The morning call., 1894-03-12
THE FAvoRITE ORDINANCE.
Some Think the James Measure
Will Be Passed.
TO REGULATE WATER RATES
The Board Can Ballot on Five Differ
ent Ordinances to Come Up
for Consideration.

Ii the opinion of one of the Supervisors
who is opposed to the measure is well
founded the James ordinance regulating
the water rates will pass the board at
to-day's meeting. This Supervisor goes
farther than to predict the mere passage
of the ordinance. He declares that the
measure will probably receive seven af-
firmative votes against five as the strength
of the combined opposition.
Five measures will be reported to the
board for action at the meeting this even
ing. The first in order to come up is the
Denman ordinance. 1t is claimed by It's
author that the measure will make a re-
duction of about 100000 in the revenues
of the Spring Valley Water Company.
Officers of the company rate the reduction
as high as $4,000.
The measure is substantially that which
Supervisor Denman introduced in 1898.
There is reduction of about 10 per cent
in the charges to shipping. At present for
every additional family in house the
company cha rges an additional three
quarters of the house rates. The Denman
ordinance reduces this additional charge
to one-half OF th original water rate. At
present when a me ter is put into house
charge is made for excess over the house
rate where more than the water allowance
is used. Where less than the amount al
lowed is used no deduction is N ade in
favor OF the householder The Denman
ordin anee provides that such a reduction
shall be made.
The second ordinance to be voted upon
reduces house rates IL u per cent. but me-
ter rates remain unchanged. This is the
measure winch Supervisor Refs introduced.
1t Is estimated that this would make re-
duction of $4,000 per annum in the water
cOmpany's annual revenue.
The third measure 90 be voted upon is
the one which Supervisor James intro
duced. This makes the same reduction in
house rates as is provided for in The Den
man measure, but makes no reduction to
shipping and does not change the meter
rates. Ii also permits the retention OF the
charge OF three-fourths of the original rate
on every additional family in a house.
One of the features of the measure pro-
videS for an extension of the mains to por-
tons OF the city DOW uns0pplied.
| The measure champiOned by Supervisor
Dundon provides Tor reduction of per
centIn house rates on the amounts charged
| in 1892 as shown by the receipted pills.
The last OF the five is the measure in
| trndueed by Supervisor Rogers, which is
Identical with the one VIII ch passed the
| board in 1898.
This ordinance of 1893 made nominal
reduction OF about per cent, though
many property-owners claim that the
practice of the company does NOT recognize
the reduction.
Should the measure introduced by Super
visor James fail TO pass. and should an
ordinance regulating water rates be
adopted by the board instead, it would
be difficult to estimate just what the re-
duction III revenue TO the company would
be. Property holders desiring 10 economics
could save little each month by limiting
the use of water to the amount absolutely
needed.
There promises to be lively meeting of
the board to-day. 1t will be argued on
behalf of the Spring Valley that any re-
duction in rates will iDjnre the value of
stock and make projected improvements
impoSSible.
The retort is made that So, 0O0, 900 worth
OF stock Is watered ard that TO make per
cent on this watered stock the people are
forced to ray out $50, 600 of their money.
TO this the Spring Valley supporters reply
that the stock was watered nearly thirty
years ago and that now all the stock sells
at par.
An expert who has been at work de.
clares that although the company claims
that its property Is worth So, 500, 600 the
actual cost as shown by the company's
own figures is but S17. 800 600, in which is
included 81, 600 laid tor the Calaveras
property. which originally cost but
S2.O00000.