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Hetchy Dam Pros And Cons

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The Hetchy Dam controversy of the early 1900’s was a debate that shaped how America has dealt with the environment since. The debate featured those for the proposed dam the conservationists and those opposed the preservationists. These arguments were brought before congress to make a decision about the fate of the valley. The debate over the Hetch Hetchy dam was about whether preserving the environment the way it is or using our natural resources efficiently had more value to human society.
The proposed dam in Hetch Hetchy Valley was to supply fresh water and electricity to San Francisco. The valley is in Yosemite National park would deliver power and water to the city over 100 miles away. This would also mean that park of the national park would be flooded destroying the forest and nature living in the valley.The common view among americans was that is was in the most part for the greater good. George Knapp held the view of the common American and stated “Our natural resources have been used, not wasted”. Knapp and American’s view of the issue of the environment that the U.S. had been properly using the resources it had taken from the earth. This few is that whatever man had been taking from nature it only used it for what was …show more content…

They feel that being able to enjoy the natural beauty of the world was more beneficial to humanity than collecting resources from it and destroying it in the process. John Muir was the main proponent for the preservationists. He argued that conservationists only wished to dam Hetch Hetchy as it would be low cost and saw no value in its natural state. Stated in one of his essays “This grossly destructive commercial scheme has long been planned and urged, because of the comparative cheapness of the dam”. He is arguing that the conservationist only care about the real dollar cost for the project without consideration for what will be

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