The San Francisco call., 1897-03-03
Letters From the People.
STATE WATER SYSTEM.
Only One Rational Anstcer to tho Hater
Question.

Only one hGttOu0t AusWeT 70 tHe nGtef
Question.
To the Editor of the San Francisco Call-SIR ::
1t is surprising that such enterprising people
as Californians claim to be-a claim they de-
fend at all hazards-should not have led the
way for other States to q comprehensive solu-
ton of the water question, for the reason that
the impounding and use of water for irriga-
ton, as well as all the other uses common 10
all parts OF the Union have necessarily occu-
pied public attention in this State and elected
discussion for years. On the contrary, we
have gone on in a haphazard way, rather
more than some other States. leaving 20 local
private initiative and individual or corporate te
enterprise the inauguration of nearly all
water-supply systems yet developed in the
State. 1t is not much 10 our credit, and we
are paying roundly for our education and ex-
perience.
Private capitalists seem indeed to hold a
perpetual franchise on public intelligence as
we'll pubic enterprise. My impression is
that private capitalists succeeded in lncor-
porating a provision in the new constitution
of the State which seriously hampered If it
does not i'll fact prevent pu bile Initiative by
the State in constructing and operating pub
lie enterprises such as q State sys EN- of irriga-
tion and water supply. by striking at the
financial department of the State govern
ment. l also believe that statute laws in ter
fere seriously in the same way. While the
good people sept the public enemy. known as
C utilities, sowed financial tares all over the
field OF public enterprise.
In q word If it were possible under present
conditions, with the grip which capital has on
the means OF creating and controlling public
sen iiment, to educate the people in to larger
conception of the proper method of supplying
the whole State with comprehensive water
system whlcn would supply at the cost of
service aud fraction of a cent prof I, not ONLY
all the irrigation facilities useful to the farmer
and orchardiSt, the man with fve-acre tract
otNd ny r,ixy. ff,n Fnya
acres; but also the towns, villages and munich
palities with both water heat, light and power
through. a uniform State water system, also
practically al cost of service, | think the pub
lie would find considerable law and part of
it constitutional law, in the way OF the move
ment should they make move to establish
such q system. The private capitalists,
think, have stolen march on the iool people.
They are awake and look ahead while the
people sleep.
am led 20 record these observations because
| am greatly pleased with a suggestion made
BY Mr.. Taylor Rogers of this City, in sn az
dress TO the Governor and Legislature of the
State, proposing certain public undertakings,
primary ior the purpose OF providing per
manenI WORK 1or the unemployed and sec
ondly for the general welfare, but which /
fear cannot De inaugurated because OF the
lyga, Wbls obstacles to which ! have referred.
Whlie heartily accept the three different
melnoas OF providing public employment
proposed by Mr.. Rogers, it seems 10 me that
the entire State should al once respond to the
be sufficiently enlightened to adopt it without
tne neeo OF single days discussion namely,
tue Plan 10 provide a State system of water
supniy. Mr.. Rogers thus states it:
hlrd Plan--San Francisco, Oakland, Sacra-
mento ana many other interior towns are in
@ @heeo oI water systems, either because they are
ousueneu py the present water rates or be-
cause OF the inferiority of the water supplied
N ture has placed the Sierra Nevadas along
tne Whoie eastern side of California and stored
shem with inexhaustible SHOWS. Have the
state ou1ld 1mpounding dams in the canyons
az convenient points along this mountain
range and conduct therefrom the water into
the cities for human use and the irrigation OF
me lands of the Sacramento and San Josq uin
Vaiieys, etc.. the State charging q reasona BILE
price Tor the water supplied"
by striving after breviiy of statement and
ssrseness OF expression Mr.. Rogers has OBJ
scured some of the most useiul and striking
Iealures OF q comprehensive State system OF
water supply. He proposes, as the better O (
TWO ways Tor raising the means for under
taxing this great and sorely needed public
enterprise, "that California should issue its
own scrip and make it redeemab e In pas ment
OF town. city, county and State taxes and re-
10 add penalty for those whose interests
would lead them to refuse 1T or oppose its use
by the use OF scrip no interest would be paid
on the outlay, and In due time the debt would
De paid through annual taxes and the salaries
OF public officials
One would naturally think that the moro
statement OF such plan tor creating no BILE
system OF State irrigation and the supply OF
water Tor the domestic use of the inhabit ants
VI our villages, towns and Cities and for the
transmission OF power, light and heat at far
cheaper rates than can be produced in any
otner manner, and at the same time thereby
10 provide abundance Of work at moderate