The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-10-19
Marin County Company in
Great Haste to Patch
Pipe Lines
GRAVE CHARGE MADE
Lagunitas Concern Accused
of Causing Threatened
Water Famine

Taking immediate advantage of the
courts action in resembling the re-
straining order issued to the Lagu-
nitas water company earlier in the
week, officials of the Marin county
water company rushed force of
worknlen to the Berri ranch in Marin
county yesterday afternoon to repair
the break which they asserted Lagu-
nitas company employees had made in
their lines. Speed was of the utmost
importance, as the residents of San
Rafael and other towns dependent
upon the supplies of the Marin COM
pany were threatened with a water
famine.
large number of men was sent to
the ranch by the Marin company, as it
believed that a battle might be waged
for possession. This conclusion was
based upon the assertions made by
A z. Shaw, attorney for the Lagunitas
and Spring Valley companies. that the
water sources used by the Marin com
pany belonged to the corporation that
he represents and that it meant to
keep interlopers out.
we will put as many men on the
ranch as the Marin company puts
there said Shaw. "and If this is to be
q sort of Donnyhrook fair it will not
be our fault
Jesse w. Iilienthal, counsel for the
Marin corporation, took this as a
threat of trouble. The Marin pipe
lines army of protection then was or
ganized and dispatched.
BERATEs RIVALS TACTICS
Afterward Lilienthal berated the
Lagunitas offcials for their alleged ac-
tion in cutting of the flow of water
in the pipe lines under the authority of
the temporary restraining order.
Lilienthal attacked this move on the
part of the Lagunitas concern in un-
measured terms. even going to the
length of saying that the court had
been deceived as to the facts of the
case before granting the order.
He asserts that he, as representative
of the company, had not been served
with any notice of the granting of the
temporary injunction and that the first
intimation his company had received
of the order came last Thursday after
noon, when the flow of water through
the pipe lines, which are led over the
Berri ranch property, suddenly stopped
Men were sent out from the pumping
stations of the Marin company to catch
the break IN the lines. On reaching
the Berri ranch. boundaries they had
been met by q force of employees of
the Lagunitas water company, who ex-
hibited the court order and compelled
the Marin representatives to leaye the
ground.
Lilienthal further said that as soon
as reports reached him regarding the
locality and nature OF the break In
the pipe lines he would take steps to
have indicted all responsible for the
stoppage of the flow. He claimed that
for nineteen years his company has
been making use of the water of the
Swede George creek and had a deed
from the owners of the Barri ranch
the property with their pipe lines This
deed is dated 1871.
TO USE FORCE If NECESSARY
When the employees of the Marin
water company left San Francisco yes
terday afternoon they were under in
structions to allow no interference
with their work and to resort to force
If necessary. One of the pumps oper-
ated by the Marin water company
broke down last Wednesday and this,
added to the unforeseen stoppage of
the Swede George creek supply, which
amounts to about 250.000 gallons a day,
had caused the officials of the company
| great anxiety.
In answer to the charges made
against his company, Shaw said that
all his principals desired was fair
price for their property, the water
of Swede George gulch and other
sources of supply, which he alleged the
Marin water company has been max
ing use of for years without payin &
one cent in return.
HE wants it understood" he added.
that the Lagunitas company will put
as many men on the ranch as will be
required to protect the company
rights. The right to the posses
sion of the Berri ranch belongs to this
company, and we mean to stand on our
right We will put as many men on
the ranch as the Marin company puts
there, and if there is q sort of Donny-
brook fair il will not be our fault