The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-17
CHANCE FOR A BIG STAKE
NEW DEAL rs REPORTED TO
HAVE BEEN MADE.
President Dingee Says That If Any
thing Be Contemplated by His
Rival He Is Not
Informed.
Oakland Office, San Francisco Call,

908 Broadway, Sept. IT,
Three months have passed away since
the ordinance fixing water rates as ar
ranged by Councilman Woodward became
a law, and yet nothing has been done TO
enforce it. There is now a report current
that on the 1st of october or at the latest
the LIST of November lie new schedule
will go into effect. This is denied by the
water companies, but 1t is just as posi-
lively stated by those who claim to know
what they are talking about.
1t is declared that the Oakland Water
Company and the Contra Costa Company
have at last arrived at an understanding
whereby water consumers will have to-
comply with all the requirements of the
ordinance that aroused such a storm OF
indignation last February and which
made MeSSrS. Woodward and BroSnahan
very prominent. For several weeks past
the leading spirits of both companies have
discussed the matter at the Pacific Union
serted that while there has been no actual
consolidation pool has been formed by
which the high tariff will be put in force
and the profits mutually divided.
This could have been done on July
but for fear OF a stampede from one COM
pany TO another, especially as 1t was gen
orally understood that Woodward derived
his inspiration from the new company 1t
was decided not TO charge the top notch
price at once. The new company, 1t is
said, was willing to use the new schedule
II the Contra Costa company would agree
not to accept its customers or to charge
$40 for ''reconnect,' as patrons who
change from one company to another are
called. Directors Whittier and Prescott
of the old company would not agree to
this, thinking that should the new COM
pany charge the enormous rates there
would surely be a stampede across the
street There was somewhat of a STAN
pede, and the new company. lost some
hundreds of "dsconnects." but not as
many as the Contra Costa Company an
ticipated.
President Dingee stopped this incident
by publicly announcing that he would not
put the new ordinance into effect. The
old rate it is understood would realize
to the two companies about $3.50 900 year,
while the Woodward ordinance would
yield a Joint income to the two companies
in the neighborhood of $3.50 900, or an in
crease of SIS. 900 a month. Three months
saved SIS 600, but agreeing to enforce the
new ordinance the combination can still
make over $500, 900 before the legal rate
goes out of effect next July.
In this connection 1t iS-stated that some
new evidence regarding the water rate
scandal of February has been placed be-
fore the Grand Jury. The people handling
the water business commercially and po-
litically are not so solid as they were
some months ago. and 1t would not be
surprising If something sensational were
to develop before this Grand Jury adj
journs sine die.
W. ]. Dingee declares positively that
his company does not intend to raise
water rates on November l or at all. He
says he knows nothing Of what the other
oOrnnaOv NAV he concentrating.