Despite these strong arguments from Muir and his supporters against constructing the O'Shaughnessy Dam in the Hetch Hetchy Valley it is still more favorable to construct the dam. Conservationists such as Pinchot are correct in recognizing that the best use for the valley would be to supply water for the good of the population. In some situations the alteration of land for human use perhaps would not be the correct decision, but in this particular situation the city of San Francisco desperately needed a water and energy supply. Muir and his supporters believe that the damming of the valley would restrict the public use of the valley. Yet, relying on the theory that all resources should be put to use to serve the most number of people is the best ideology in this …show more content…
Therefore, Muir’s claims that there would be abuse or considerate waste by certain individuals such as farmers, gainseekers, and mischief-makers likely has little merit if the dam can be built from a conservative perspective. Brendan Olesky also suggests that Muir’s claims that damming the valley would negatively impact the wildlife aspects of the valley are also be overstated. Olesky argues that Muir's plans of enabling people to explore the landscape instead of building the dam would nevertheless still destroy the valley’s beauty. Olesky uses a quote from Pinchot to clarify his argument, “ It is ours [the valley] to use and conserve for ourselves and our descendants, or to destroy.” Olesky suggest that this statement by Pinchot means, “that [if we listen to Muir] leaving the land in its natural state and not apprehending its resources, over time people will begin to destroy it by walking all over the land [anyways]” (Olesky, Discussion Post). Furthermore, from an economic perspective it is likely alternative resources were not available. Xio and Muir’s thoughts that alternatives should be used instead of damming the valley could not be orchestrated because the most economic plan was to dam the