The San Francisco call., 1904-10-12
COUNCIL HEARS
MILLER'S PLAN
Requests Engineer to Sub
nit a Detailed Proposal
to Furnish Water Supply
ELIMINATES A PROJECT
Underground Source in the
City's Area Not Deemed
Sufficient for the Need
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
1016 Broadway. Oct IL

1016 Broadway, Oct IL
The City Council tonight requested
NJ. X Miller to submit a statement of
his proposition to develop a supply Of
1900, 900 gallons OF water a day, and to
install complete system for a muni-
cipal water works to cost the city
$4,000, 900.
This action followed the presentation
of Miller's plan to the Council.
Miller, in reply to questions from
Councilman Cuvellier, said on this sub
ject:
A development Of wells In the cftys area
would supply considerable quantity of water.
A sufhcient quantity might be developed to
5I 5evNe as an auxiliary to some other plant IN
a supply for the immediate needs OF the city
might be obtained, but. in view Of the growth
or the city, 1t might not be advisable to depend
entirely on this source.
MILLER EXPLAINS.
Responding to an invitation to out
line his proposition Miller said:
propose TO develop wells In the artesian
district in the southern portion OF Alameda
County; to establish necessary pipelines pump
ing plant reservoirs and distributing system
In the city OF Oakland sufficient to supply at
least IL, 600, 600 gallons OF water day, to
give a population of 100. 600 sufficient water
on basis OF IS gallons day per capita, for
all purposes. The plant Is to be absolutely
complete. 1 propose TO deed 45O acres Of land
to the city.
II the city shall accept the proposition It is
to enter into contract with to call bond
election. If the bonds carry 1 shall furnish a
suitable bond and guarantee to develop IL, OOO,-
600 gallons a day. II after fifteen days test
or the wells under municipal supervision that
amount of water is obtained. the construction
or the plant Is to begin The city is to pay 70
per cent Of the monthly value Of the work done
as II progresses. When the plant is completed
the city must agree to take possession and for
one year TO the wells During that
year the city will retain $3.50, 600 of the con-
tract price to insure the permanency OF the
supply. II the supply shall fail to any extent
during the year the contractor shall further
develop the plant until the guaranteed mini
to the extent Of $4,000 expenses in event of
litigation. The capitalists who interested
in this project have been assured that there is
no legal bar against them so far as taking
the water from the district is concerned
LIKES NILES CONE.
Ny opinion is that the Niles Cone, so-caIled
is the best and most available source Of water
supply for the city of Oakland.
Miller explained that he should fol-
low the plan of piping submitted by
City Engineer F. G. Turner, which calls
for a system capable of handling 90
100000 gallons day, with 5000, 900 gall
Ions additional in case of fire. Miller
added that his project included supply
ing the city with 5000 meters and $780,
600 feet of service pipe, sufficient to
connect three -fifths of the buildings in
Oakland
Councilman Howard. criticizing the
Miller proposition, said he feared that
there was no assurance of a cOntin-
uity of supply. He also suggested that
the city would have to be very careful
not to run against any Supreme Court
decisions touching the acquisition of
percOlating waters.
Miller called attention to the similar
ity of his project to that of Council
man George w. Dornin. except that the
Miller proposition called for the invest
ment of private capital, while Dornin
proposed the city should operate di-
rectly- An engineers rough estimate
fixed the cost of the Miller plan at
Sc. $50, 900. He has asked for a round
$4,000 900 to cover all contingencies and
a contractors reasonable profit After
adjournment Dornin said that If the
City Council should ad jpt Miller's pro-
posal he would assign the option be
holds on artesian lands to Miller.