While most women's clubs who petitioned Congress argued against the damming of the Hetch Hetchy Valley, San Francisco residents stood largely in support of the dam. In their telegram to Congress, the Executive Board of the San Francisco District of the California Women's Clubs urged the Senate to vote for the Raker Bill, a bill to grant San Francisco the right to dam the Valley. Women activists in the Progressive Era often appealed to the special concerns of their gender. In this example, the Federation argued that women faced the water crises daily.
Painting by Elvira Hutchings, wife of James Hutchings. The Hutchings owned and operated one of the earliest hotels to welcome and guide tourists through Yosemite. In addition to running the day-to-day operations of the hotel, Elvira studied painting, music, and botany. ("Hutchings," NPS.gov)
