One of the men most conspicuous in obtaining water and power for San Francisco from Hetch Hetchy Valley.
HOW THE RAKER BILL AFFECTS YOSEMITE
NATIONAL PARK, SAN FRANCISCO,
AND THE REST OF
CALIFORNIA
Facts Regarding Mountain Supply
History of City’s Fight for Pure and Adequate Water
BENEFITS TO BE DERIVED
Bay Counties and Irrigation Districts Provided for In National Grant
By MARTIN S. VILAS
The Raker Bill, named for John E. Raker of Modoc county, Cal., a member of Congress, was reported unanimously by the House Committee on the Public Lands at the special session of Congress in the summer of 1913, after a hearing occupying several days, and under its recommendation passed the House. This bill was reported favorably by the Senate Committee on the Public Lands, and, after a hard fought contest, occupying a week on the floor of the Senate, passed that body December 6th, 1913, by a vote of 43 to 25. It received the approval of President Wilson and became a law on December 19, 1913.
The enactment of this bill ended a continuous effort on the part of San Francisco, covering a period of many years, to obtain the legal right to take water from Hetch-Hetchy. It marked the end of a contest, spirited and hard fought, which was participated in by the magazines and press the country over, and in which the great majority of publications outside of California opposed the plan of San Francisco.