The San Francisco call., 1906-05-19
This Action Necessary in
Acquisition Of Water
Rights.
Governor Urged to In
CIudG Project in Leg
iSIatiVe Call.

Taking warning from the recent dis
sster that befeI this city, Los Angeles
has sent a delegation OF her leading
citizens TO ask for the aid of San
Francisco in procuring an improved
water supply for the cities of Southern
California and thus preventing the
possibility OF a like catastrophe The
request OF Los Angeles, as presented
by her delegation, is that the joint
committee on special session of the
Legislature urge the Governor TO en-
body IN his proposed call an amend
ment to the State constitution pro-
viding for the consolidation of Los
Angeles with Pasadena and adjacent
cities, taking in the intervening land
and combining the freehold charters OF
the cities consolidated.
In this way, according to the COM
mittee, the acquisition Of the water
rights Of Owens River and its tributa-
ries might be had for the benefit OF
the consolidated cities. BY issuance
Of s30.000,000 Of bonds authorized by
the increased city OF Los Angeles the
water rights could be acquired for the
use Of the consolidated cities. At the
present time no one city is able to af-
ford the expense Of procuring the
rights. Unless the power of consoli-
Angeles and adjacent cities Southern
California will remain without ade-
quate water supply for two years at
least, and would be. according to the
Los Angeles delegation, powerless to
avert destruction by fire.
PLEADS FOR LOS ANGELES.
Judge H. c. Dillon was the first
speaker Of the delegation. After ex-
planning that unless the proposed
consolidation takes place the cities will
be deprived Of adequate fire protec-
tion, Judge Dillon asked that the call
which the committee is framing for
the use OF the Governor be made
broad enough 10 cover all accidents,
and that time be given the members
OF the delegation to frame the proper
amendments to the constitution. Con-
tinuing, Judge Dillon said:
The devastation that you see
through these broad ruins could have
been averted had you possessed the
means Of fighting the flames that we
are appealing for now. Had you been
able TO obtain water from the Sierra
the story OF San Francisco's disaster
would not have taken foremost place
IN the history Of world catastrophes.
Los Angeles Is facing a like danger
and her citizens, represented by this
curing protection from a conhagration
that can only inflict added harm to
San Francisco. The two cities are not
antagonistic. and the welfare Of one is
closely knitted with the welfare Of
the other.
"You WIFI need assistance from the
next Legislature. You have constitu-
tional amendments to be proposed and
carried and none Of them are Of great
l. III
vide you with adequate fire protection
in the future That is the one anxiety
Of Los Angeles. She is crying for wa
ter and legislation to prevent calami-
ties is far yuperiOr to legislation to
heal the wounds Of our fair city after
disaster has fallen.
MUST RAISE VAST SUM.
In Southern California the cities
want TO combine and TO take in the
watershed from Pasadena to the sea.
What we ask is that the proposed
amendments to sections Z, s and S1z Of
article IL of the constitution be made
50 as to permit the consolidation of
cities with their intervening territory
and looking to the combining of free
hold charters. Then we only ask that
these proposed amendments be sub
mitted TO the people and we are will
ing TO abide by the result"
Judge Dillon then read a letter
from w. b. Mathew, city Attor-
ney Of Los Angeles. saying that in
order to pay the cost of this most
stupendous undertaking the West has
yet known, the cities around Los An
geies must combine to share the
benefits and the expense. Bond
amounting to from SO, 10000 to $50. :
100000 must be sold TO procure funds