The San Francisco call., 1898-01-30
OAKLAND WATER
 COMP PANIES ARE
 LAYING PLANS
Influence Being Brought to Bear on the Members Of the City Council to
 Get Them in Line

Ing, and aVailed themselves or the 1lrst opportunity to reduce them to fair basis, thereby saving hundreds of thousands of dollars to the people of the city.
 After a thorough investigation of the cost, value and revenue of the Contra Costa Water Company" said MT. Mott, it was clearly shown that a great reduction in the existing water rates could be made. and should have been made many years before. Our committee made a very careful and searching investigation relative to the value of this company's plant, and we found that there were many items in the companys estimate that had no bearing whatever on the value. We cut out everything that did not belong there, eliminating a lot of land that had been bought to keep other com panies from obtaining water rights, and also eliminating properties that were plainly investments. The result was that instead of a valuation of more than six million dollars we reduced it to below two million, and then, to set off any possible mistake, we added enough to make it reach $2,424,659 52. On this valuation the rates were fixed, giving the company per cent income annually. If they have lost money 1t is because they have cut the rates to such an extent that they could not make anything"
 While there Is general feeling among the people of Oakland against making a fight on the water compan- ies, or on any other corporations, for that matter, it is thought that the rate cutting that has been going on be- tween the two companies has done more harm to the city than the saving has benefited the individuals. There has been much of politics in the fight, and the Board of Health was brought into 1t to the extent that a special committee of that body made an in vestigation into the water supplies of the two companies, with the evident intent to show that the Contra Costa Company got its water from sources which were deleterious to the health of the city.
 The report of this committee strongly condemned the water supply of the Contra Costa Company and praised the good water of the Oakland Com pdHN- HIS ISDOIL was printed III pamphlet form and scattered broadcast over the city, and also sent out over the State. Tn it was suggested that the prevalence of zymotic diseases in the city was due to the use of the Contra Costa water. While the people of Oak land understand the animus of the attack, and knew that it was inspired by an effort to aid the Oakland Water Company, the report was utilized by the enemies of Oakland to the disad- vantage of that city. In other cities the real estate dealers kept files of the Oakland papers, and also numbers of the Board of Health pamphlet. on hand for the inspection of Eastern visitors who contemplated the purchase of property and who had a desire to visit Oakland before buying.
 The startling statements regarding sickness and disease which were thus sent broadcast had the effect of turn ing many away who otherwise would have investigated the advantaees of Oakland before settling down elsewhere in the State.
 While the water companies were re- sponsible for these statements they forgot that Health Officer Dunn was
 
 not a politician and so did not look af- ter his report which was published January II. In this he showed con- clusively that the report of the spe- cial committee had been biased and without foundation, for instead of Oak land being an unhealthy city it Is one of the healthiest in the country. He says in his report:
 Comparison with other cities shows that the death rate in New Orleans is 23.34 per thousand, in New York 21.52. San Francisco 170S. Sacramento 15.60 while in Oakland it Is 1922. The very low death rate from zymotic diseases was a marked feature in last years report
 It will thus be seen that in addition to bringing about a chaotic condition