The San Francisco call., 1895-10-13
Suit Will Be Filed Monday tc
EStop the Council From
Acting.
PRESENT SUPPLY SUFFICIENT.
The Delay Caused by Litigation VIII
Not Give the City Any
Distress.

DAN L ~ hOCa, OAII., OCU. L. uc IG1I1S
of the contract made on September % last
between the city of Santa Rosa and Robert
Effey for the construction of system of
water works were made known to-day.
Immediately upon receipt of the informa-
ton the Taxpayers Protective Union gave
legal notice that injunction proceedings
will be instituted to set aside the contract
on the ground of fraud and illegality. The
notice was served upon Robert Effey, Mayor
Woodward, the Common Council, P. B.
Perkins and city officials.
1t was decided later in the day that the
suit will be filed on Monday next. The
terms of the contract are being generally
discussed, the consideration, $1S1, 900, be-
ing thought an exorbitant figure for the
work. The contract calls for the compile
ton of the work within eight months, pro-
viding for delays which might be caused
by suits that might be instituted or by
other causes beyond the control of the con-
tractor.
Judge Overton, banker and large real
estate owner, has had estimates on the
proposed work to be done in erecting
new system of waterlworks and the esti-
mates are from $4,000 to $4,000 less than
the contract price made with Robert Effey.
The citizens who will seek the injunction
are anxious to know who makes this
margin of profit. This litigation will delay
matters considerably. The expense of the
past litigation has alresdy cost the city a
large sum and it is the opinion of some of
the citizens that good judgment would
dictate that the matter be settled under
the law rather than personal feeling or
prejudice, which has been rampant ever
since the new water works question has
been sprung on this community.
The city Council is quite confident that
there will he sufficient water obtained by
the pumping system in the tract they
have selected for the city's supply, but
there are number of citizens who know
the country well, who say there are certain
geological conditions which preclude the
idea of permanent water supply from the
sinking of wells. Santa Rosa is not
situated, they say, in a valley it is located
on the slope of round depression inclosed
by high mountains with circle of lower
foothills. The streams and underground
flow OF water fall naturally into the de-
preston or lowest point of this basin, at, or
near the mouth of the laguna, some miles
lIOLl CduId IlOSd. Ac UP VI tuC ldHQ Is
toward the northwest, and the tract
selected by the city is on the southeast OF
town.
But really the city will not suffer for
water even if the delay caused by lltiga-
ton should be an extended one. There is
an abundance of water now that flows
from mountain catchment into open res
ervoirs from which it is distributed by
gravity throughout the city. When the
present Council was elected two years ago
there was some ground Of complaint be-
cause of an inadequate supply of water,
and because the Mayor and Council were
elected on pledge of getting good sup
ply, they feel bound to promote the present
speculation for the erection OF new water
works, which when erected will lack one
essential thing to make it complete sue
cess-namelv an ample water supply.
The Mayor and Council may have looked
into the bowels of the earth, but none
of them are Wiling to make affidavit that
they saw bigger or better supply than
the one that now obtains. The County
Supervisors tried to find water to supply
the courthouse when built. Three other
attempts to find water have been made.
All were absolute failures. It was then an
experiment and is still an experiment, to
which the largest taxpayers are opposed,
because they are expected to pay for it.
Santa Rosa is growing rapidly and in
terested citizens say it is well to consider
the necessity for an increased water sup
ply. They think the city ought to own its
OVID water works, but unless the city buys
the present water works they ask where
shall it obtain its own water supply. The
pumping business has been and it is be-
lieyed must prove a failure. After the
works shall have been erected and pipes