The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-03-02
Los Angeles Syndieated
Press Scores the
Council.
Attacks the COMMITTEES Report
on Sources OF Water
Supply.
Frantic Atternpt 70 Deceive the Peo-
pie in the Interest OF a
Corporation.
Special Dispatch to The Can.

LOS ANGELES, March As was
expected. the two papers in the local
daily press syndicate which are actu-
ally owned in the interest Of the Los
Angeles City Water Company, came
forth to-day in bitter denunciation of
the report of the Council committee on
mountain water supply. The papers
referred 10 were the Herald and Ex-
press. Each fell over itself in an en-
deavor 10 show its complete subserv-
iency TO the water company. The mem
bers Of the committee We're denounced
and the plans TO procure a source Of
pure mountain water supply which ii
suggested as possible were ridiculed.
The Herald editorial was denounced on
all sides, while the committees report
was generally approved by the people
who have read il The Express did not
even present the report TO its readers
in full, but printed only q brief and
CARRIED summary.
The truth is that for some years past
it has been generally admitted that
for domestic use Los Angeles must
have q source Of mountain water. The
water from the river is neither desir-
able nor heaIthful, and there is no way
by which sufficient pressure can be OBJ
tanned for fire purposes. With this
pressure enough money would be saved
TO the people TO pay the interest on
81 OOO 600 annually. The report OF the
committee demonstrates the utter and
complete independence of the city from
the water company 10 establish munlcl-
pal operation of the plant
Il can get pure mountain water
cheaper than IL can stand by and De
robbed for the benefit of the stock
holders Of the City Water Company In
the Crystal Springs litigation now pend
ing the city can lose the case and sIliI
furnish the rate-payers pure mountain
water for a less sum than that atwhich
the company values its alleged Crystal
Springs water rights.
The city can proceed now with its
plans for municipal operation ana leave
the bunconbe litigation the water COM
pany has caused 10 be instituted 10 be
settled in the courts at the leisure OF
The Judges If q decision does not
come for ten years II will not make any
difference TO municipal operation. The
committee reported and based all OF
its calculations on paying the water
company the full value OF its improve
ments 10 the cfty's plant The amount
was fixed by the City Engineer at
Hlr-1- I
talk about g price higher than this fig
ure being paid by the city They talk
as though the entire water Of the Los
Angeles River, which belongs TO the
CITY. viii go 10 waste if the municipal
ity were 10 procure a source OF noun
tain supply for domestic purposes. This
viii not be the case. The city can sell
every inch OF water in the river for If
rigation 10 holders Of property east and
south Of the city.
From the sale Of this water a very
considera bic revenue would be derived
and the people of Los Angeles would
have what they badly need, pure and
healthy water 70 drink. The business
OF selling pure drinking water in wag
ons would be at an end and big saw
ing would be made to taxpayers in that
way.
The adoption Of the committees re-
port in the Council by a vote Of four
Democrats and four Republicans. and
with but one dissenting vote, shows
that the report was one which CCun-
cilnen clearly recognized they could not
vote against
OF course ii is q severe and we'll de-
Iivered blow 10 the water monopoly,
and the Herald and Express of the
syndicated press come TO the defense
of the mcnopoly's interest by assailing
the report II is in line with the es-
tabIished policy Of both. But by The
Call the people Of Los Angeles have
been supplied with necessary informa-
ton. and they are aware Of the mo-
tfves that impel the editorial policy of
these Journals