The Impact Of John Muir's Legacy On Preservation Of America During The Progressive Era

Father of National Parks: John Muir's Legacy on Preservation America during the Progressive Era was a changing atmosphere. The “Wild West” had been replaced by order and society. Land speculators had taken over large tracts of forest and grazing land for the exploitation of their natural resources and profit. Large mining companies used mining practices that were wasteful to the surrounding environment. However, even though this seemed wrong, some Americans were illusioned by the idea that there was a limitless supply of natural resources on the continent (Conservation in the Progressive Era). This gave rise to the views of preservation and conservation. Similar in name, these two ideas were vastly different from each other. Preservation

Even though the Hetch Hetchy debate ended in failure for John Muir and other preservationists, this event helped raise public awareness about the importance of preserving nature. Hetch Hetchy is a valley located in Yosemite National Park and sits on the Tuolumne River. In 1902, ex-Mayor James Phelan of San Francisco filed a claim for the water from the Tuolumne River. To do this, there would have to be a dam put in place in order to get the right amount of water. He did this because, at the time, San Francisco did not have a reliable source of water. Phelan also thought that damming Hetchy Hetchy was the only way to stop “monopoly and microbes” (Carlsson). The Federal Right of Way Act of 1901 also provided the legal basis for cities to acquire rights to national parkland, continuing Phelan’s point. However, in January 1910, the city held a vote where voters approved of a $45 million bond to build the Hetch Hetchy but rejected a $35 million bond to buy out the nearby Spring Valley Water Company’s facilities (Carlsson). This point gave the basis for John Muir’s argument saying that Hetch Hetchy should be preserved for its natural beauty. City lobbyists and engineers also argued for public use of Hetch Hetchy but argued for a grand water and power system to provide energy and water to San Francisco (Carlsson). At this point, the ideas of conservation and preservation had split. People now had to decide whether to advocate for the preservation of nature or for the sustainable use of nature’s natural resources. John Muir argued that “everywhere, everywhere over all the blessed continent, there was beauty, and melody, and kindly, wholesome, foodful abundance” (American Forests). On the other hand, people like Gifford Pinchot argued that natural resources should be sustainably used, but should also meet the needs of humanity (Keel). In the end, the