
permit could not be granted until pay
ment had been offered When Manson
offered the necessary sum Major For
syth used his influence to have it re-
jected Thus the city was practically
barred from making application to cut
the underground. The tangle was ad-
justed only by direct appeal to Wash
| ington over Forsyth's head.
Exceeds His Authority
| The city officials are the more indig-
nant for the reason that the military
forces in the park have no jurisdiction
as to questions of policy. They are de-
tailed specially for police service and
minor administrative affairs BY en-
deavoring to dictate the policy of the
national government as to all matters
connected with Yosemite Major For
syth has usurped power lodged with
congress and the president.
He is strong in his view that the city
should not be allowed to develop the
water. sources within the confines of
the park Despite official permits he
has endeavored by the use of the mill
tary forces of the government to impose
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