The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-04-23
s WATER
COMPANY AGREES
To A STEEP GUT
Manager Titus Accepts Ten
Per Cent Reduction to
Consumers
SAVING FOR OAKLAND
Hydrants Lowered From SIS
to $3 Month; 20 Per Cent
Less for City Water
TO STOP LITIGATION
Supply Will Be Increased
With Further Decreace in
Rate Next Year

OAKLAND. April 22.-Watcr
rates to consumers to be reduced 10
per cent the coming fiscal year and a
further reduction the next year, a cut
from SIS to So a month on the FIRE
hydrant charge and a cut of 20 per
cent IN the charge on water used by
the city. This proposition was sub
mitted tonight to Louis Titus, general
manager of the Peoples water COM
pany, by B. H. Pendleton, chairman
of the finance committee of the city
council, accepted by Titus and recon-
mended by the committee of the whole
of the council.
The acceptance carries with it, so far
as this years rates are concerned,
cessation of litigation and tacit agree
ment on the part of the Peoples water
company that valuation OF $4,000, COO
upon the old Contra Costa water COM
panys property for rate fixing pur-
poses is fair. The Peoples water COM
pany and the council, while not going
upon record as to the mass of litiga-
tion now pending as heritage from
the Contra Costa water company, pave
the way for a possible adjustment
which may end the expensive fight thht
has been in progress in the courts for
seven years over water rates.
MEANS BIG SAVING
While the city council has not for
mally ratified the recommendation Of
the committee of the whole the vote in
committee was unanimous in favor of
using the percentages presented by
Councilman Pendleton as the basis for
fixing the rates.
The estimated saving to consumers
on the cut for the coming fiscal year is
$ss.oo0 and to the city s25,0o0, total of
s111,ooo for the year 19o7-s, with the
ing year. The council took UP through
Pendieton the matter of an increased
water supply for the city, namely, the
San Pablo creek reservoir. This. 1t was
pointed out, required an expenditure of
50, 100000 for the extensive water she'd.
which will provide new supply Of
100000 gallons: daily.
The new reservoir, seven miles In
length, and one-third larger than Lake
Chabot, will have capacity of s,o0o,-
nm onn go Have e,,d ~--;1y x.~oxvSz. .xxo%~-
supply to meet the city's growth and
demands for many years to come.
TITUS ADMITS FACTS.
Pendleton showed in his elaborate
statement that increased income by
reason of the growth of the city would
be an important factor in the cut and
must be considered. He gave exact
percentages of increase, which were
frankly admitted by Manager Titus to
be correct. Titus said that int next
two years the company would spend
$4,ooo.ooo in developing the San Pablo
creek system, which will increase the
city's supply from $4,000, 600 to 21 1,ooo,-
600 gallons daily.
IL was marked that Titus agreed to
the cut. which was based upon ST.
$4,000 valuation, though it includes the
San Pablo creek project.
Councilman Pendleton called the
councils attention to the fact that the
new company will increase the water
supply. He said that increased supply
was an absolute necessity. and that an
agreement such as that presented to-
night would stop future litigation;
would enable the company to sell its
bonds and go ahead with the new work.
Pendleton said that in his opinion the
city council would not dismiss the for
mer suits that these would go to judg-
ment, but that the agreement with IT.
tus would prevent litigation with the
Peoples water company.