The San Francisco call., 1901-12-20
CHANCE FOR CAPITAL.

- profitable investments of large amounts OF cap
i ital will do well to give careful consideration to
the problem of providing an abundant water supply
for San francisco 1t is not likely that such sup
ply can be obtained anywhere nearer than the noun
tains The construction of the necessary works will
therefore require much time and large expenditure
OF money but in the end it will with good manage
rnent prove one of the best investments offered
to American capital.
The increasing population of San Francisco has
already taxed the resources of the Spring Valley
Water Company to such an extent that the company
has had to resort the of Point Lobos Creek
a source of supply That source has now been closed
to the company by the demonstration that the water
is unfit for household use The increase of popula
ton, with the augmented demand for water, will
eventually outrun the possibility of an adequate
supply from the present resources of the company.
Recourse to the mountains or to other distant
source OF supply will therefore have to be made
within comparatively few years the need of better
water supply will be felt acutely by all classes of
people.
At the present time the East has something like
superabundance of capital 1t is seeking investment
in every direction, only at home but abroad
Much of it has come to California, is illustrated in
the purchase of the Southern Pacific Railroad and Of
the Market-street railway, and of much more
has come in smaller investments that have not at
tracted public attention. Such being the case it is
not unreasonable to expect that Eastern capital may
be forthcoming to undertake the great enterprise of
providing a mountain water supply for the city, and
il is certainly worth while for all associations engaged
in working for the general good to assist in attract
ing the attention of capitalists to the subject
The issue should rot be ignored merely because
the need of more water is not acutey felt just at this
Int 1oo1 70 he and
pare for coming needs that are clearly foreseen 1t
is only the foolish who live from day to day with
thought of the morrow That we feel no urgent need
of increased water supply just this particular
uncture may be conceded but what will be the stua-
ton when the increase of population in the city and
its suburbs both sides the bay will require more
than double the present supply?
There was never better opportunity for obtain
ing capital for great water supply enterprise than
that which is now afforded by the accumulation oi
unemployed capital in the East. Money is so abun-
dant there that any kind of legitimate enterprise on
large scale readily obtain hackers; in fact
many enterprises of purely speculative nature are
eagerly grasped by investors Considerable sums ot
American money even being sent out of the coun-
try to Europe and elsewhere in search of invest
ments, not of which is so promising and so sure
as that Of providing an elaborate and comprehensive
system Of bringing in large quantities from the
mountains to the crowded populations around Sar
Francisco Bay.
The issue should be taken up by Boards of Trades
Chambers of Commerce and similar associations il
all the cities around the bay. 1t is not an issu,
peculiar to San Francisco. 1t concerns the Who'll,
suburban region as we'll the city itself Moreover
it is issue whose importance will increase with thu
years, and whose impending urgency ought not to b
overlooked in any consideration of the needs of th