(page 284) In 1859, Nevada was not; and its mineral wealth was unknown. In that year, the outcroppings of the great Comstock lode ... were revealed ... . Adventurers of every sort hurried over the mountains from California, regardless of weather, or means, or any other element of comfort and success. There were of course wide disappointment and terrible suffering, much social disorder, and shocking political anarchy. But the greatest silver deposit in America was revealed; the science of mining was rapidly carried to a greater perfection than was ever reached before; and Nevada soon became a State. ...

(page 300) It is well understood that there is a government title, which, if ultimately insisted on, is beneath all titles to mining property; but Congress has already sufficiently settled the principle that the claims of the discoverers and miners...shall be respected by the government. It should be added that the miners' rights are superior to all other rights of property except the government title. The survey, location and ownership of a piece of land as real estate gives no right, under the miners' laws, to the minerals which it contains.

Search on national parks, water conservation, endangered species, public lands, Hetch Hetchy, and mining for evidence of early conservation debates on appropriate use of federal lands.

Historical Comprehension

By studying the monographs and nature writings within the collection, students can begin to comprehend the social and political movements that influenced conservation. For example, biologists, ecologists, and other scientists developed the concept of endangered species. Through the conservation movement, this concept became a question of public policy.

Fuertes painting from The Harriman Alaska Expedition: Chronicles and Souvenirs May to August 1899. Page 26A.

The collection contains early warnings of human impact on animal species. Examples include The Extermination of the American Bison, 1889, and Our Vanishing Wild Life; Its Extermination and Preservation, 1913, both by William T. Hornaday. Hornaday writes:

and

(page 114) It is high time for the whole civilized world to know that many of the most beautiful and remarkable birds of the world are now being exterminated to furnish millinery ornaments for women's wear. The mass of new information that we have recently secured on this traffic from the headquarters of the feather trade is appalling. Previously, I had not dreamed that conditions are half as bad as they are.

Search on wildlife, nature writing, and natural history to find readable selections about social and political aspects of the conservation movement.

Historical Analysis and Interpretation

Using monographs and congressional debates found in the collection, students can analyze the persuasive arguments that helped secure the success of the conservation movement.

The Grand Canon, Yellowstone ca. 1875.

For example, by studying the National Park Conference of 1917, students can review the testimony of Mr. Enos Mills, of Estes Park, Colorado, who tells the story of the first national park, Yellowstone. Mills uses the history of Yellowstone to set out persuasive arguments in favor of wide public access to the national park system. Mills says:

(page 36) Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, the Yellowstone was the first national park in the world. There is an inspiring story in connection with the making of this park.... Prominent Montana men...had found the Yellowstone, had found it greater than the wildest, strangest stories that had ever been told concerning it. ...They had seen the marvelous canyon and the white waterfall that went plunging over into it. They had seen the petrified forests, the greatest geological wonder of the world. They had seen those strange, poetic geysers. They had seen all of those things.

But this night they were camping near the geysers, and a number of the men were discussing ...how they might obtain control of the Yellowstone wonderland that they might exploit it and make a fortune out of it, perfectly natural thing for the American business man to think of. But there was one man, a statesman, who sat by the camp fire for a time and said nothing. Finally, and I hope you will tell your children of this man, Cornelius Hodges rose to his feet. "Boys," he said, "you are on the wrong track. The Government owns this wonderland, and it ought forever to own it. This region ought to become a national park for the benefit and welfare of all mankind."

Search on John Muir, Gifford Pinchot, and National Park Conference to find understandable arguments in favor of the conservation movement.

Historical Research

This collections offers many research opportunities for students. Successful research themes include conservation of natural resources, social policy issues (such as public recreation on public lands, natural resource management, endangered animals, grazing and mineral rights), development of ecological science, and state and regional conservation issues.

Mr. Wilson, Miss Grant and Miss Townsend, on Moosehead . [between 1884 and 1891]

For example, students could research the relationship between recreation and conservation within the collection and find resources such as the 1864 work, Man and Nature, by George P. Marsh. Marsh writes:

(page 235) It is desirable that some large and easily accessible region of American soil should remain, as far as possible, in its primitive condition, at once a museum for the instruction of the student, a garden for the recreation of the lover of nature, and an asylum where indigenous tree, and humble plant that loves the shade, and fish and fowl and four-footed beast, may dwell and perpetuate their kind, in the enjoyment of such imperfect protection as the laws of a people jealous of restraint can afford them. The immediate loss to the public treasury from the adoption of this policy would be inconsiderable, for these lands are sold at low rates. The forest alone, economically managed, would, without injury, and even with benefit to its permanence and growth, soon yield a regular income larger than the present value of the fee.

Search on camping, conservation of natural resources, hunting, fishing, national parks, public lands, public recreation, wildlife, and states by name to launch research projects.

Historical Issues Analysis

The central issue, conservation, is shown throughout the collection as the battle to balance human needs with the environment. Students can study issues such as the relationship between humans and wildlife; the preservation of public lands for human enjoyment; and the use of natural resources.

Gifford Pinchot, half-length portrait, facing left. December 22, 1921.

For example, students could trace debate on conservation of natural resources through the collection, and find resources such as The Fight for Conservation, a 1910 book by Gifford Pinchot. Pinchot writes:

(page 109) The American people have evidently made up their minds that our natural resources must be conserved. That is good. But it settles only half the question. For whose benefit shall they be conserved for the benefit of the many, or for the use and profit of the few? The great conflict now being fought will decide. There is no other question before us that begins to be so important, or that will be so difficult to straddle, as the great question between special interest and equal opportunity, between the privileges of the few and the rights of the many, between government by men for human welfare and government by money for profit, between the men who stand for the Roosevelt policies and the men who stand against them. This is the heart of the conservation problem today.

Search on conservation of natural resources, endangered animals, forests, grazing land, national parks, public lands, public recreation, soil, water, wildlife, and Hetch Hetchy to trace the debate on conservation issues.