The San Francisco call., 1904-12-03
OAKLAND WATER.

THE renewed agitation municipal plant Oakland has
brought much discussion in the press OF that city So far II
supply The judicial decisions respecting ground
city looking for supply above below ground in any
The need Of water in agriculture and horticulture and the prior
appropriation OF potable supplies have made difficult 70 take water
anywhere running gauntlet of decisions and prior
rights supply lies distant and it be
Dted as true that new plants sought farther Br
Tar away the Welsh hills for municipal plant
after taking the private plant rid OF competition as-
cow high the rainfall exceeds fifty inches
supply private plant which first acquired
While this part OF the problem IS important yet the oakland
merely playing the Puddles OF the water question
from the standpoint Of municipal ownership.
The really grave problems and administrative
With enough money get sufficient supply be had by
going Tar enough or anywhere Northern California The point
studied BY the people Of Oakland the business aspect OF the
proposed venture II city into municipal ownership must as
in the field expect have proper adrinsra
ton OF such plant acquired make the plant itself
greater than by Perssenty this
municipal plant acquired for the benefit OF the
what they paving their represent all that they
paying In this alone they be assured OF proper bust
The politicians we are always TO have
6 men for the distinctions OF public Office will always endure
buying plant mortgage upon the city,
resting upon the real and personal property OF the taxpayers and II
Of the plant may be charged of
the general fund every produce candidates who seek
by promising lower the and they viii get them
and and Office they viii keep their promise by low
g the rate 10 the ratepayer and charging the difference him
taxpayer This done wherever government ownership
It the railways OF Australia and Italy and It
where public utilities have been acquired
The paid for the Of railways OF water under such crcun
represent the the who cannot find out
receipt much he pays for the public plant
but he pays just the
Now plant carry itself, pay its and
expenses then the price for paid by the ratepaye tells its
II the administration be good and economical his rate
receipt tells Il be wasteful and eavagant corrupt the rate
the atepayer warned There safer
than the privilege Of conceal
found charging Of the of public plant to the
citizen raepayer and part him Whenever and
wherever that privilege exists the people abused The admins
plant should be widely separated from politics.
the the credit OF the
upon deficits hargeabe the
general obviously business proposition that
argue against No controverts It. Then why
NJ adopt II and proceed to put II IN practice?
California the bonds for the ferry build
ing city they based upon the property they
paid They voted the seawal
If the ferry depot and seawa bonds had
upon both would have been beaten The
Oakland would have beaten them.
The ferry building and the seawa pay for Them
them Let the OF the cities apply the
principle the acquisition OF other public utilities charge their
users be paid their and leave the public credit
free embarrassment This deep of the question
All else Is puddle