The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-04
LATEST OAKLAND NEWS,
The War Between Rival Water
Companies Assumes
Serious Aspect.
EARLY DELUGE IN A HOME.
A Careless Contractor Drives a
Spike Into a Big Water
main.

reached a stage in which every body IS III
terested. The pressure on the mains OF
the new company has decreased to point
that has interested fre-insurance men, and
new supply in North Oakland was con-
nected with the Alvarado supply yester-
day to help keep up the pressure IN the
mains. The new company declares that 1t
is pumping millions of water daily IN ex-
cess of what is used, and that its rival, the
Contra Costa Company, is tapping its
mains somewhere and wasting the water.
The presidents of the two companies
have thrown personal charges OF GRIM
inal nature at each other for weeks past.
Mr.. Dingee has charged Orestes Pierce
with being on the ground at Alvarado and
directing the efforts being made to dimin-
ish his supply, and Mr.. Pierce replied that
he was only minding his own business.
Certain it is, that within the past four
weeks powerful pumps have been
sunkinto the artesian belt all around
the Dingee property and have been
kept at work pumping fresh water
night and dav Mr.. Pierce says it
is used by the glue and other fac
tories there; Mr.. Dingee saws it is pumped
and run into the ocean. A few weeks ago
q wooden 1ume of the new company was
cut anu Tie SAIL wafer Vi In6 udTSl6S
rushed in and nauseate6 the consumers for
nearly whole day. Mr.. Dngee charged
his rivals with the dastardly act. Mr..
Pierce says the new com pany did it for the
sake of obtaining sympathy. After the
warm weather set in the new company's
pressure went down. Mr.. Pierce said that
Mr.. Dingee's supply was giving out. Mr..
Dingee said that Mr.. Pierce was interior
ing with his mains somewhere and en-
ployed Colonel MendelI and few more en-
gineers to try and discover where the
mains were being tapped. Soon after the
Council gave all the hydrants west of
Broadway to the new company, the fire in
surance men protested and Mr.. Dingee
said that the protestants were Influenced
to do so by the Contra Costa Company.
President Dingee boldly asserts that
President Pierce has organized a con-
spiracy TO drive him out of business by
pumping into the ocean, main-tapping and
inducing consumers to waste water in all
manner of ways.
Yesterday Fire Chief Lawton said he
would feel safer if the pressure west of
Broadway were little higher, and so the
Dingee wells at Twenty-ninth and Myrtle
streets were started up again and the
pressure increased.
Everybody in Oakland is interested in
this fight, as water rates are now so per
cent lower than when there was only one
company, and should either company be
crowded out a return to the old rate is
feared. There are millions of capital on
either side, and more substantial develop
ments are expected, as there seems to be no
possibility of arriving at an amicable agree
ment.
Spiked a Water-Main.
A house at Twelfth avenue and East
Sixteenth street was completely washed
out early yesterday morning, owing to the
carelessness of a housemover. A powerful
e B. il
through a gable window and deluged the
entire house. The sleeping inmates
thought it was second food and fed for
their lives.
The accident was caused by a house
mover driving a long spike into 24-inch
water main. About 3 O'Clock the con-
tractor who has bought the old SWEET
school was moving it and was changing his
gear. He started to drive spike into the
pavement TO anchor his tackle. When it
was about two feet in the ground it met an
obstruction. Big hammers were brought
into play and after a few heavy blows there
was kissing sound for moment, and
moment later road-bed and men and tons
of water were scattered all over the street.
The spike had broken the main at a time
wien the pressure was greatest. The stream
spurted into a partly opened window and
thousands of gallons washed through the
house before the water was turned Off. A
AbAlG lGl6T one Oh lue uOISGS Was SuQQSl1lN
stricken down, and it was discovered that
the telegraph wires which had been cut
had been permitted to fall across the
trolley wires. When the engines of the
Highland Park railroad started up the
trolley wire became powerfully charged and
shocked the horse.
Board of Equalization.
The City Council held its final meeting
as a Board of Equalization last night
D.. d.
several passages at arms with the attor-
neys for the Southern Pacific, lawyers and
experts. G. w. Baker said that man
who was so preiudiced against Mr.. Hunt
ington as Bassett has declared himself to
be should not sit n a Board of Equaliza-
ton. Bassett replied that the railroad
was not carrying things at present.
ga man is not down when he is on his
knees" said Baker.
mo, but you're only on your knees to-
night because you're forced to it" replied
Bassett.
The application of Edison Adams for re-
auctions on Lake Merritt property was de-
MED. Councilman Dow wanted Adams to
be sworn, but on the advice of his attorney,
W. w. Foote, Mr.. Adams declined.
The Vandercook system of lines operat-
ing in East Oakland and Fruitvale were
reduced 10 per cent from the Assessors
figures. Mr.. Bassett offered resolution
That the assess menu OF Jne ceNelIH-SLIeeI
railroad stand at $677, 900. The resolution
passed unanimously. Mr.. Bassett made
the same motion in regard to all the other
Southern Pacific, Central Pacific and Oak
land railroad companies.
AS Mr.. Bassett made his motions he
patted Mr.. Baker Familiarity on the head,
while Baker replied, Its all right, old
boy"
Trouble at PeterhoT.
Joseph Daniels, member of the Order
of the Messiah, has pre-empted the old
farmhouse at Peterhoff Castle and threat
ems to hold the fort against all corners.
Daniels is firm believer in the doctrine
laid down by the founder of the order, the
late Count Poulson, and he declares he has
been ordered by revelation to take up his
residence on the property. The widow,
who resides in the castle, is not believer
in the doctrine, but regards it as so much
nonsense. and she declares she will get the
Sheriff to eject all corners that she cannot
drive off herself. Mrs. Poulson has stated
that she has prepared to defend herself
and if some of the hot-headed member of
the Messianic order receive instructions to
invade Peterhoff serious trouble may fol-
low.