The San Francisco call., 1903-01-09
CENSURE SPRING
VALLEY COMPANY
Supervisors Find Fire
Commission Has Been
Ignored.
Favor an Increased Flash
Test on Oh Used
for Fuel.

The Supervisors Fire Committee yes
terday concluded its investigation into the
complaint Of the Fire Commission that
the Spring Valley Water Company has
not kept its promise to set new hydrants
and Law water mains for increased fire
protection in various parts Of the city
The committee ordered the clerk to pre-
pare a report for presentation to the
board On the charges made by the Fire
Commission that its requests for addl-
tioral bvdrants had been ignored by the
oon,nauz. The matter was amicably set
tIed however by the company promising
10 comply with the requests OF the Fire
Commission in future.
Cleveland Forbes. representing the COM
Dan1-. objected 20 the censure Of the COM
pany contained in the report, claiming
that it was not doing justice TO the cor
poration. He cited the statement made
by Chief Sullivan that pipe had been
laid in Seventh avenue. near street,
when in reality no such pipe has been
laid. Forbes also submitted a communi-
cation in answer TO one sent by Chief
Sullivan REGARDING work that had been
done by the company. II states that the
tWelve-inch feed main in Jackson street
is for domestic supply for the high and
isolated Preside Heights district. neces-
STATED by the removal of the Lafayette
Square reservoir Any accidents to hy-
Grants II set on this line or excessive
sewer flushing would interrupt the do
mestic supply to the Presidio Heights.
The reservoir at Pacific and Lyon streets
VIII be completed in the summer of 1903.
During the year 1902. Forbes says. 1923
feet of heavy pipe was laid for domestic
and fire purposes and 126 new hydrants
were set.
The Fire Committee resumed consider
alton OF the proposed ordinance requiring
a fash test of $50 degrees for oil used as
fuel NJ. II. de Young. president of the
California Petroleum Miners Association.
sent q communication urging the COM
mittee TO recommend the passage Of the
ordinance. The letter continues:
The evidence in the Investigation into the
many lives and much property We're lost
proved conclusivey that improper or low
fash test oil was furnished and was the cause
o5 the disaster. The Fire Marshal has pre-
rsred an ordinance which makes the burn
ing Of oil perfectly safe and Is hardship TO
no one except rarties desiring 70 furnish a
dangerous fuel II another accident should
occur your committee would certainly be held
responsible all fair experts and Fire Mar
shal know that the present law IS unsafe
Attorney Eels and ". A. Spinks op-
posed the fash test of $50 degrees, the
latter contending that a test of 10 de-
grees is sufficient. Spinks claimed that
the accident on the Progreso occurred
because the oil was of low grade and
flashed at S. degrees. Fire Marshal Towe
said from 1000 to . 900 gallons Of oil are
stored in tanks throughout the city and
oil is being used that has a test Of $50
degrees. Spinks denied that Coalinga oil
was mixed with the Progresses oil He
stated that the United States Government
would fix the test at 200 degrees.
Eels stated that the oil fields had oil
that flashed at 115. 130 and 145 degrees,
which would be affected if the fash test
were fixed at 80 degrees. The United
Railroads has purchased oil from Coal
inga.
Supervisor Wilson favored a test of 80
degrees, with no second, and Supervisor
Lynch moved that it be fixed at 130 de-
grees. with like result. The committee