The San Francisco call., 1907-06-24
DINGEE ACQUIRES
WATERSHED AREA
IN SAN MATEO
Makes Purchases Near Red
wood City Which VIII
, Rival Spring Valley
MAY BUILD SYSTEM
Seeks to Close Road Where
Great Reservoir Could
Be Constructed
DEALS MADE QUIETLY
People Speculate Whether
He Is Acting for Bay
Cities Company

William ]. Dingee, cement
king. of this. city and San Mateo
county, but better known as the
former president of the Contra
Costa water company of Alameda
county, has again entered the field
as an owner Of valuable water
rights. BY making purchases
quietly in conjunction with his
residence in Redwood City he has
acquired a watershed as large if
rot larger than that of the Spring
Valley water company.
whether 0ingee eontenpIates the
formation of a new water company, or
is acting in conjunction with the Bay
Cities corporation, is not known. 1t
IS hinted that he has made the extern
sive purchases in order to place himself
in a position 10 dictate terms to the
Spring valley. lie has brought about d
situation whereby he can check the
extension Of the Spring Valley hold
ings.
Within the last three years W. !.
Dingee has come into possession OF
eight large tracts in San Mateo counts.
These large pieces Of land. all OF which
with but one exception are over 100
acres in extent and comprise in all
about 5000 acres, contain watershed
adjoining that Of the Spring Valley
water companys holdings and are OF
great value as a prospective adjunct
10 that company.
EXTENDS IN MOUNTAINS
These tracts. taken as d single sec
ton Of the county, comprise an area
fronting on the county road near Red
wood City, about half a mile in length,
with the greatest width extending far
beyond the main divide of the coast
mountains. The acreage constitutes a
perfect watershed Of great size, as the
Tingee holdings extend on both sides
OF the slope The property adjoins the
CRYSTAL springs reservoir tract of the
Spring Valley water company and in
cludes the greater part Of the southern
supply Of the lake. This reservoir is
one Of the main contributaries Of the
water supply OF san Francisco Should
Dingec desire, he could, by erecting a
reservoir on his land. so drain these
streams rs TO greatly deplete the sup
ply from the southern side and in this
manner reduce Crystal lake materially
il is from tie southern side, the noun
tains being OF higher elevation on the
Iingee property than farther north,
nat the larger amount Of the supply of
the lake comes.
BUYS LAND QUIETLY
To purchase these valuable holdings
Dingee did not enter the market per-
sonally. but acted through various pri-
vste channels until be had secured a
far larger holding than is commonly
believed. Dingee made his first appear
ance as . land purchaser in that region
OF san Mateo county about three years
GO. when he secured the old Hawes
homestead and shortly afterward the
Emil 3 Hopkins ranch. In this pur-
chase he obtained a frontage on the
county rosd near Redwood City of
aSout quarter Of a mile and extend
ing toward the west for far greater
distance. This tract contains $50 acres
and is one Of the most valuable of his
entire holdings there. He bought the
Talbot home last summer shortly after
the property was given to Mrs. Talbot
by her husband, when they separated.
Though only Is acres are in this prop
erty. the place commands a big 'front.'
&c on the county road. however, and
with It the means Of communicat ton
TO the tract to the west
From the time of Dingee'1 first pur-
chase up TO the present time he has had
agents engaged actively in negotiating
for land adjoining these pieces of prop
erty. The large holdings of the w 6.
Britain estate also have been bought
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