The San Francisco call., 1895-10-18
WATER AND LIGHT RATES
AN INTERESTING OPEN LETTER
FROM THE UNION FOR PRAC-
TICAL PROGRESS.
COMPARISONS WITH PORTLAND AND
SEATTLE UNFAvORABLE TO
THIS CITY.

John NJ. Reynolds, chairman of the COM
mittee on municipal ownership of pubic
utilities of the Union for Practical Prog
merchants and manufacturers of San
Francisco.
The epistle opens with the statement
that every consumer of water and gas or
electric light ought to know that the un-
usual cost of these necessities in San Fran
cisco is due to the fact that they are owned
and controlled by private monopolies.
And the high price of water, light and
power in this City, the writer says, has
baneful influence in the way of increasing
the cost of manufacturing here and thus
decreases considerably the advantages that
| San Francisco may offer as a manufactur-
ing center.
There is a good deal of meat to Mr.. Rey-
nolda' letter, however one may view the
conclusions he draws from the recital of
certain facts, and its tone throughout is
conservative and sincere, which makes it,
in light of the proportions of the move
ment at present, document worthy of
serious consideration.
San Francisco lis the only city Of its
size in the United States that does not
own its own water supply" says Mr. Rey-
nolds. He estimates-from figures obtain
able in the municipal reports-that the
merchants and business men of this City
are subjected to a tax of about 1000, 900 a
year for water and light that other cities
have escaped through the municipalities
ton of these utilities. Concerning the
profits of the Spring Valley Water Com
pany Mr.. Reynolds writes:
BY the report of the Spring Valley Water
Company for 1894 we learn that they were
able-wf1h the assistance of the Board of Super
visors-to pay dividends amounting TO $702,-
OOO- They also paid interest on bonds
amounting to 1923, 1873 A. The operating ex-
penses for that year were only 1876, 200 81.
What business man OF San Francisco or manu-
facturer dreams of such profits? The rates
that enable them to pocket these enormous
sums, besides paying the salaries and attor-
! neys' fees, are fixed by the Supervisors. The
average rate for this City in 1890 put
! per, year The average rate by the same
| authority in the few other cities which are
| supplied by private companies-none OF which
\ as large Sen Francisco-was SIT 4S per
year, and the average rate in those cities
which own their water works was S11 SO.
Referring again to the fact that the
"exorbitant light and water rates OF San
Francisco" act as all effectual drag upon
the business interests of this City and en-
able such cities as Portland and Seattle.
/ for example, to undersell San Francisco,
! Mr.. Reynolds quotes more figures that are
of decidedly interesting nature in the con-
sideration of this subject. Both Portland
and Seattle own and operate their own
water plants, he says. And the rates OF
these cities do not compare well-from a
/ San Francisco standpoint - with those
charged by the Spring Valley.
The meter rates at Portland are for quaint
ties up to $4,000 gallons 81 80 per month
| The meter rates at Seattle are So 80 for % ,0OC
gallons, while the rates at San Francisco are
So 81 for % 900 gallons. The rate at Portland
for 100000 gallons per month is $27. Tht
rate at Seattle for 100000 gallons per month i.
S19, while the rate at san Francisco is $55 fol
the same quantity. How we ask do our mer
chants and manufacturers expect to compete
with Seattle and Portland under such condi
tious?
The writer intimates that in future his
committee will have interesting and timely
data concerning the rates of gas and elec
trio light in this and other cities "We
have petitioned the Board of Supervisors, ;
he says In conclusion, Ito call a specia
election to enable this City to place itsel
In position to compete with other places
because the law requires that it must be
done IN that way. We ask the co-opera-
tlon of property merchants, man.
ufacturers and all citizens in circulating
petitions, and shall be pleased to consult
with any one upon other details'