The San Francisco call., 1904-02-27
SUPERVISORS CONSIDER NEW
RATES FOR GAS AND WATER
Russell L. Dunn, the Specially Employed Engineer Is
Unable to Make an Estimate of Value of Spring Valley
Water Company's Plant and Is Given Further Time

The Supervisors, sitting yesterday as
| committee of the whole, continued
the investigation as to the value of
the plants Of the Spring Valley Water
Company and the San Francisco Gas
and Electric Company. Manager Law
less of the gas company was the only
witness examined in the gas investi-
cation, and he made an excellent wit
ness for the company.
He had figures and statistics to burn
when they would brighten things for
his company. His testimony as we'll
as being statistical was to a great ex-
tent argumentative and was aimed to
impress upon the minds of the Super
visors that the gas company has more
troubles than could be told to the en-
tire police force and is furnishing both
gas and electricity at reasonable fig
ure.
The afternoon session of the board
was wholly occupied with hearing the
stimony or failure to give testimony
of Russell L. Dunn, who was employed
as an expert to assist City Engineer
Grunsky in placing a valuation on the
plant of the Spring Valley Water Com
pany. Dunn did very little to en-
tighten the members of the board, but
promised he would do better next time.
When placed on the stand he read
long list of the comparative values
of units of Spring Valley property ac-
cOrding to the estimates made in pre-
vious years and figured on the de-
terioration in their value during pc
riod of ten years.
This did not serve to enlighten the
members of the board, however, who
were anxious to get a valuation Of the
property as it stands to-day, but it
time was very warm.
Dunn explained that it was difficult
for him to arrive at a valuation of the
property, as all listed in Schussler's
report is not at present in use, and he
had been unable to segregate the items.
Supervisor Braunhart then asked the
direct question: What is your valua-
ton of the property" 1T is impos-
sible for me to state, as there is no evil
dence Of the cost" was the reply.
But you were employed to make IN
estimate of the value?''
Il am not able to make one
Then you have not done the work
you were employed by the city to do
retorted Braunhart, with some warmth.
Supervisors Comte and Brandenstein
then took a hand in the questioning
and finally induced the witness to make
a rough estimate of the value of the
plant He said the best he could do
was to guess within 100000 of the
actual value, and on that basis he
would judge the property was worth
from $4,000. 900 to $25. 600, 000 Allowing
a $4,000 600 margin on this either way
for bad guessing, the Supervisors con-
slider that he allowed them a reason
able latitude.
After a rigid crosS-Q questioning. in
which il developed that Dunn either
knew nothing of the value of the prop
erty in question or was unwilling TO tell
if he did, he agreed to file a statement
with the committee Monday morning
provided he is furnished with certain
information. He was informed that the
data he desired was on file and at his
disposal during the entire period COW
cred by the investigation.
1t was the opinion of the witness that
if meters were installed in all places
where water is served the public would
be better satisfied. He had not figured
on the cost of installing some 10000
meters at an average cost of SIS each.
The witness was finally dismissed after
promising to furnish the board with
written statement Monday morning.
Prior to the testimony Of Dunn an
itemized statement was filed showing
the location of various pieces of prop
erty, their value as estimated by the
company and the taxes paid thereon.
According to this statement the COM
pany is at present paying annually
about $3.50 taxes on property not in use.
This indicates that the idle property is
worth only $4,000.