The San Francisco call., 1897-05-13
Progressive Move Made
by the Improvement
Clubs.
Will Force the Issue Before
the Board of Super.
viSors.
Competent Engineers to Make a
Complete Inquiry Into the
Subjec Matter.

The San Francisco Association of I'M
provement Clubs met last evening and
determined that this City must in the
near future own its own water, gas and
electric-light plants. The association feels
strong enough to accomplish this, ano 1t
proposes to bring to bear ali the strength
of the affiliated improvement clubs OF the
City, the labor unions and all of the
strength of the local civic and CONNER
cial bod les that can be induced to take up
the fight.
The first move will be to secure munich
pal ownership of the City's water supply.
This was decided upon last evening at
special meeting of the representatives of
the associated clubs. The matter was
brought up by the report OF the special
com m ittee, which reads as follows:
To the San Francisco association of Improve
nlent Ctubs-GENTLEMEN: Your committee on
public utilities beg 10 submit for your consid-
Grafton the following resolutions with the
recommendation that they be adopted:
WHEREAS, The Board of Supervisors OF the
City and County of San Francisco has for some
time past been engaged In the investigation OF
the subject OF water rates, and particularly OF
the value of the Spring Valley Water WORKS,
in order TO establish basis by which they
should be guided in fixing reasonable water
valuation put upon its property by the Spring
Valley Water Works is grossly inflated and
steadily increasing from year TO year, and that
by reason thereof the water rates based upon
such valuation are unjust and exhor bitant
not only to the municipality, but also
to the individual rate payers; and
whereas, various propositions have been SUBJ
mitted to former Boards of Supervisors of this
City and County which are now on fle in The
office of the clerk of said Board of Supervisors,
offering 10 furnish this City with q good and
srff ont n a
able sum OF money, whereby the rates for
water in this City would be reduced at least
one half and the municipality saved at least
$213, 600 per annum; therefore be 1t
ReSOLued, By this association that the Board
OF Supervisors be requested to appoint without
delay corps OF engineers to examine in to
and report TO the Board of Supervisors as TO
the cost, quantity and quality OF water and
practica biiity OF the various propositions now
pending before the Board of Supervisors tor
the municipal ownership of water works by
the City ana County of San Francisco; and be
1t further
Resolved, That if said corps of engineers re-
port tavorably upon any of said propositions
that the Board OF Supervisors of the City and
County OF San Francisco immediately proceed
to acquire such property and take such steps
as will lead 10 municipal. ownership of water
works in accordance with the provisions of
sections and OF an act OF the Legislature of
this State, approved March 49, 1889, entitled
"An act authorizing the incurring of in
debteness by cities, towns and municipal cor
poratons incorporated under the laws OF this
State for the construction of water works,
sewers and all necessary public improvements
or for any purpose whatever as said sections
are amended by the act of March i, 1898
statutes 1898, page 61); and be 1t further
Resolued, That the secre tary OF thie associa-
ton be instructed to transmit copy of these
resolut tions to the Board of Supervisors and
also to all civic organizations, requesting their
early consideration and joint cooperation;
and be it further
Resolued, That we commend the efforts of the
Mayor and Board of Supervisors and the
public press of this City in eliciting the de-
tailed information in reference to the subject
OF water rates and properties now availab
for the public interests
Nearly every one present had word to
say favorable to the foregoing resolutions
and its urpose, and many statistical
facts were dwelt upon showing the advan-
tage of municipal ownership of the City's
source Of water supply. The resolutions
passed without dissenting voice.
1t was decided that the CO. operation of
the entire public be asked in this move.
President Fletcher, by direction of the
association. appointed committee of five,
who will present this matter to the Super
visors at once, and before the meeting
draw into this movement as many other
organizations as possible. The committee
consists of ex-Judge A. W. Thorn pson, L.
Samueis, Major D. McKinne, c. A. AIpers
and Joseph Sheerer. President Fletcher
and Weep Presidents William Metzner and
Joseph Grady will also be on this COM
mittee.