The San Francisco call., 1899-10-02
. MUST. .AVO|DA
II. CASE OF WATER
I. ON THE BRAIN
Municipal Plant Not a
~. PIaything.
HONEST MEN MAY DIFFER
+ CANNOT. BUILD A LIBRARY IN
. .*: THE. ATMOSPHERE
HONEST MEN MAY DIFFER
: CANNOT BUILD A LIBRARY IN
-: THE ATMOSPHERE.
1t Is Everybody's Business to Help
in Procuring a Site-Improvement
-: Clubs Reach Practical Basis
H.. on Which to Issue Bonds.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,


Oakland Office San Francisco Call.
49, sOS Broadway, Oct. l.
Care must be taken that the present
agitation for release from the exactions
OF the water monopoly does not take on
the nature of water of the brain. Nor for
the safety of the project must the idea
be fostered that IL is merely a handle
being used by q few politicians for per-
.sonal ends. There is a practical side to
all great questions, especially those which
Involve the expenditure of large amounts
Of public money, so called, but which
have to: come from the pockets of private
inditiduals. There is also much senti-
ujent in the general idea of benefiting the
public, but sentiment can only aid-it can
not do the whole thing. The sentimental
limit of the water works project has been
reached, and now the matter must as
Esme a practical shape or die.
There is altogether too much distrust
among those who are responsible for Civ
ing Oakland this needed relief. Honest
CUuncllmen may difter in their opinions
and that they do so is no reason why
they. should be charged with being dis
honest or. unfaithful. Some of the men,
hers are .consc1entously doubtful of the
FeTIuaEenCy Of an -artesian supply. 1t
has been proven that one man, by sinking
wells adjacent to his neighbor, can steal
away his neighbors water supply. With
that .Srtesian wells which flowed several
feet above the surface before the Alva-
1ddo plant was opened now furnish no
W ater except at depth Of many feet be-
2ow the ground. One man who came 10
Oakland in 1856 and made frequent trips
between here and San Jose says that
after getting outside Brooklyn Township
flowing wells were met with all along the
bay shore. Now these wells are mostly
below the surface. These facts do not
prove that there is not sufficient water
= s-rrv, ", L rfar ha1
do prove that. a thoughtful man is just-
ned in wanting perfect assurance regard
ing endurance or Such supply beIore
he. arrauges to expend several millions of
dollars for it.
. Nor is it any excuse for being irrational
To say that the public can decide the mat
Ter when It IS su6mltteq 39q 10 them. s. Inc
public elected the Council to do its think
Ing. The pledge TO attain municipal own
eTship of water was great Vote-catchlng
piece of bait, and now the voters expect
it:tO be fulfilled. They expect the Coun-
Cilinen to make the Investigations, and so
10 lay the foundation for the keeping of
this pledge; that when proposition is
Submitted 70 the people it can be voted
tJ.on confidently. The people do not wish
to vote upon. the question whether or not
any particular supply Is adequate; that
point Is for the Council TO determine, and
then the people VIII vote upon the queS-
tcQ of whether they want an adequate
supply or not. Everybody knows that the
matter is already determined. Every
he is paying between two and three times
as much. for water as is necessary. He
concluded years ago that II the city
should own water plant that would be
water plant he was in favor OF II. The
knowledge that the public will certainly
vote to purchase a reasonable water plant
adds immensely TO the responsibility of
those charged with the duty of present
ing such a proposition to the voters.
e. February. is not far away and already
oil in o
their gray matter upon the question of
water rates to be fixed for next year
Last February majority Of the Council
were the solid six" They all knew that
their days were numbered, but at that
time they had t in their own power to
do as they pleased. Had the monopoly
insisted upon any particular schedule OF
rates there is TO doubt its desire would
haze been fulfilled. However. sort of
compromise was effected between the
FIVE, the six and the corporation. The
result was that a rate lower than that of
last year but higher than that desired
Council is differently constructed. In
stead of five there are nine elected on the
same platform. Some of these have al
ready about decided that $50 900 is a
fair valuation for a water plant for the
city. This has been largely arrived at
by figures of experts who were consulted
In the CONSTRUCTION OF the Dlngee pant:
il is said that these figures are somewhat
Of a surprise and show that the cost of
the plant is not so great by about one
half as the record with the City Clerk
law imposes upon the Council the duty of
paying per cent upon water companies
investments has been exploded, and there
Is a fast-growing opinion tnat II per
cent be allowed on S3,00O,000 and the
usual amount for operating and main
tenance, the company should receive
about $3.50 900 oer annum. This year some
one has figured out the income will be
about s42O 900, or SO. 900 more than the
entire amount raised by taxation in this
city.
A fine public library building cannot be
erected in the air. The requirement Of
g site upon which to use Mr. Carnegies
gift should not be the privilege Of a few
wealthy men. A free library is every
body's property, and 1t would seem but
reasonable that everybody should take a
hand in obtaining 1t. The men who have
already promised large sums are not the
men who use such a library. DIR. Pardee
does not need a free library neither does
Senator Perkins, nor Congressman Metcalf
nor @. r. Lukens,. nor w. J. Dingee. 1t
does not appear as yet that the proper
method has been taken 10 arouse public
interest in this matter: The schoolgirl
who, unsolicited, sent 81 to the library
trustees 70 help purchase a site, In nv
opinion solved the question. Every boy
or girl who gives half a dollar or less
TO such a fund feels greater interest in
the project than If he or she did rot
There are probably 10, 900 people, Judging
by the reports, who habftually use the
free library. Each of these people have
only to give 81 to secure the needed
amount, as the other half required will
undoubtedly be subscribed by people who
Will give to such an enterprise from the
dictates OF public spirit, and not because
of any personal benefit.
II a big meeting were held at the
Tabernacle and merchants, office-holders
school children, politicians and every
BODY who can read, were invited and in
duced TO attend II does not seem at all
unreasonable that a comparatively small
amount would be pledged in a couple of
hours 1t does not appear that Il can
pe done by sparGely attended select meet
tngs in the Council chamber A meeting
OF this nature worked up to some enthusi-
asm by such men as have been mentioned
with few more of the nature OF John
], irish and DR.. R. F. Coyle, and a little
WeIl-tlmed music from an able band
would Go wonders and 100 people rho
VIII never be induced to give cent TO
the individual beseechings of a committee
man, would undoubtedly shout out their
names Tor moderate amounts,
e.. .The' Associated Improvement Clubs
have about arrived at a basis upon which
bonds for public Improvement should be
Issued. This association is composed of
delegates from every Improvement club
In the city and {u