It also was an early battle of conservatives vs progressives. As well dam for water-tanks the peoples cathedrals and churches, for no holier temple has ever been consecrated by the heart of man . o Creation of a commission to regulate public utilities. Eventually, when the issue was put on a ballot in 1908, it passed and construction of the dam began after World War I. Roosevelt's progressive political policy that favored heavy government intervention in order to assure social justice, nickname for the new Progressive Party, which was formed to support Roosevelt in the election of 1912. Within three years, Congress had passed the Organic Act, formally defining the parks and creating a new federal agency, the National Park Service, with a mission: to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.. o Opponents called them the "Wobblies". For Muir, damming Hetch Hetchy was a blasphemy. Denouncing dam proponents as greedy, he wrote, These temple destroyers, devotees of ravaging commercialism, seem to have a perfect contempt for Nature, and instead of lifting their eyes to the God of the Mountains, life them to the Almighty Dollar. o 1911, Triangle Shirtwaist Company in New York destroyed by a terrible fire. The privately owned Spring Valley Water Company had required its customers to pay exorbitant rates for years. On December 19, 1913, Congress passed and President Wilson signed the Raker Act which permitted the building of the OShaughnessy Dam and the flooding of the Hetch Hethcy Valley in Yosemite National Park. Although Wilson got only 42% popular vote, he won an overwhelming electoral victory and a Democratic majority in congress. Courtesy of Evergreen Lodge Northern California's reservoir levels continued to rise in the week after an. Created. According to a local legend, Nate spotted a valley to the east that was too far to visit. People have died after being swept off the bridge and onto the rocks below. His path roughly follows the John Muir Highway State Highway 132 that runs from Highway 49 in Coulterville up through Greeley Hill before connecting back into Highway 120 before Buck Meadows and the turn-off to Hetch Hetchy. What was the Socialist Party of America? . Who were the muckrakers? Pinchot also worked with the National Conservation Commission in 1910. In 1913, Woodrow Wilson appointed Lane his Secretary of the Interior. 02/08/2011. Hetch Hetchy was a spectacular, high walled valley, in the Yosemite National Park, and was popular with naturalists such as Muir and other Sierra Club members. How did the following influence reform: Rounding the corner and catching the first glimpses of Hetch Hetchy Valley reveals the play of light on water. In the late nineteenth century, American Populism. Why did some progressives oppose business? This time, in favor of those who wanted to build the dam. Mining and logging interests railed against the plan. Some claimed if women could vote war would become a thing of the pastcalming, maternal influence (WWI gave a final decisive push to suffrage). Pinchot fought these fires in Washington. Others envisioned a moderate reform that would allow small-scale private enterprise to survive, but would nationalize major industries. suffered defeat). But camped together beside jewel-like Lake McDonald in what would become Glacier National Park, they took a liking to each other. Jane Addams was an important social worker. Most reformers agreed that the growing immigrant population had created social problems. They felt government must regulate competition to ensure that large combinations did not emerge. The grassroots organization of environmental activism, established by John Muir and his supporters, became a model for future environmentalists. Aspire to be professionals. From the turn-off, the road winds for 16.5 miles up the old Hetch Hetchy railroad grade (26.5 km) to the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, passing many lonely trails along the way. o Rejected political action in favor of strikesgeneral strikes. San Francisco assumed from the outset that there would not be significant opposition to using the Hetch Hetchy Valley, even if it was in a national park, for the high and noble purpose of providing water to one of the nations great and growing metropolises, so their efforts in Washington, DC, were conducted discreetly. How did Roosevelt respond to Taft's presidency? Photo: Kim Lawson. It carried workers and materials for the dam, as well as tourists, postage and other amenities. The spacious rooms include access to a heated swimming pool, spa, playground, and laundry facilities. To get to Hetch Hetchy, turn north off Highway 120 onto Evergreen Road about 1 mile (2.2 km) outside the Big Oak Flat Entrance gate, and 12.5 miles (20 km) east of the small community of Buck Meadows. Glaciers followed these low-points, leaving their own marks in particular carving out the characteristic U-shaped valley with steep sides and wide floor. emergency exits to prevent workers from leaving "unjustly". The two have come to embody the conflicting philosophies at the heart of the American public land system: preservation vs. conservation. o Faith in knowledge: applying to society the principles of natural and social sciences. What were some early attacks on party dominance? Aldo Leopold's visionary thinking still guides today's environmental stewards. That trip is a 19.1-mile (22.9 km) out and back, or you can turn the hike into a loop that returns past