The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-10-04
Two Hundred Thousand
Gallons of Supply to
Cease Monday
TOWNS MAY GO DRY
Corte MADEIRA and Other
Residence Sections Face
Depopulation

SAN RAFAEL, Oct. 3.-Two
hundred thousand gallons of
water, which the Marin water
company has been drawing daily
from the big Howard estate on
Lake Lagunitas, will be shut off
Monday morning, and the
moment the pipe line goes dry
there will begin long impending
battle, in which a powerful syndi-
cate of French capitalists will strive
for the mastery OF the entire water
supply of the county. The first sxir-
nish ended today in the arrest OF M. s.
terests, who was taken into custody
by Constable Agnew for trying to drive
County Surveyor George Richardson
from Swede George and Cataract
gulches. which now supply the Marin
company. The outcome of the battle
will determine the existence Of two
towns. Larkspur and Corte MADEIRA.
which may be left completely without
water.
Already 20 families have moved from
the latter place and 10 from the former
because of the lack of water 1t was
an effort to prevent the further de-
population OF the two towns that
caused the hostility which broke
into open warfare yesterday af-
ternoon. The Marin company sent
Richardson to the gulches to seek
means to stop the decrease Of the sup
ply. F. T. Howard, who put his water
resources into the Tamalpais water
corporation a year ago, wants to sell
to the French syndicate. Hydrographic
engineers, representing the foreign
capitalists, who live in Paris, were here
some time ago. They are said to have
reported favorably upon the water
project after noting the rapid develop
ment of the county, and deal for the
sale of the Howard property was
opened. The struggle with the Marin
company was the result.
The contest probably will go into
OO1i llc Mai III COAlpdHy mas an
easement granted by the father of the
present owner OF the Howard estate.
Under this agreement it has been
drawing it's 100000 gallons a day since
1871. During all this time, however,
Howard asserts, the Marin company
has not paid cent for the water,
which also partly supplies this city and
Sausalito. Nevertheless he remained
quicscent until. spurrcd by the alarm
ing situation of Corte MADEIRA and
Larkspur, the opposing corporation
sought to augment its dwindling sup
he formed the Tamalpais company and
at once opened negotiations with the
French engineers to sell it to the
Partisan syndicate.
When this deal reached favorable
stage Howard notified the Marin com
pany that the supply would be discon-
tinued. This notice, he says, was ig-
norsd, though it was given month
ago. The peremptory declaration that
the supply would be shut off Monday
followed the visit of Richardson, who
was driven away from the gulches once
last week. but returned today with the
constable and placed Truitt, who still
was on guard, under arrest District
Attorney Boyd justified this action last
night by the statement that Richard
son thought his life was in danger and
took Agnew on the surveying trip for
protection.
This entire district is deeply inter-
ested in the fight which began in the
open when Truitt was brought here by
the constable. The Marin company is
building a pipeline to Sausaiito expect
ing to turn the Swede George water
into it, If Howard and the Frenchmen
win, not only will Larkspur and Corte
MADEIRA go entirely dry, but practically
half the company's entire supply will
be cut off.
Richardson declined to discuss his
part in the battle tonight. Truitt was
released after few hours in the Gus
tody OF the constable.