The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-04
WATER RATES DISCUSSED,
Mayor Sutro Will Not Allow
Lake MERGED Water to.
Be Used.
The Water Committee to Prepare a
Rate. Schedule to be Sub.
mitted.

The Board of Supervisors met yesterday
in committee of the whole to consider the
water question in its various phases.
Supervisor Morgenstern, chairman of the
Water Committee, was called to the chair
and Immediately Mayor Sutro rose to
again direct the attention of the members
to the unfit condition of the water Of Lake
MERGED for the consumption of the people
of the city. He said he had already laid
the matter before the board and several
of its members had accompanied him and
seen the place for themselves, but he felt it
to be his duty to press it upon their atten-
ton, as nothing could be more important
than to guard the health of the people.
This pond, he said, was impure and should
not be tolerated as the water supply OF d
great city in civilized land. 1t has been
said that the water purifies itself before 1T
gets into the lake, but he did not think this
was true.
Several examinations had been made
and it was said that no harmful bacteria
had been found there. 1t was not expect
ed, he said. that the lake would be found
impregnated with bacteria of typhoid
fever. If it was so the whole city would
have been poisoned long ago. Nor should
a wise man wait until he had been poisoned
What he wanted, he said, and what should
be done was that the board should exclude
this MERGED Lake property from the per-
Missile sources OF supply for water to be
used in this city.
'They say they are not pumping from
that source, continued the Mayor. every
we'll; and they had better not Indeed,
they shall not, for shall not permit it.
will get out an injunction and go before
the Grand Jury if they attempt it." The
Mayor concluded by saying that he would
confine himself to this phase of the water
question.
Ben Morgan, lawyer, beganan argument
on the other phase of the questionable
water rates. He said that the method of
fixing of the rates by seeking the cost and
assessed value of the plant, ETC., would lead
the board estray as it was not the proper
way of arriving at the value. He suggested
that three disinterested engineers, such as
Colonel Mendell, for instance, be en-
ployed to make thorough investigation
and figure upon the value of the plant and
report to the committee. He suggested as IA
means of overcoming the objection of high
water rents to poor people that the city's
hydrant rents, the cheapest in the world,
he said, So 90 be increased to $12 and in
proportion the private hydrant rent would
be lowered
Mayor Sutro followed, advocating that
an order be passed compelling the water
company to put in meters where required
and charge for what the meter showed. He
thought the plan good for the city, for big
bills were paid for water on public grounds
and for many months of the year no water
was used.
Supervisor Benjamin moved that the
committee refer the whole matter to the
Water Committee with instructions to pre-
pare schedule of rates. This was adopted
and the committee rose.
Supervisor Dimond now introduced
resolution, which he said was required of
him by the Democratic platform, provid-
ing that the water rates should cover the
running expenses, interest ON bonded in
debtedness and per cent on the capital
stock. He hoped that some others of the
Democratic members equally bound by the
platform would second the motion, but
there was no second. Mayor Sutro de-
clared the motion out of order anyhow, as
it would be fixing the rate, which had been
by previous resolution left to the Water
Committee to prepare and report to the
board. The board then adjourned.