The San Francisco call., 1909-12-25
Warren 0Iney Sr. Addresses
Circular Letter to Members
TO Learn Stand
Attorney Speaks in Favor OF
City Using Water From
Valley in the Sierras
AssaiIs Spring Valley Company
for interfering With Mu-
nicipaI Project

II a RE yOu willing 10 say 10 them
"A 6tbe people of San FranciscO).
A.HOu must place burden of
we will not consent that our camp
ing site and the trees thereon be de-
strOyed by your turning the 6Hetch
Hetchy) valley into a lake: Do you
think il right 10 place this additional
burden on the bay cities that you may,
81 you see III, visit Hetch Hetchy and
enjoy its beauties in their present
state. How about the golden rule :
How about that principle Of all free
countries. that humane principle that
should obtain everywhere. of the great
est good to the greatest number:'-
Extract from Warren Olney's appeal
10 the members of the Sierra club
The Sierra club directors, moved by
the expression of opinions Of members,
published in The Call, adverse to the
stand in which some of the officers OF
the mountaineering organization have
tacitlv committed the club on the ques-
tion Of san Franciscos acquisition of
the Sierra water supply, have SUBJ
mitted TO the membership two ques-
tions. These questions are put with
the idea of securing a vote by mail TO
show the stand Of the club in the Hetch
Hetchy project
Warren Olney Sr., the attorney with
Offices in the Merchants exchange
building. former mayor of Oakland and
one Of the organizers of the Sierra club,
has addressed a circular communication
10 The members Of the club, urging
earnestly that they consider fairly the
claims Of San Francisco and the bay
cities to the best and the most easily
handled supply of water for their
needs.
The Two Questions
The two questions put by the direc-
tors arc as follows:
l. 7 desire that Hctch Hetchy valley shall
remain intact and unaltered as part Of the
Yosemite national park, and oppose its as a
reservoir for a water supply for San Francisco
unless an impartial federal commission shall de-
termine that It is absolutely necessary for such
use
? favor the use Of Hetch Hetehy valley
a. reservoir for future water supply for San
FrsDcisco. and I favor present dedication by
congress Of the right 10 such use without fur
fher investigation.
The members may indorse either
view
In the circular which olney is send
ing out and which he hopes the mem
bers will consider before they vote on
the propositions submitted By the di-
rectors the writer begins by explaining
that his views. which favor San Fran
cisco'g plan for acquiring the Tuolumne
supply base and ultimately Hetch
l5etchy valley as a reservoir site, are
shared by three as good friends as
the sierra club ever had-President
Roosevelt. Secretary Garfield. and, last
but not least. Clifford Pinchot. Where
can YOU find greater enthusiasts for
nature and mountain scenery than
these three men2r
Refers TO Golden Rule
In his argument oIney urges the
club members TO keep in mind the
Golden rule He says:
you love the mountains, trees and the
aowers. You would like TO retain the
privilege, if you ever desire to exer-
else it, Of camping on the floor OF the
I4etch Hetchy valley, and that its trees
and flowers SHOULD not be damaged.
You do not look kindly on any scheme
that viii lessen the uses by all the
peopIe Of the national park that in
cIudes Hctch Hetchy- In all these mat
ters what you love we Of the bay cities
love. what you desire we desire There
, Is no disa greement between us But
l-..nti,.....l On pare 10. Column