The San Francisco call., 1897-11-17
WATER FAMINE
GROWS SERIOUS
The Water Company Is
Blamed for Berkeley's
Sore Plight.
Municip al Ownership Is Urged
by the City Official
Paper.
Grave Apprehension Being Felt for
the Health of the College
Town.

BERKELEY, Nov. 16 The Alameda
Water Company. which is charged with
respon ibility for the water famine ra pid ly
>preading over Berkeley, is being severely
scored by the press and people of the town,
and a strong sentiment is being stirred up
by the exigencies of the occasion in favor
of Berkeley owing lis own waerworks.
The mains OF the Alameda Water Com
pany and the Contra Costa Company come
close together in South Berkeley, and is
believed that the Alameda Company
could be connected with the Contra Costa
Companys ripe5 and plentiful supply
obtained. The Alameda company has
thus far refused to buy water of the oppo-
-itioE com pany, and thus give rival a
footing within its territory.
Even if the mains of the two companies
wer- connected, however, large portion
OF Berkeley cou not be supplied as it is
above the level of the reservoir from
which the Contra Costa water comes
Probab bly, all OF East Berkeley north of
Dwight way would ihave no water, except
by pumping. Ii is estimated, oweyer. that
a tumping station could be erected at q
cost OF about $500, which would force the
water 10 any part of the Town.
Both of Berkeley's daily papers join in
condemning the act on o the Alameda
Water Company. The Gazette, the pio-
neer newspaper OF the town, charges the
company with conspiracy in The following
editorial:
So far as known, however, nothing has been
done. the managem Mt ing content to sit
supinely by while disastrous water famine
which may result in awfnl epidemic
steadily approached. Not only that, but the
charge has been openly made that the COM
pany entered into an agreement with the
Contra Costa people by which neither concern
can invade the territory OF the other.
If this BE- true, aud there is every reason to
believe it is, the Alameda Wa er Company
has de ibe7atel arran ed to have he people
of Berk ley priyed OF water rather than
take IN" chancs OF a competitor establishing
itself here. This is neither more FOR less
than a conspiracy and should be investigated
at once.
The World, the city official paper, edi-
toriaIly urges mum cipal ownership OF
water works in the following emphatic
anguage:
The interests involved and the dan gers
threatening are entirey too great TO permit
OF daliying wi any company. The prospect
of The entire cxhausuou OF the supply OF
water at the end of te days, or even thirty
days. when IN re Will BE- sbso o.utely no water
for dem site use or TO use IN case OF hre, is
simply appalling. and If there is any possi BIZ
ity OF securing water from an Oakland COM
pany ii should be done with the least possible
delay.
And now is good time to repeat the sug-
gestloE that the citizens of Berkeley be asked
10 vote on the question OF issuing bonds for
the purpose OF securing water works to be
owned by the own. 1t seems 10 US that If
there were citizens here t0fore VINO were op-
posed to the issuing OF bonds for that purpose
they must now be thoroughly converted and
will vote Tor such bonds with all their hearts.
The present situation cllls for the most
prompt and enersetic action. Delay will not
only cause suff ling and loss to nearly all the
ia antilles in town, but may cause the canceling
of every policy OF fire insurance.
Hea tn Officer Rowell declares that the
lack OF water to flush the sewers anu
sewer connections IN The water!ess dis
tricts may prAsent a difficult prob EN- for
The health authorities.
This whole difficulty" he declared,
"emphasizas the necessity of either gettin g
in a competing com pany or compsllin z
the A am eda mpany 10 furnish an ade
quate supply. 1t is useless for our depart
ment to compel people 10 put in sewers
when there is no water to keep them
flushed"