Title:
Letter from W[aldemar ?] Lindgren to David S. Jordan, 1897 Feb 25.
Creator:
W[aldemar ?] Lindgren
Publisher:
University of the Pacific Library Holt-Atherton Special Collections. Please contact this institution directly to obtain copies
of the images or permission to publish or use them beyond educational purposes.
Contributor:
David S. Jordan
Date:
1897 Feb 25
2008
Type:
Text
Format:
Image/jpeg2000
Identifier:
muir09_0764-md-1
Source:
Original letter dimensions: 27 x 20.5 cm.
Language:
eng
Coverage:
Washington, D.C
Rights:
Copyright status unknown
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of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners.
Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Transcription:
-DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR- -UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY- Washington, D. C. Feb. 25,1897. Professor. David S. Jordan,
Palo Alto, California. Dear Sir:- Your letter of December 18th, came duly to hand. On January 15th. the Forestry Commission,
which then held a meeting in this building, called me before them. I explained the character of the forest areas of the high
Sierras, and recommended that if the whole area on the Central Pacific road was not reserved that two smaller sections of
forest might be reserved at the head waters of the middle fork of the American River and at the head waters of the Cosmunes
River. The Commission objected to extending the reservation to the line of the Central Pacific Railroad because, first, the
country is to a considerable extent settled up by cattlemen and sheepmen who have entered the land; second, because the railroad
grant would considerably interfere with the successful reservation, and third, because the value of the forest for practical
purposes is slight, the timber as a rule being stunted and scarce. The other alternative, that is the reservation of the
smaller areas proposed, the Commission concluded to take no action upon at this time. As it now stands, the additional forest
reserve, called by the Commission the Stanislaus Forest Reserve , extends on both sides of the main range, beginning at a
point 35 miles south of Lake Tahoe, and extending from there south to the northern border of the Yosemite National Park. As
to the vicinity of Gilmore's Springs, the Commission did not feel like interfering, as the question according to them seemed
to involve a contest between two private persons. It is to be hoped that reservations may at a future time be made further
north, although it is not to be denied that the reasons above referred to would interfere considerably. The Commission felt
that they had gone very far in reserving such a very large area as has been done, and did not wish to incur too much antagonism
by extending the areas beyond a reasonable amount. As it is, the proclamation of the President has produced a strong opposition
among the western congressmen. I have seen Senator Perkins and explained the matter to him, but am afraid that as the matter
now stands nothing more can be done for the present. Very respectfully, (signed) W. Lindgren, COPY U. s. Geologist.
06/86