Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-17
WATER COMPANY
WILL NOT SELL
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP GETS
SETBACK
Pasadenans VIII Entertain President
Jordan at Banquet-Trouble for
Edison Light Company.
Construct Firebreaks
Pasadena Agency,
81 North Raymond Avenue
Telephone. Main 17Oy.

VI NORTH HaYmOnu FNtnUes
Telephone. Main 17OS.
PASADENA, Dec. 16.-Either the
present city administration will hasten
it's steps in the negotiations for acquir-
ing the local water properties or one
of the two companies will withdraw its
offer to sell. The stockholders Of the
Pasadena Lake Vineyard Land and
Water company are said to have be-
come restless because of the delay in
taking over their property. At any rate
the managing board of this company
has adopted q resolution which says
that at is the sense of this board that,
owing to the proposed sale TO the city
having been so long delayed that inn
portant interests are suffering, steps
for further development delayed and
no signs of progress evident, the con-
sent to sell at $S5 n share would be
withdrawn and steps taken to submit
the matter to the stockholders at an
early day."
This action following closely on the
heels of the declaration of City Attor-
ney Fitzgerald that neither of the two
water companies concerned was worry
ing except for fear that the proposed
sale would not be made is deemed sig
nificant The fact that the other water
company Is en1oined by South Pasa-
dena citizens from completing its trans
sidered ample reason for delaying the
full realization of municipal owner
Mfhip. Just what step the administra-
lion will take now is not known.
Women's College Progresses
President David Starr Jordan of the
Leland Stanford, Jr., university will be
the guest of honor at a banquet which
viii be given at the Hotel Maryland
some time next week 1t will be re-
membered that President Jordan has
consented to allow his name to be
placed on the temporary board of di-
rectors of the proposed womens college
TO be located in Pasadena, and there
lore something very definite may be
expected to be announced in this con-
necton during the gentlemans visit
1t is reported that efforts are being
MADE to bring the donors of the Dorsey
ana the Allen estate sites for the col
lege TO an agreement whereby their
oHers can be combined and the college
receive the $50 acres and certain other
holdings in the same neghborhood. IF
this can be brought about some of the
acreage can be sold in future years
Tor the benefit of the institution and
very materially assist the undertaking.
other committees will be named soon
TO take up other lines of preliminary
WORK. Present conditions are said to
w 'ihoSl encouraging.
Edison Company in Trouble
Mayor Waterhouse formally refused
MS consent today to the payment of
the Edison Electric Light company's
Dill for street lighting for the month of
November. The amount of this bill is
$l,426.5O. In turning down the bill the
mayor issued carefully worded state
nent, averring that the equipment and
the electric light furnished has not
been up to the standard required by the
terms of the contracts
lie says that in his opinion the city
mas already overpaid the company in
several previous months and has there
fore a counter claim of more than the
present bill. There has been much
complaint about the city as to the cleo
trlc lights, and City Electrician Reeves
IS known to have been conducting tests
for considerable time to determine
whether or not the city was getting
what its contracts called for
Ihe mayors steps today are there
lore the result of careful considerat ton
and with view of making good should
the matter go into the courts as is
likely. Those citizens who have been
c;amoring for municipal ownership of
the lighting plants as well as the water
properties are looking upon the present
muddle as another spoke in their wheel.
Protect Buildings From Fire
A brush fire near EsperanZa late last
night and column of smoke from near
Hennigers flats a few nights ago and
the excitement they caused in this city
show how nervous the people are con-
cerning a repetition of the Echo noun
tam forest fre OF little over a week
ago.
These two fires turned out to he MOTH
ing unusual and We're both kept we'll
I'm hand until the rubbish was entirely
turned, but they have directed renewed
attention to the conditions as they
exist in the mountains, particularly up
around Mt. Wilson and the valuable
buildings of the observatory and camps
at the summit.
For many weeks a force Of men has
been engaged i'll Srubbing out the in
flammable underbrush for many yards
surrounding the observatory buildings.
and there is reservoir holding 10000
gallons of water, with fire pumps and
other eXtinguishers close at hand for
any emergency. Through an arrange
ment with the United States forestry
people, whose nursery is located at
Henniger's flats few miles down the
trail, the fire breaks constructed in that
vicinity have beer so placed as to
afford the best possible protection TO
the buildings OF the summit It will
he remembered that under the direction
of Forest Supervisor Lukens four or
iive miles OF fire breaks have been
made among the mountains of the gov
ernment forest reserves. Even now a
number Of rangers are at work on new
breaks toward the west fork and near
Sturdevant's camp. Prof Hale is of
the opinion that the valuable buildings
under his care are rapidly being put
beyond the reach of any chance con-
ilagration, although there is always
danger while the ehapparal and other
underbrush is as thick as it is now in
some places. one of the lessons from
the recent Echo mountain fire is likely
TO result in renewed efforts to clear
away much of this underbrush and to
construct another fire break or two
where they with afford the most protec-
tion.