The morning call., 1895-02-07
WILL FIX WATER RATES.
The Board Of Supervisors to Inspect
the Work.
Attorney Kellogg Denies That His Com.
pany Acted in Bad Faith to
the People.

The Board Of Supervisors met yesterday
in committee of the whole to consider the
subject of water rates. Supervisor Taylor
was called upon to preside. Clerk Russell
opened the proceedings by reading the
annual statement of the Spring Valley
Water Works, recently published. Chair
man Taylor called upon Attorney Kellogg,
the only representative of the water COM
pany present, and asked him if the Spring
Valley Water Company was ready to pre-
sent its side of the case.
"No, we are not prepared to go on with
our side of the case" said Attorney Kel-
logg. sit has always been customary for
those Directing to existing rates to be heard
first, the company giving its side later"
''Well, are you not ready to explain your
annual statement in detailP' inquired
Chairman Taylor.
mo" returned Attorney Kellogg. EN-
gineer Schussler, who is familiar with and
has charge of this part of the company s
affairs, is confined to his home with a
severe attack of illness. He was unable to
attend this meeting, and our statement
cannot be given until he RECEIVERS. He will
be all right in about week"
The committee thought the matter over
men who were in attendance on the out
side.
Il. V. O'Brien, who said he represented
the high-level districts, pictured the neces-
sity of those living in the elevated portions
of the city having water, which has been
denied them for years, although often
promised.
'iLack of water has kept back the de-
velopment OF the high-level regions" said
Mr.. O'Brien, who is an attorney. "The
only time the Supervisors can do anything
| is when rates are fixed. Last year the
| high-level people fought for water, and the
| company in consideration of lenient treat
ment from the Supervisors agreed to con-
struct reservoir on Clarendon Heights,
which it has done, it is true. The reser-
| voir, however, is OF no use, Tor there are no
distributing mains built, as the company
agreed"
Mr.. O'Brien asked that the Supervisors
| take into consideration the expense of the
water company in supplying the high-level
districts with water, and by treating the
corporation leniently secure water for hun
dreds of homes.
Major Kline said that the Spring Valley
| Water Company had not fulfilled its prom
| Uses made to the last Board of Supervisors
on behalf of the valley districts. "They
! built the Clarendon reservoir" he said,
'sbut it might as well be in Japan, for no
water results to the people, because the
distributing mains have not yet been
| built
| Chairman Taylor read the letter in the
| last volume of the municipal reports, writ
| ten by the president of the Spring Valley
to the last Board of Supervisors, promising
| to supply water to the high-level districts.
| According to the letter the mains were to
| be built by June, 1895.
eve have not violated faith in this mat
ter" said Attorney Kellogg for the com
pany. eve have until next June to lay
| the mains and are now engaged in doing
so. The reservoir has already been con
structed on Clarendon Heights according
| to agreement"
as not the condition of the Spri ng
| Valley at the present time similar to what
it was last year when the present rates were
| fixed?" asked Supervisor Hobbs.
eyes, very similar" replied Attorney
Kellogg.
The committee decided to continue the
examination of the Spring Valley Com
pany's condition and its financial state
ment until some future time. 1t was re-
solved to make a personal examination OF
the works and plant of the company. Fol-
| this purpose the Supervisors, under the
guidance of Engineer Schussler, will make
an extensive trip over San Mateo and Con.
ira Costa counties, the journey com.
mencing on February 16. The trip will
not be iunketing one, as Supervisor Ben
jamin moved that all members pay theil
| own expenses.