Official documents relevant to the Hetch Hetchy Debate
The National Forest Reserve Act of 1891 This act established the power of the President to set aside public land as Naitonal Forests and prevent commercial usage.
The Raker Act, 1913 (giving the city of San Franciso rights to Hetch Hetchy) This complete archive includes the arguments for and against the construction of the dam. Look to page 23 for the strong proponent argument.
Hearing before the House of Reprsentatives, petition by Marsden Manson, chief engineer for the city of San Francisco, 1908
Decision of the Secretary of the Interior, James Garfield, giving San Francisco the right to explore developing Hetch Hetchy, 1908
Hearing held before the committee on the public lands of the House of Representatives, December 16, 1908, on House Joint Resolution 184 - Proponents (arguments for)
Hearing held before the committee on the Public Lands of the House of Representatives, December 16, 1908, on House Joint Resolution 184 - Opponents (arguments against)