The San Francisco call., 1906-05-29

erals and cross-connections on the author
ity of the underwriters report, having
no direct means of informing ourselves on
this point.
DEMAND WILL EXCEED SUPPLY.
The demand for water at the time
when the ..earthouake fire. occurred had
reached a point where it was practically
equal to the. developed supply. This fact
was recognized by the Spring Valley
Water Company, which was on the point
of closing a contract for the construction
of the Calaveras dam to form large
storage reservoir on Alameda Creek.
The present consumption is less than
that Immediately prior. to the fire, and
the delivery capacity OF the system is
likewise somewhat reduced by the de-
struction of the Pilarcitos conduit. Con-
sumption, however, will rapidly increase
and in a short time the demand will ex-
ceed the Immediately available supply.
The fire therefore has not done away
with the necessity for taking Immediate
steps toward securing an increased sup
ply.
The Pilarcitos and the main Crystal
Springs dams were not injured. The geo
logical fault line which traverses the
Coast Range from Salinas to Mendocino
County extends across the easterly abut-
ment of the San Andreas dam. AT the
time of our inspection the water stood
dam and there were no evidences of
leakage However, without raising the
water level or excavating on the fault
line it is impossible to determine whether
or not the upper part of the dam is in
iured. Should injury be discovered it can
easily be remedied. Mr.. Schussler, chief
engineer of the water company, informed
the committee that he intends to exca-
vate and make an examination.
The Pilarcitos conduit, which for a
considerable portion of its length is fire.
quently crossed by the fault line. was
over such portion broken, telescoped. col
lapsed, pulled apart and damaged beyond
the possibility of economical repair. We
are informed that the water company in
tends to abandon this line for service
course, which is advisable on account of
its nearness to the fault
OUTLINE OF DAMAGE.
The most serious injury to the San
Andreas conduit was where it crosses the
head of the Baden marsh. At this point
there was slip joint provided with ties
connecting lugs on either side of the
joint. Several of these lugs were torn
out by the shock. permitting the water
to escape These breaks were temporar-
lily repaired by the company within sixty
hours Several stretches of the Crystal
Springs conduit were injured. At the
Baden marsh crossing the pipe was rup-
tured in many places, and long sections
were thrown from the trestle. A great
length of the trestle was broken down.
Examination disclosed that some of the
timbers were decayed. To what extent
this affected the amount of damage done
it is impossible to state.
No injury was done to any Of the
pumping stations.
The Alameda supply works were not
injured.
The Alameda conduit and submarine
pipes crossing the bay suffered no injury
except to attachments at the San Mateo
end, and to slip joint at the Alameda
end.
The distributing reservoirs were not in
jured, except Lake Honda, the concrete
lining of which was cracked. This break
was due to the displacement of retain
ing wall by sliding bank set in motion
by the earthquake.
The distributing mains were injured in
many places. Those from College Hill
and University Mound reservoirs were
completely severed. and those from Lake
Honda badly damaged. We believe from
the best evidence obtainable that all seri-
Gus breaks occurred in made ground
These breaks rapidly wasted the water
stored in the city reservoirs and cut off
entirely the direct supply to the Districts
where the main fires originated
The presence of many broken service
pipes leading to burned houses made it
very difficult to rehabilitate the pipe sys-
tenn after the fire had ceased, and al
lowed much waste of water with resulting
low pressures and delay in filling reser-
vors.
The design of the various parts of the
Spring Valley Water Company's system
and the materials used are generally ex-
cellent. The dams and reservoir walls are
good examples of their types. The iron
used in the out of town conduits is of the
best quality of laminated charcoal iron
so thoroughly protected by the asphaltlm
coating employed that even the Oldest of
corrosion. The trestles across the
marshes are not equal in permanence to
other portions of the system. and in gem
eral the timber work is old and not in the
best condition. The materials used in the
distributing mains are of good quality and
the breaks in the mains were due to a
great and unforeseeable settlement of the
ground.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
The subcommittee continues with
recommendations as follows:
First-The protection against fires af-
forded by the system of the Spring Valley
Water Company was inadequate, even as
1t existed before the Earthquake fire" !"
and for the less severe requirements then
considered sufficient. The system is in a
less efficient state now than before the
fire, and, as shown by the earthquake
the emergency. requirements are much
more severe than hitherto realized. .
Second-In order to secure the certainty
Of fire protection It is imperative that
supply. Definite and stringent legal
agreements would better the present con-
ditions of dual control but If the strained
relations continue which have existed he
tween the city and the Spring Valley
Water Company for many years no ef-
fective relief can be obtained except bv
city ownership.
Third-The three conduits leading from
the storage reservoirs were rupt,Ired nv
the shock The destruction of the Pillar.
citos conduit was due to its nearness To
the fault line and shows that future con-
duits should be placed as far awav from
faults as possible. The most serious In
jury to the Crystal Springs and San An
dreas conduits occurred at marsh cross
ings. The lesson of the earthouake Il
that marsh crossings should pe avoidaS
when possible. When soft ground n,,,st
be crossed permanent material and srh'
stantial construction should be used Tf
decay. 80 i Aioiii
Fourth The failure to control the f,re
was not due to the breaking Of n,,t -af
town conduits. but primarily to the fec,
that the eighty million gallons of water
stored In the distributing reservoirs yvitbl
q rff rssto