The herald., 1898-03-08
WATER CoMPANY'S REPLY
What It Says About an Inventory
Mountain Supply Schemes

City Attorney Dunn appeared before the
council and stated that he had received
from the Los Angeles City Water company
a reply to the request of the council, made
several days ago, that the company furnish
a list or inventory of all improvements
made during the term of its lease from the
city He then read the following:
los ANGELES, Cal, March 3, 1898.
wv. Z. Dunn, Esq, City Attorney-Dear
Sir: Yours of the 18th ult. has been sub
nitted to us, together with the resolution
of the council TO which 1t refers. we are
not sure that we exactly understand what
is intended by this resolution. If reference
is made 10 the property received by the
Los Angeles City Water company, we
would remind you that the contract itself
required the replacing of the wooden pipes
with iron pipes, which was done nearly
thirty years ago, and that the remainder
of the old city waterworks has long since
gone to decay and has been replaced I'M
proved and extended by the Los Angeles
CITY Water company; and the work so done
constitutes improvements under the con-
tract and there is nothing in the handS
of the Los Angeles City Water company in
the shape of waterworkS received from the
city.
"If the reference is to the works con-
structed by the Los Angeles City Water
company we would remind you that both
the Crystal Springs Land and|Nater COM
pany and the Los Angeles City Water COM
pany furnished a schedule to the water
supply committee of the city council of all
their properties nearly year ago, and
which said properties were examined
by the city engineer, and all the
information that we possessed was
given to the engineer and water sup
ply committee al that time. Since that time
some additional improvements have been
made. We have also compiled or could
quickly compile, in general terms a COM
plete list or inventory of all the property
of both companies but have supposed that
the city was in full possession of all
these things. 1t is but recently that we
have entered into a stipulation with you
in the United States court concerning the
pipes, fire hydrants AM reservoirs of the
Los Angeles City Water company. III,
however the meaning of the resolution is
that the council desires specific state
ment from us of our claims under the
terms of the contract. or. rather of what
we claim is not under the terms of the
contract, we would answer that the Crys-
tai Springs Land and Water company is
the owner of certain lands rights of way,
waters and water rights and conduits,
which, we claim, are not improvements
under the terms of the contract. but con-
stitute the property of the Crystal Springs
Land and Water company.
However, 1t has never been our lnten-
ton to raise any hair-splitting distinctions
on the meaning of the term. improve
ments, as used in the contract 1t would
doubtless be a matter of Interpretation,
were we disposed to make any controversy
about it, and that Interpretation could be
made as well by you as by us. and we sup
pose that the Interpretation of neither par
ty to the contract would be conclusive
upon the other; but it has always been our
desire to avoid any question of that kind,
and to say to the council again, as we have
said before, that we are ready to sell all
of the property of the Crystal Springs
Land and Water company and of the Los
Angeles City Water company upon receiv-
ing adequate compensation.
"Finally, if any further or more specific
information is desired, we will supply the
same to the best of our ability, but request
that inquiries regarding the same be def
mite as practicable, as, with the exception
of Improvements made since the schedule
was furnished you, we are not aware of
any property belonging to either company
of which you have not already detailed
statement. Respectfully,
WHITE e MONROE,
u. S. CHAPMAN,
Attorneys for Los Angeles City Water
Company
In reply to questions from the council
men as to the meaning of the rather am
terms cl SOlHt VI tut
Mr. Dunn stated that he had not had time
to critically examine the document. but
was satisfied that the letter gave practi-
caly the information sought, that the
water company will not claim that under
the contract the city will have to buy the
water of the Crystal springs. Owing to his
time having been taken up with the trial
of the water case in the superior court,
he had been unable to examine the matter
a he should like to and WOull DrOhaDly
report further on it.
In regard to the matter referred to him
by the council from the mountain water
supply committee, he wished to inform that
body that in the present congested state
of affairs in the city attorneys office, it
was out of the question to think of pre-
pairing a report or examining into the titles
of the three propositions put forward by
the committee for supplying mountain
water to the city. Personally, he knew
that proper examination of the
titles of at least two of the
schemes would take one man a
month for each, while the city engineer
had informed him that the work which
would come under the purview of his de-
partment would require at least four
months. If the council would narrow the
matter down to any one definite scheme
he would try to do the best he could, but
in the present condition of affairs the mat
ter looked dubious.
Nothing was done in the matter
VrynnnCunD ANTI rrTrNrnrDc