The San Francisco call., 1895-12-13
PURE-WATER CAMPAIGN,
The Mayor and the Board of
Health Have a Tilt Over
the Matter.
STRONG AsPERsI0Ns MADE.
Sutro Intimates That the Board Is
Influenced by the Spring Valley
Water Company.

Mayor Sutro brought regular hornets
nest about his head yesterday by proposing
to the Board of Health that the analysis
of the water in the various reservoirs
within the City limits be made by the
students of the State University under the
supervision of Professor Hilgard. He at
tended the meeting armed with set of
resolutions ordaining that the Board of
Health proceed at once to collect samples
of water required and forward them at
once to the university for analysis.
The Mayor, i'll explaining his project,
said this was to be chemical and bacteri-
illogical analysis. 1t was very simple and
the students could easily do the work.
All the members were present and DR..
Hart rose with the first objection. He
said he objected strongly to this important
examination being conducted by students,
"Why should we go across the bay at
all" asked DR.. Hart. 1--WE have COM
petent men right here, of good standing
morally and professionally, and we cannot
say that the students are competent. Let
us. nominate some gentleman in this City
to do the work"
"Well my resolution provides for all
that" insisted Mayor Sutro. II should
like to employ Professor Price; he's an
honorable, competent man, and I'll pay
his charges out Of my own pocket. But 1
say, let US have the students do this work
and see what they are worth"
1--WE don't want to know what the stu
dents are WORTH returned DR.. Hart.
Let us have the proper officials ap-
pointed"
what is it you want?" demanded the
Mayor. "Under my resolutions You have
ha OH A I've nd oil thao oh or
require. l say. let's have every chemist
in the State included"
"Well. l want also to move that we in
clude the artesian wells in our investiga-
tion," said DR.. Hart.
VERY well, gentlemen" said the Mayor.
Then he proceeded to read his resolution,
proposing further to start at o'clock this
morning on tour of investigation.
DR.. Morse said he proposed to include
the sources of supply. Let the board be-
gin at the fountain-head and commence
with Crystal Springs.
That's not necessary" said the Mayor.
THE board thinks it is, was Morses
calm reply.
"WeIl, we'll do that afterward," pro-
posed Mayor Sutro.
mo, Well do it first" returned Morse,
land let's start at o'clock, instead of g."
"All right" cheerfully responded the
Mayor. 1--WE shall commence with the
waters in the reservoir"
Now, Mr.. Mayor" demonstrated Mr..
Morse, why not start at the head in place
of the tail in this business?"
"I'm Mayor of this City, and I'm going
to be Mayor" announced Mr.. Sutro.
'There's the Spring Valley Water Works
on one hand and 100000 souls of popula-
| ton on the other"
"Weil, move to strike out the students
| from the investigation" said DR.. Morse.
Gentlemen, | beg. of you not to do
F.! that" pleaded the Mayor. "It will only
| place you in false position"
1T won't do anything of the sort" was
DIR. Morses answer. "But III amend your
resolution so as to read that the students
of the University may be permitted to
| make an analysis of purely unofficial
character; and, further, that we appoint
the State Analyst and DR.. William t. Wen
eel to make the official report
"Why not let the Spring Valley Com
pany nominate the analysts?" the Mayor
| cried. Then he declared that the Spring
Valley Water Works had bribed every
thing and everybody in the State, includ-
ing Supervisors, Legislature, and so forth,
and had actually corrupted Congress.
''You have no right to make wholesale
charges of corTuption," chorused the
board.
'I'm an honest man," yelled Mayor
Sutro, land | want square deal"
There was long and furious discussion,
in which many compliments were ex-
changed. Sutro fought hard, but he had
losing fight; the best tha. could be done
was to pass resolution ordering the in
vestigatlon TO commence this morning, TO
include the fountain heads, with the
reservoirs, to exclude the university stud
ents and to nominate DR.. Wenzel, Pro-
fessor Hilgard and the State Analyst as
committee to make the analysis and the
report.
"All right gentlemen" SAID the Mayor,
as the meeting broke up. "Have your
own way. But 1 give you notice tina. |
shall employ Professor Price to analyze
these waters on my account. 1 pay his
expenses myself"