Rancheria Falls (28.2 miles, 45.4 km). Teams completed the OShaughnessy Dam in 1923 and the reservoir filled for the first time in May of that year. Be specific. What professions were considered "suitable" for women? o Initiative: allowed reformers to circumvent state legislatures by submitting new legislation On U.S. Forest Service land, the interests of mining and lumber companies are balanced with the recreational pursuits of hunters, snowmobilers, and cross-country skiers. . They suggest that draining the reservoir and turning Hetch Hetchy Valley into a tourist center similar to Yosemite Valley could be worth up to $178 million per year. The law authorizing the dam passed Congress on December 7, 1913. Their rivalry spoke to rivalries at the core of the American experience. He read the book written by Upton SinclairThe JungleRoosevelt pushed for passage of the Meat Inspection Act. Subsequent proposals for development in our national parks have been defeated by citizen activists inspired by calls to remember Hetch Hetchy. If youre excited about a long hike or backpacking trip, you can continue to Laurel Lake for a 14.2-mile (22.9 km) out and back. Each switchback reveals scenic overlooks of the reservoir and Kolana Rock. The Social Gospel was a Movement led by Washington Gladden - taught religion and human dignity would help the middle class overcome problems of industrialization. o Longer life expectancy Rancheria Falls itself is a series of whitewater cascades that crashes through a narrow canyon on its way to the reservoir. Were they successful? Born in Massachusetts, educated at Fisk University and Harvard. Photo: Theresa Ho, Of course, the proposal was immediately opposed by environmentalists including the Sierra Club and John Muir. This fight set the stage for future battles between those who believed natural resources were to be used for the greatest good versus those who believed natural resources were to be preserved for the greatest enjoyment. San Francisco applied once again for rights to Hetch Hetchy in 1908. During the opening months of his administration, Taft called Congress into special session to lower protective rates. Would that be an improvement? What impact did he have on state-level reform? helped establish the federal government's role in managing the nation's wilderness. But Hetch Hetchy was a federally protected as part of Yosemite National Park. While John Muir led the fight against building the dam, the opposition was supported by Gifford Pinchot. The text of this article is available for unedited republication, free of charge, using the following credit: Originally published as Friends of the Land: John Muir and Gifford Pinchotin the Winter 2020issue ofHumanitiesmagazine, a publication of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Please notify us at@emailif you are republishing it or have any questions. Du Bois towards race relations? Progressives differed on their approach. High value placed on education and individual accomplishment. He exerted firm control over his cabinet and delegated real authority only to those whose loyalty to Richard Ballinger was appointed his Interior Secretary. Roosevelt and his followers left the convention and the party. An unhealthy environment could lead to ignorance, poverty and even criminality. On the other, the drowned valley has become an oasis of solitude in a national park that, in many places, has come to resemble a shopping mall parking lot more than a nature reserve. This time it was in favor those who wanted to preserve the valley for generations yet to come. Some clubs were important in winning passage of state (and ultimately federal) laws that regulated the food and drug industries, reformed policies with Native Americans, urban housing, manufacture and sale of alcohol, child labor laws, women's pensions. This can lead to algal blooms and decreased oxygen levels. 1860-1935. The reservoir supplies water for the city of San Francisco, so there is no recreational boating or swimming allowed. By 1919,how many states had granted women the right to vote? What reform issues did Wilson not support? Christina Dejong, Christopher E. Smith, George F Cole, Government in America: Elections and Updates Edition, George C. Edwards III, Martin P. Wattenberg, Robert L. Lineberry. But what about when the lake dries? Other trails also continue to Lake Vernon. What dramatically weakened the socialists? 10. preservationists (John Muir) vs. conservationists (Gifford Pinchot), Hetch Hetchy controversy 11. The Battle over Hetch Hetchy: America's Most Controversial Dam and the Birth of Modern Environmentalism Robert W. Righter Oxford University Press, Mar 17, 2005 - History - 328 pages 0 Reviews. 