Letter from Charles Keeler to Theodore Roosevelt, 1907 Oct 23.

2727 Dwight Way,Berkeley, California, Oct. 23, 1907. Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States. My dear Sir: As an American citizen interested in the preservation of our national parks in their integrity, I venture to address you concerning the projected use of Hetch Hetchy Valley as a reservoir for a San Francisco water supply. The Yosemite National Park comprises two great canyons which are of preeminent beauty -- the Yosemite Valley and Hetchy Hetchy Valley. Behind them extends the lofty range of the Sierra Nevada Mountains with peaks accessible mainly by raods and trails either built or . projected up the floors of these two valleys. A dam across the mouth of Hetch Hetchy Valley would forever close one of the two natural avenues of approach to some of the noblest mountain peaks of California. It would eliminate the meadows and woodlands -which are now the camping ground of this valley. If there were no other available sources of pure mountain water for the use of San Francisco, these objections would indeed be far overweighed by public necessity, but since there are a number of other propositions for supplying San Francisco with water without encroaching upon any public park, it would seem right to grant any concessions in this national recreation ground, only after the feasibility of all other projects had been disproved. Assuring you that there are here in California very many lovers of nature who are jealous of any encroachment upon those tracts of land which have been set apart in perpetuity for the instruction and enjoyment of all people, I am, Very truly yours, Charles Keeler0623