Transcription:
COPY. Cambridge, Maas., November 7, 1913. Dear Senator Hollis: The final vote on the present bill to transfer the Hetch
Hetchy Valley from park uses to San Francisco water and power uses is to be taken in the Senate,I believe, on the 6th of December.
Thinking that you have an open mind on the subject, and that you understand the value of parka in general, large or smail,
national, state, or municipal, I bag leave to put before you in compact from the arguments against the use of Hetch Hetchy
Valley as a water and power-supply for San Francisco, In the first place, the presumption is strong against alienating to
other uses any territory which has once been appropriated to park uses. All reservations made for purposes of public health
and enjoyment derive a large part of their power to give satisfaction and pleasure from their unquestioned permanence, from
the people's sense that those open spaces with their woods, shrubs, grass, and flowers, are to be enjoyed generation after
generation, se long as the government which a created them shall endure. If Congress or a state legislature may be expected
to alienate them at will, or to destroy parts of them from time to time, the people's sense of security in such possessions
will be lost, or much impaired. Moreover, as the population of the country Increases the need and value of parka of all sorts
will surely increase ; so that the passing generation should not part with public possessions which are already useful, but
will surely be much more useful in the future. The granting of the Valley to San Francisco would be a bad precedent. Secondly,
enjoyable park areas ought not to be diverted or applied to other 05605