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Gifford Pinchot believes that Secretary of the Interior Franklin K. Lane’s plan “is one of the cleverest and least scrupulous schemes for defrauding the Government that has ever come my way.” After a project is completed, men are selected to discover whether it is possible to take legitimate charge off the water users and have the government pay for it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-08-11
Gifford Pinchot reports to the Camp Fire Club of America about forest conservation in Adirondack Park. He believes the forests are one of New York’s greatest possessions, supplying resources, commerce and recreation. More should be done to protect the forests from misuse and fire. Good laws and properly trained, well-paid firefighters and forest rangers will help the efforts, as well as replanting programs. Pinchot recommends new laws for logging companies, discusses issues with Section 7 of Article 7 of the Constitution, and recommends changes to that article.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-02
Theodore Roosevelt appointed former Rough Rider Sebird B. Henderson as a forest ranger in 1903, where he has worked for more than eight years. Henderson now sends Roosevelt statements from his various supervisors to show Roosevelt that his confidence was not misplaced, and that Henderson continues to appreciate his favor to him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-30
Gifford Pinchot has received a great deal of encouragement to join the Committee of Safety. However, he is concerned that joining would negatively affect his conservation and Forest Service campaigns. Pinchot requests Theodore Roosevelt’s opinion on the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-30
Gifford Pinchot provides information on Hugh O’Neil, editor of the Denver Times, who has invited Theodore Roosevelt to speak in Denver, Colorado. O’Neil was supportive in the fight against the Forest Service but his recent attitude has been questionable and he is hostile towards Judge Lindsey.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-23
Sir Horace Curzon Plunkett has written a book on the country life problem in the United States and Gifford Pinchot hopes for Theodore Roosevelt’s endorsement. Pinchot is pleased that Roosevelt might be able to speak at the National Conservation Congress and knows other organizations that would be anxious to hear him speak as well. Pinchot believes that the latest developments in the Pinchot-Ballinger controversy show Attorney General George W. Wickersham and President William H. Taft in a poor light.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-05-18
Gifford Pinchot writes to Theodore Roosevelt in Africa to provide a recap of current events. An investigation into Secretary of the Interior Richard Achilles Ballinger and the Forest Service will begin shortly. Pinchot believes that special interests control Congress and President William H. Taft’s administration, whose actions are characterized by “a most surprising weakness and indecision.” Taft has abandoned many of Roosevelt’s policies, and Pinchot sees a rift emerging between Taft and the more progressive elements of the Republican party. Pinchot sends his love to Kermit Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-12-31
Douglas Robinson writes to his brother-in-law President Roosevelt to tell him about some of the plans his son, Monroe Douglas Robinson, has for the future. Monroe plans to manage some property in Virginia, restoring timber land and planting crops. Robinson hopes that this could be done with some advice from the Department of Agriculture, and asks if Roosevelt would be able to interest anyone from that department in the effort. Both Douglas Robinson and Corinne Roosevelt Robinson enjoyed having Roosevelt’s son Ted Roosevelt to dinner recently, as they happened to be in the same area. Robinson is impressed with Ted’s determination and interest in his work.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-02
Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock provides President Roosevelt with a summary and documentation pertaining to investigations by the Department of the Interior into alleged illegal fencing and land fraud in Wyoming. Hitchcock reports that notices have been issued in 165 cases, proceedings have been instituted in ten with favorable results for the government, two enclosures have been removed in response to notices, two cases are pending before the Special Agent in Charge, one case is pending before the District Attorney, no report has been filed and no action taken in eight cases, and the fences in the remaining cases are presumably still standing. The item includes a detailed list of enclosures.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-30
Gifford Pinchot, Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, writes to President Roosevelt regarding forest reserves, timber and stone law, and cultivatable land.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-26
Gifford Pinchot explains to William Loeb what he witnessed in the Mrs. Minor Morris incident. Pinchot reports that Laura A. Hull Morris was gently but firmly escorted from the White House with one guard on each side. At no point was she dragged and he does not believe the matter could have been handled any other way. Pinchot saw no “unnecessary roughness” and he believes her quiet removal was the “right and kind thing” to do.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-18
John Campbell Greenway encloses correspondence with the Chief of the United States Forest Service Gifford Pinchot regarding an investigation into the Cass Lake Indian Reservation, likely referring to the assessment of the land for forestry or agricultural purposes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-27
John Campbell Greenway reports to Chief of the United States Forest Service Gifford Pinchot that J. B. White has been appointed to act as the representative of President Roosevelt in the Cass Lake Indian Reservation investigation. Roosevelt also continues to collect unbiased information on the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-28
Chief of the United States Forest Service Gifford Pinchot has considered the matter of President Roosevelt sending a personal representative to Minnesota. Pinchot believes it would be wiser to send someone with a knowledge of timber matters, especially lumber. Pinchot has J. B. White of Kansas City in mind. White is one of the greatest lumbermen in the country and has a wide practical knowledge of lumber.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-21
Stephen Tyng Mather, Director of the National Parks Service, responds to Madison Grant’s inquiry regarding whether there had ever been attempt to establish a national park on Washington state’s Olympic peninsula. Mather reviews the history of the establishment of a National Monument, the proposed bills that would previously have established a National Park, as well as some of the present difficulties surrounding the establishment of such a park.
1928-10-26
Assistant Secretary of the Interior Herbert A. Meyer requests that the department notify Albert F. Potter of the Forest Service when the matter concerning the elimination of certain lands from the Mount Olympus National Forest is presented to Secretary of the Interior Franklin K. Lane.
1915-04-16
Acting Forester E. E. Carter thanks National Park Service director Mather for both his letter, as well as the enclosed letter to Madison Grant. The Forest Service “purposes to give every consideration to a proper development of the recreational resource” in administering the Olympic National Forest, but does not plan to build highways into the higher section of the area.
1928-10-29
Arno B. Cammerer, Acting Director of the National Park Service, responds to Abby Rhoda Hills’ inquiry regarding the establishment of a national park on the Olympic Peninsula. While the area has been noted as a potential site, the government has not yet decided that it meets the criteria for designation as a National Park. He suggests that the best way to preserve timber on the specific parcel of land Hills inquired about would be to get in touch with State park authorities. Cammerer agrees that it would be good if the National Park Service could eventually furnish materials for teachers relative to national parks, but thus far this hasn’t been accomplished.
1932
Preston P. Macy, acting custodian of the Mount Olympus National Monument, reports to Mount Rainier National Park Superintendent Owen A. Tomlinson on developments relating to Mount Olympus National Monument becoming a National Park. Macy enumerates some of the ways the Park Service has helped prepare the area to become a national park, and notes the occasional hindrances caused by the Forest Service.
1935-10-03
A thorough history chronicling the establishment of Olympic National Park, written for the fiftieth anniversary of the park. The narrative follows the early expeditions into the Olympic Mountains, the efforts by Theodore Roosevelt and his administration to preserve the area through its designation as a national monument and forest reserve, and later legislative and local efforts to establish it as a national park
1988-05-16