10th Grade. Gifford Pinchot, the first chief of the U.S. Forest Service, with his friend Theodore Roosevelt in 1907. Garfield was responding to critics who believed that the federal governments primary responsibility was to use the nations public resources for development in the service for the greatest number of people. Once again, the political pendulum would swing. Who was in charge and where did they gain their support? or break up trusts at the state and national level. For Muir, damming Hetch Hetchy was a blasphemy. Horace Albright, the second director of the National Park Service, wrote that Franklin Lanes appointment to the cabinet was made specifically for the purpose of pushing this [Hetch Hetchy project], the so-called Raker-Pittman Bill. (Source: The Battle Over Hetch Hetchy, Robert W. Righter). It got its name from when TR exclaimed he felt "as strong as a bull moose". Although Hetch Hetchy is included within the boundaries of Yosemite National Park, the entrance is separate from the rest of the park. What should be the fate of prairies, wetlands, or coastal marshes? Even in the summer when Yosemite Valley is being explored by visitors from around the world, Hetch Hetchy remains an oasis of relative calm. Hetch Hetchy valley was a spectacular valley highly populated with naturalists. Garfield had granted San Franciscos request, but Ballinger ordered the city to show cause as to why Hetch Hetchy should not be deleted from their grant. The gently rolling terrain has excellent views of the water and eye-catching Kolana Rock, which towers roughly 2,000 feet above. Buchanan v. Worley (1917): Supreme Court struck down a law in Kentucky, requiring residential segregation o NAACP also addressed the lynchings occurring in the South. In the distance, long white plumes of water cascade hundreds of feet down from rocky heights. He lobbied congressmen, compromised with logging and mining companies, and argued for a forest system in which these disparate groups could jointly pursue their interests. If youre up for a driving adventure, try taking a little extra time to retrace parts of the route John Muir described in his book, My First Summer in the Sierra. The report cited other dam projects in making the argument that this project would increase tourism. But during peak spring flow, the thundering waterfall can wash over the bridge making it dangerous to cross. [2] Controversy continues to swirl around the Hetch Hetchy Dam even now. Strengthen the government's ability to break up trusts. San Francisco could flood the valley and work began the following year. First American Woman to earn Nobel Peace Prize in 1931 as president of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. Describe three different progressive impulses. In the first years of the twentieth century, how did the suffrage movement gain strength? After 2.5 miles (4.0 km), youll reach the Wapama Falls Bridge with an up-close view of the lowest section of Wapama Falls. Hetch Hetchy was the first major battle of the environmental movement. They also argued that it would help the temperance movementgiving the largest group of supporters a political voice. Some hydro-power dams withhold and then release water to generate power for peak demand periods, which is particularly disruptive to migrating fish. Regarding labor issues, Roosevelt was willing to look at the side of the workers, not just the employers. o Efforts to limit the power of the party and improve the quality of elected officials. Hetch Hetchy is the incredible story of Americas most controversial dam and the birth of the environmental movement. If, on the other hand, San Francisco gained control, it would signal in important victory for public power resulting in lower rates for the people. Did Roosevelt run for a third term? The construction of the Hetch Hetchy Railroad took place from 1915 to 1918. "Progressive" Amendments: 17th Amendment, 18th Amendment, 19th . Like light shining through a prism, our views today must reflect the colorful variety of perspectives passed down through history. Hull House Settlement home designed as a welfare agency for needy families. In the mountainous West, land set aside for homesteading sat unclaimed, too distant and treacherous for prospective farmers, and entirely unprotected by the government. Once the glaciers retreated, tributaries leading into the main river were left hanging hundreds or thousands of feet above the valley floor, creating the beautiful waterfalls we know today. . The people of San Francisco won and were able to build a reservoir in the valley. . For John Muir, it was about preserving a natural wonder which could be enjoyed by generations to come. The San Francisco Bulletin printed a Dec. 1, 1913, story calling the bills opponents a crowd ofnature lovers and fakers, who are waging a sentimental campaign to preserve the Hetch Hetchy Valley as a public playground, a purpose for which it has never been used.. government should improve and stabilize society. Start by hiking across the OShaughnessy Dam then turn east along the shore of the reservoir. Yet we tend to focus on the latter, the story that pits Muir and Pinchot against each other. Who was picked to be Roosevelt's successor? It was one of the central institutions of the urban machine. o Banning campaign contributions by corporations Why did voter turnout decline? If youre especially in the mood to relax and let yourself be taken care of, The Blackberry Inn is a luxury bed and breakfast situated on 36 acres and surrounded by National Forest land. Why? professional organizations, trade associations representing businesses and Others felt it was a threat to freedom. o Some educated women shunned marriagewanted to stay active in the public world. He felt reform was a vehicle for protecting it against radical challenges. Bierstadts paintings and Muirs writings began to publicize the beauty of the Hetch Hetchy Valley. Many feared that we were headed for a timber famine in the next twenty years. o Divorce rate grew. In 1923, the O'Shaughnessy Damwas completed on the Tuolumne River, flooding the entire valley under the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.
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