Transcription:
DEPARTMENT OF THEINTERIOR UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY February 6, 1897. WASHINGTON, d. c. Mr. Elliott McAlister,
Secretary, Sierra Club, Academy of Sciences Building, Room 51 A, Sari Francisco, California: Dear Mr. McAlister:- If
we may judge from newspapers, I suppose that the I selection of Judge McKenna, of San Francisco, has been determined upon
for our next Secretary of the Interior under McKinley. I write to ask if you know the Judge, and if you are able to give the
Forestry Commission any information as to what position he would take in regard to new forest reserves, and what aid we might
expect from him in bringing about some radical legislation in regard to our forests on the public lands. I think you will
be surprised before long to see what stand we are going to take in regard to reserves, and what radical changes in the laws
we are about to propose. It is of much importance to us to know if Judge McKenna will look favorably upon large reserves and
their proper management by the general government. If you know him, or if any member of the Sierra Club is personally acquainted
with him, it would be of great service to the cause if he was rightly posted in regard to the forestry matters 02234