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copy 6 April,1910 , My dear Mr. Collier: I have recently been staying California with John Muir and got into the Yosemite
although I was unable to enter the Hetch Hetchy. I regret to say? that your attacks on Secretary Ballinger include? his attitude
in the Hetch Hetchy matter, which I believe to be entirely correct and patriotic. I am convinced by Mr. Muir and by the recent
report of my friend Director George Otis Smith of the U. S, Geological Survey that the appropriation of the Hetch Hetchy valley
for reservoir purposes by the city of San Francisco is totally unnecessary and is partly animated by motives which will not
bear close investigation, and would a piece of national vandalism of the rankest description. I earnestly? beg you, therefore,
to reconsider your position on the question of this valley. If it were not somewhat overshadowed in beauty by its sister the
Yosemite Valley, it would be considered one of the most beautiful things in the 06259