The morning call., 1893-03-11
OVER IN OAKLAND.
Southern Pacific Water
Works.
ALAMEDA ARTESIAN WELLS.
The Water Rates Are the Only Ones
Too High for the Railroad
Company.
ALAMEDA ARTEsIAN WELLS

The Southern Pacific Railroad Company
and the Contra Costa Water Company are
at outs.
The two corporations have been quarrel
ing for a long time about the supply of
water by the latter 10 the former. a redue-
lion of water rates was given in the first
place and the big railroad corporation got
its water at a low figure compared with that
charged the Oakland properiy-owners. The
reduction was not sufficient TO suit the rail
road, however. and a few months ago, after
several communications had been sent
committee from the railroad company
waited on the water company to demand
lower rates They were refused. The rail-
roads water bill for the Western division
alone amounts TO many thousands of dol
lars per year. In Oakland the supply has
been furnished by a big reservoir at the
pier tilled by pipes running along the mole
extension. Many gallons havo been used
per day.
Since the ''high-handed measure" taken
by the one corporation against the other,
however, the railroad has determined TO
boycott the water company by getting a
supply OIL us own. II mas, In fact, been
planned to construct an elaborate water
works system at the Oakland mole.
ne supply VIII come from Alameda
FONT Seven OF the artesian wells for that
purpose have already been sunk and work
has been commenced on two more Those
already completed are yielding a bountiful
supply, and the railroad company, so far,
Is gloatingly satisfied with It's work, 1t is
the purpose to secure an average flow of
from 10000 to $4,000 gallons per hour. From
the new wells the mario W. gauge boats and
engines are already supplied. 1t is the
purpose to supply the railroad yards aud all
engines OF the Oakland and Alameda broad
gauge lines, as well as all ferry-blats and
engines running out of Oakland, by extend
ing iron pipes from the new wells across the
channel 10 the mole and pumping 10 the
reservoir tanks already constructed The
boats have been receiving their water on
the San Francisco side, so that the Spring
valley Company will suffer a little by the
railroads new departure. The receipts
taken by this means from the Contra Costa
Company VIII materially affect il.
L. NJ. Fitzgerald, W. w. FoOte and other
speakers at the Democratic mass-meeting al
the Colosseum last night were escorted to
the place By brass band. There was a
good attendance, considering the weather.
The chief speech was made by Mr.. FitZ-
gerald. the sentiments expressed being the
same as those spoken by him at other meet
ings.
Z. E. Walcoit, one Of the candidates for
School Director on the Citizens ticker. has
Withdrawn. He is now a member of the
board and says that there is too much work
to do, considering that there is no pay for it,
and that he has private business to attend
to. He has also been confined by Illness
and has had no opportunity TO attend 10 his
duties.
The clothing of Mrs. George W. Reed,
wife of the ex-District Attorney, caught fire
yesterday by sudden blaze which pulled
out while stirring the fire with poker.
Her brother. Thomas Crawford rushed to
her and smOthered the flames with his coat.
Both were burned, though not seriously.
George Shook, ex-sanitary inspector of
Oakland and brother of District Attorney
Charles (. Shook. has been stricken with
sudden blindness at his present home in
Tacoma. He has been troubled with his
eyes for long time.
The San Francisco police are searching
for the thieves who robbed johnson & Paul
sens jewelry-stnTe 500.
The robbery of the Wilson residence at
Durant and Harrison streets has also been
referred to the police across the bay. The
Oakland Police Department is entirely at
sea in regard TO the rObberies.
II. II. Maggie of East Oakland has laid ont
new town in British Columbia, called
Alexandria Park. He left for the place
yesterday.
Nj. A. D0re, a painter living a the Watts
Tract. feti from n window OF a house at
Seventh and Harrison streets yesterday,
and was taken TO the Receiving Hospital
with broken arm and other injuries.