New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-22
Proposed Use of Yosemite
Section as Reservoir
Heatedly Opposed.
100000 PLAN
is GRAFT MAGNET
Audience at Natural History
Museum Hears Mr.. Taft Is
Against Senate Bill.

Retention or the northern portion OF
Yosemite Park, commonly known a..
Hetch- Hetchy Valley, as a public nor.
instead of being used as reservoir ~,
supplying water to the citizens of Son
/ Francisco, was Endorsed last night by an
enthusiastic audience at the American
Museum of Natural History. Vigorous
speeches by Eastern university educators
who opposed the idea OF restricting the
natural resources OF the country and
others who look with disfavor upon the
proposed project as savoring Of politics"
We're greeted with much applause.
Final action on the bill granting the ter.
ritory to San Francisco, with its valuable
water rights and timber lands, is now
pending in the United States Senate. 1t ia
hoped by the projectors of the opposition,
who are prominent in the East as well as
in the West, that Congress will take heed
to the protest. The national legislators
will vote on the bill December g.
The meeting was called last night by
the national committee Of the American
Scenic and Historic Preservation Society,
which has been active in arousing the
people OF many states against the pro-
posed plan to divert a part Of the ma
tional park to commercial purposes. 1t
is urged that the citizens Of the Western
city could obtain water in other ways
than by using the government land, and
hints Of graft are freely made.
In the resolutions adopted last night It
was alleged that the bill granting the
park property TO San Francisco provides
work involving s122.Soo.0Oo land offers ex-
traordinary chances for robbery"
Points in the platform Of the national
committee which received the commenda-
ton OF the audience who were asked TO
vote on the resolutions were:
mo precedent must be admitted for
invasion Of other parks.
Conservation is conservation when q
conserves. not when 1t destroys.
Natural franchises must not be given
away to municipalities any more than TO
other corporations.
Municipal politicians and engineers
must not be allowed TO destroy the mas
terpieces OF our national scenery"
Henry F. Osborn, president OF the
American Museum, read a letter from
ex-President Taft, who strongly Endorsed
the movement against the passage Of the
bill. He wrote: THE reports OF the en-
gineers. and all other reports show that
upon the payment OF a reasonable price
the city Of San Francisco can get a good
oil % 70
for drinking and other than power pur-
poses from places that do not involve the
sacrifice of an object OF natural beauty,
such as the Hetch-Hetchy Valley certainly
is. Therefore I am against it,"
Cardinal Gibbons and John Muis, Of
California, applauded the efforts Of the
conservation committee in letters 10 Or.
Osborn.
DR.. ]. Alden Sampson, OF California,
who exhibited views Of the Yosemite VAL
ley and the Hetch-Hetchy region al the
meeting. said:
I'VE have power TO make a remon-
STRANGE TO Congress. but we shall have
70 be strenuous in our endeavors 10 be
successful. as strong influences are
against us. 1t has been said that the
Hetch- Hetchy Valley region is not used 70
any great extent by tourists and nature
lovers and that fewer than three hun
dred or four hundred persons visit IL each
year. l know that last year more than
thirteen thousand persons admired its
beauties. II the bill is passed it will be
crying disgrace TO the people OF the
United States"
Dr. Osborn, who has been IN Washing
ton for several days laboring against the
passage OF the bill. declared that In MS
opinion the efforts to further the bill
could be traced only TO q desire OF grab"
on the part OF the promoters OF the en-
terprise.
Edmund A. Whitman, OF Massachusetts
said that the situation was caused BY
quarrel between the people OF San Fran
cisco and a water company. He Insisted
that there were many other sources for
water for San Francisco.
George f. Kunz. president OF the Scenic
Preservation Society. and Professor W.
Douglas Johnson, of Columbia University
also spoke. Robert Underwood johnson
presided.