The morning call., 1894-02-07
. OURWATER RATES.
The Supervisors Meet to
Fix Them.
SPRING VALLEYS EXPENSES.
The Chief Clerk, Booker, Gees
Into Details.
, FUMES, METERS AND PIPES.
What One of the Company's Officials
SAYS 1t Costs to Run
the Works.
FLUMEs, METERS AND PIPES.

The Board of Supervisors met yesterday
morning as a committee of the whole. TO
consider the question of fixing water rates
for the next fiscal year.
The committee of the whole was against
the protest of Supervisor Hinton, who
made strong fight to have the entire mat
ter left to the Committee on Water Sup
ply, of which Supervisor James Dspman
is chairman. because in committee of the
whole there can be no minority report.
All of the Supervisors were present yes
terday morning with the exception OF Su-
pervisor Forman.
Supervisor James DenmaD presided over
the committee of the whole. There were
present also Attorney W. f. Herrin, repre-
senting the Spring Valley Water Company.
and George ii. Booker, chief clerk, besides
number Of taxpayers.
George Ii. Booker was first called, and
minutely questioned regarding the lin ances
of the company. He gave the general
statement of the receipts and disburse-
ments OF the company as published In The
CALL some days ago, and when questioned
went into details not given In the Spring Val
ley's annual statement. Attention was paid
to the operating expenses of the company. an
effort being made to discover why they reached
such high figure.
The witness first went into the details Of the
pumping expenses which he said were very
large.
Supervisor Hinton asked II it were not true
that the company promised last year that the
pumping item would be small this year, and
the witness replied that such was the fact. be
gave figures which showed that the total eX-
penses for pumping for the year S64.-
6O5 so. The MERGED pumps cost S2O.70S !;
paI l.of-
Point, SIS. 332; Ashbury Heights, S4S34. The
fumes also cost the company considerable
money, according to the witness figures: The
Fox Creek, s6249 GO: LobOs iume. 1926 33;
San Andreas. 1892 81; PIlarcltos, 1898 80; ;
Searsvle, $3.50 80; Crystal Springs, S6367;
s16,ass. WINS 'i''''' anu '''' ''A0''''
Supervisor Dundon inquired how II was that
the company only had about twenty five horses
in its ables and the cost was great. He
thought that $500 was enough for their MAIN
tenance.
Attorney Herrin informed Supervisor Dun
don that Engineer Scbussler knew more about
The subject and asked him 10 walt until that
witness was called.
The witness Booker continued giving his tes-
timony saying that the expense for mains was
S20,527, meter expenses S32, 4S2 46 and gen
eral expenses S3S. 543 46.
Chairman Denman inquired what these gen.
eTal expenses were.
The witness replied that they were for print
Ing and legal business ana sundry Items.
SIO,041 16.
what these for? ?" inquired Denman.
For books. furniture and The paving the
salaries or porters and janltors. Some OF
the books used cost $3.50 each. The next
expenditures footed up s134,214 81 for
salaries; new pipe line. 1914 81; Alameda
pipe line, SS15S 40; Crystal Springs DAM
Sl7o6 40: San Mateo stables, S45S 40; meter
repairs. S3206 80. The expenses for taxes
were S96, $50 70 and the dividends S663, 800.
The new Improvements cost 1927, 342 49,"
Witness stated thar the city owed the company
about $50, 900 for water.
Supervisor DundOD inquired how II was that
The SUPERVISORS had calculated on a reduction
OF $4,000 in the companys receipts and yet
the figures oDly showed reduction OF $40, 900.
Attorney HerTin stated that that was only
for six months.
Witness Booker said he had calculated on a
reduction OF S48. 600 for the year. The witness
went into the subject OF vacant houses and
said there were about 400 of these during
the year that furnished no revenue to the COM
pauy.
This ended the testimony Of the witness, who
Will be followed by Engineer Scbusser.
Before adjournment L. V. OBrien made a
strong appeal to the committee. 10 compel the
water company TO furnish reservoirs 10 provide
water for the higher sections of the city, such
as Holly Park and Clarendon Heights.
He was told that The water company was
willing 10 do so if The CITY would make certain
concessions.
w. c. Little, appearing for Adolph Sutro,
seconded MI. OBrlen In his request, and SAID