The San Francisco call., 1907-06-07
FEDERAL AID IS
GIVEN To HETCH
HETCHY PROJECT
Phelan Enlists Support OF
Roosevelt and Garfield
for Water Supply
LEADERS IN SESSION
President Payson Addresses
Committee on Condition
of Spring Valley
SCORES SUPERVISORS
Says That Hostility of the
City Officials Blocks I'm
pr -ent Work

While the federated water COM
nlittee was in executive session in
the Merchants exchange building
yesterday. discussing the pressing
need of an increased water sup
ply, messages were received IN
this city from James D. Phelan at
Washington to the effect that he
had practically concluded negotia-
tons with the federal authorities
by which San Francisco would be
enabled to secure possession OF
the vast Hetch Hetchy system.
For several years Phelan has been
endeavoring to obtain the valu-
able water rights for the city of
San Francisco, and the messages
indicate that through the cooper
alton Of President Roosevelt and
Secretary Garfield of the interior de-
partment his efforts have been crowned
with success. According to Hetch
Hetchv enthusiasts experts have de-
clared the Hetch Hetchy or Tuolumne
project one of the finest water sources
IN the world.
At the meeting of the committee yes
terday, Of which Phelan is a member.
IL was urged that the city's interests
called for the acquisition of the Tuo-
Iunnne supply, if that were feasible.
This decision was reached after Captain
Pavson. president of the Spring Valley
water company. Aad said that his cor
poration was financially unable to make
the improvements necessary to meet
the growing demands of the city. It
was brought out that the summer
months would find the city with an en-
tirely inadequate supply, unless steps
were taken at once to remedy matters.
WORK TO IMPROVE SUPPLY
Present at the meeting were Captain
Payson, Colonel w. H. Heuer. Walter
Macarthur. C. IL. Bentley, Isidor ia
cobs, A H. Vail. Frank ]. Symmes and
Michael Casey. The committee was
formed primarily to find some means
of improving the water supply of the
city either through cooperation with
or the purchase of the Spring Valley
plant. or the acquisition Of some inde-
pendent source
Captain Payson said that the Spring
Valley company could do but little
more than meet the situation as IL ex-
listed at present During the summer,
with q decreased supply, the situation
will become more serious. Payson as
cribed the conpanys inability to i'm
rrove matters to 'the hostility of the
eupervisors." and urged that members
of the committee take up the question
with the city officials Judge Cope.
Walter Macarthur and Mr.. Mcintosh
were appointed to interview the super
visors to learn if existing differences
could not be adjusted.
During the meeting 1T was brought
out that the new residence districts
were inadeouately supplied with water,
and that in some sections no pipes had
been laid. It was stated that in some
Of the congested quarters of the city
the pipes were too small TO carry the
s1ount of water needed. Captain Pay
SON complained that while the city
heretofore had paid 100000 year for
water for fire purposes, the latest ap-
propriation carried only $4,000 for this
purpose.
PRICE OF sa4,00O,OoO
A special committee, composed OF
Colonel Heuer. Walter Macarthur and
James d. Phelan. had been appointed
20 take up the matter Of the purchase
OF the Spring Valley plant. but until
Tohelan's return this committee will
make no report 1t was said that the
Spring Valley company had offered tc