Los Angeles herald., 1905-07-22

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+ proved and extended, to the city /
I at the expiration Of the lease. E
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Attorney Oscar Lawler dropped q
bombshell into the council at the ad-
i6urned session yesterday afternoon
that well nigh gave the city fathers
heart failure.
When City Clerk Lelande picked up
the innocent looking petition which
Lawler had placed on his desk and read
a proposition therein to lease from the
city the distributing system Of the
water works that private corporation
might bring water from it's own water
sheds fifty miles away to the city and
sell it to the residents of Los Angeles
the legislators involuntarily ducked.
lust who LAWYERS clients are in this
case he refused to divulge, also where
the water was located which they hoped
to pipe into the city. 1t was generally
conceded at the city hall, however, that
this was the elimination Of the propos-
ition to bring into Los Angeles the
water from the Rancho Paso de Bartolo
watersheds.
Calls 1t Business Proposition
In addressing the council on the petit
tfon Attorney Lawler said: 1.-THE gen
tlemen whom / represent come before
you with plain business proposition.
They have ample capital to successfully
carry out the undertaking, and it calls
for the investment of many millions Of
dollars.
"At the present time Los Angeles is
not receiving the benefits from it's water
works that it should, owing to the many
difficulties encountered in operating
plants owned by the municipality.
"I understand that last year the
profits of the water department
amounted to about $4,000. You car
readily see that is a trifling amount
when the enormous sum invested Il
considered. We ask that charter
amendment be placed before the voters
at the next election which If ratified
would permit the leasing of the plant to
a private corporation for a term cf
years.
''It is the purpose of the men 1 rep
resent to pay to the city an annual
rental of five per cent on the invest
nent which the city has made in the
water department. The plant under
stand is valued at from $5,00000O to
$4,000, 900. In addition to not getting
money out of the water system the
city at large is not getting satisfactory
service. This is evinced by the num-
ber of petitions which are before your
honorable body SO much of the time.
Have Water Rights
my principals have two water rights
within fifty miles of Los Angeles and
enough water to supply city of $780,
900 population. The San Fernando
valley upon which Los Angeles de-
pends for it's water supply is giving
out and the city must look elsewhere
for it must have water.
aside from this the men 1 represent
have the financial ability to extend
the system as fast as 1t becomes nee
essary or best to do the same. This
the city cannot do. as it has not the
money, and at the present time there
are many residents of the city unable
to get water"
When the bombshell exploded many
OF the legislators ducked and then II
was moved and seconded that the pc
tition be denied. Councilman Smith
moved as an amendment that, as a
business proposition. the petition be
referred to the board OF water COM
nissioners for their investigation. A
vote showed the eight members pres
ent evenly divided on the question,
however, and the petition was finally
denied without reference. However
IT is said the proposition will come ur
again coon in one form or another.
Figuring the value of the city's
water system at $6.OOO,OOO, the annual
rent would come to 100000, which
could be used as a sinking fund and
added to the city's income. Thus a
heavy saving on the taxpayer might
be realized.