Water rights | - Theodore Roosevelt Center

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to T. Harvey Ferris

At Senator Ferris’ request, Theodore Roosevelt lays out tentative suggestions for developing waterpower within New York state. Any such plan needs to be comprehensive and definite to prevent monopoly, ensure reasonable consumer rates, and provide for prompt, orderly development. He prefers a private development system and leasing water rights rather than government ownership. However, such a plan is not usually feasible. Therefore, it would be wise for the state to construct, own, and maintain the necessary dams and storage reservoirs. Waterpower development should be for the common good, not for the interest of a few, and it is only possible through cooperation between the state and federal governments.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick W. Donnelly

Theodore Roosevelt does not have the speech from last year’s campaign. Roosevelt agrees with Trenton mayor Frederick W. Donnelly that the national, state, local, and municipal entities should retain or regain their water rights and do with them what they please, from leasing the rights to harnessing the water’s power. Roosevelt congratulates Donnelly on Trenton’s water department running on a profit in recent years.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-09-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles McCarthy

Theodore Roosevelt disagrees with the document, but it is impossible for him to discuss the errors of the La Follette extremists. Roosevelt believes that Governor Philipp of Wisconsin believes in abandoning the effort to preserve the forests and natural resources. Philipp also believes in giving private individuals their water rights.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-01-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert Underwood Johnson

President Roosevelt shared Robert Underwood Johnson’s indignation at Columbia College’s acceptance of money “for such a purpose from such a knave,” (Joseph Pulitzer had recently proposed the creation of a school of journalism at Columbia College). Roosevelt tells Johnson that he was extremely doubtful about the Hetch Hetchy matter, but ultimately decided he had to stand behind the judgement of Secretary of the Interior James Rudolph Garfield and Chief Forester Gifford Pinchot.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-17

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Theodore E. Burton

President Roosevelt sends Representative Burton the text of an amendment for the Snake River project submitted by Representative Wesley Livsey Jones and Senator Samuel H. Piles. The amendment grants the Secretary of War oversight and authority in the construction, administration, and management of the Benton Water Company and the dam that will be constructed on the Snake River. Roosevelt believes the bill can pass with this amendment.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt directs Attorney General Bonaparte to prepare a statement concerning the rights of the District of Columbia and the Federal Government regarding several nearby waterways, including the Potomac. Roosevelt specifies that this report should include the amount and value of water-power, both developed and undeveloped, as well as estimates of costs to develop water power.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Note from Theodore Roosevelt to Theodore E. Burton

President Roosevelt informs Representative Burton, Chairman of the Inland Waterways Commission, that he will not sign any bills that do not guard the interest of the public in dispensing water rights. He has requested that Secretary of War William H. Taft and Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte prepare statements and will submit them to the Commission once he receives them.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt notifies Secretary of War Taft that there are currently many bills granting rights to develop water-power on government-held waterways, but that these do not mention compensation to the government for these water-rights as they should. Until he has more complete information about the effects of developing water power, Roosevelt says he will veto any bills to that do not make this provision. He directs Taft to instruct the Army Corps of Engineers to prepare a report on a number of questions regarding the construction of dams and water-power, which will then be given to the Inland Waterways Commission.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William P. Frye

President Roosevelt comments to Senator Frye, chairman of the Committee on Commerce, on the topic of water-rights bills moving through Congress. Roosevelt says that several bills do not seem to be guarding the public interest as they grant rights to corporations in perpetuity and do not charge them a reasonable amount for the privileges conferred. Roosevelt will not sign any future bills which do not address these two points.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ethan Allen Hitchcock

President Roosevelt dictates a letter to, and in the presence of, Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock, recording the attitude of himself, Hitchcock, Senator Frank P. Flint of California, Director of the Geological Survey Charles D. Walcott, and Chief Forester Gifford Pinchot, on the topic of the Los Angeles water supply bill. Hitchcock believes that the city should be prohibited from using the water obtained by the bill for irrigation. Flint worries that because the water bill aims to supply water for the next half century, there will be a surplus at the beginning of the term that will need to be used in order to keep their rights to it. Walcott and Pinchot believe there is no objection to using the water for irrigation so long as it is surplus water not needed for drinking, washing, fire, and other work. Roosevelt notes that much of the opposition to the bill as a whole comes from power companies, and ultimately recommends that the bill be passed without a prohibition on using the water for irrigation, but with a prohibition against the city selling water rights to corporations or individuals for the purpose of subletting it for irrigation purposes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph M. Dixon

President Roosevelt does not feel that he would be able to sign Representative Dixon’s act opening the Blackfoot Reservation in Montana for settlement because it does not adequately protect the water rights of the Blackfoot people. If Dixon withdraws the bill for now, Roosevelt promises to discuss it with him and Senator Thomas Henry Carter as soon as Congress convenes in December, and after he has received a report from Commissioner of Indian Affairs Francis E. Leupp. If the bill is passed in its current form, however, Roosevelt feels that he will have to veto it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Philip Battell Stewart

President Roosevelt sends Philip Battell Stewart a complaint from the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce which will outline the “serious side” of the situation concerning David H. Moffat. Although Roosevelt trusts Stewart’s judgment on the matter, he makes it clear that in general he is in favor of the public using irrigable water.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-10-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from John Muir to Theodore Roosevelt

John Muir wishes Theodore Roosevelt a happy New Year and thanks him for his contributions to conservation. He specifically mentions Roosevelt saving the Tamalpais redwoods and Yosemite National Park. Muir’s daughter Helen Lillian Muir has been sick. He took her to the Mohave Desert for the healing dry air.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-27

Creator(s)

Muir, John, 1838-1914

Letter from Arno B. Cammerer to Hamilton M. Higday

Arno B. Cammerer, acting director of the National Park Service, answers Hamilton M. Higday’s questions regarding water power in National Parks areas by providing a brief overview of relevant legislation. Cammerer states that National Parks have tended to be established “only where natural, primitive conditions can be maintained for all time,” and that the presence of commercial use of lakes and waterways would discourage the area from being considered for inclusion in a National Park.

Collection

Olympic National Park

Creation Date

1926-07-19

Creator(s)

Cammerer, Arno B. (Arno Berthold), 1883-1941

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Theodore E. Burton

President Roosevelt informs Representative Burton, Chairman of the House Committee on Rivers and Harbors, that many current bills granting water-rights do not seem to protect the public interest, as they neither charge corporations granted the water-rights, nor fix a term that the corporations will be granted the rights for. Roosevelt reiterates a recent message of his, and tells Burton that he will not sign any bills which do not provide for these rights.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919