The San Francisco call., 1907-03-02
Municipal Ownership Advo-
Gates Want to Know
What 1t Means
BURKE IN EARNEST
City Attorney Advises That
Water Plant Be Seized
Forthwith

cHcisls of the Spring Valley Water
Company are al a loss to account Tor
whst they term the fantssne acs Of
TIE Board Of Supervisors in declaring
their "Ss0.o0o,Oo0" plant like Shylock's
fortune, forfeited to the State. Real
o. assumed, the compsnY's ignorance
C the Interpretation Of the affair is
loudly protested. It's officials are
shocked. surprised and startled cut Of
t,eir confidence in the protecting arm
q the law.
o-her oitizens. possessed of more
g rewdaess than millions. were engege
,-es, eraay So passing out the tip that
this WIS the first act in s. dHsHSs. AZ :
rascc6 by kbra aan1 Ruef. the succeed
Ing scenes Of which wili be enacted
iiph up IA the sides OF the Sierra,
whore the Bay cities water proifct is
To ap.ear al the cldmax The action Of
the Supervisors Thursday night was.
l,pt tic prologue 10 the plot. say the
wise ones. i3 was "a little thunder to.
srighten spring VALLEY and to educate.
the people to tire necessity of owning
tbeir own water system and to the pay
Ing n tho price that has been arranged
Eefore rha door OF the prison cell
which is represented as "yaWning for
hiaa~ Ruef is said to be frisking at his
cid tricks as II there were no Grand
jury and 10 prosecuting attorney II
IS said hy tile same wise ones that Ruef
IS ~ present anassing material fer
story The recounting of which viii.
make the tale Of the French restaurants
psie in eompsrison. knocking the stock
q Spring Valley is reported TO be =
step "a the game. the same stock to be
sold later when the city arrsnges for
the purchase 81 that property at the
proper. price. That is part Of the big
undertaking Of the boss
There is another part that is not yet
revealed. but more light is promised.
nghen the scheme Is carried out the city
may own the distributing system OF
the Spring Valley and the famous Say
cities water supply from the American
River, for both Of which IL may pay
the price already mapped out al the
Office of The Bush-street Statesman.
WOULD SEIZE PROPERTY
: The feature Of tho programme yes
teraay was a peal Of ehunder. louder
than the rest. coming from the Office
Of CITY Attorney Burke who issued
6ocument Of advice TO the Supervisors.
3uforning them that 81 was up to them
r. seze Spring valley. bag and bag
&c. without more ado. Having de-
cared the property ttrfelted, IT is now
tfsIr duty. according to Burke. 10 take
possession Of the same, pipes trenches.
reservoirs and stray docaments-every-
rnag.
This. the. CITY Attorney admits viii
hrsg on an injunction suit ny which
the corporation viii endeavor TO save
itsff from being. seized.
Aune Mayor Gallagher. has also
sposn and. like the city Attorney. he
msFs osrk illusions 10 the possibility
Of eming to terms wifi Spring Valley
for r purchase- OF the plant variously
estifsted to be worth from s25.eoo,0oo
10 100000 on an amicable basis Of
hsrs n and sale.
Sole Of the stoutest adherents Of
nunl pal ownership have withheld
thei7 applause They want to be
showl and they fear the Creeks bear
ing ats." one explained yesterday
that 4 project looked 70 aim like an
sttenl to redure tho value OF Spring
NslleYstock on the market until it
weuicle an attractive Investment for
those to were. advised Of the scheme
afoof. However that may be- the Su- /
. reIs iso and City Attorney Burke are 4
IN -eaa earnest and the public is
aeady abe educated in the matter Of
.orDingls own water system IL it is
70 be afmpIished properly.
r tht fore advise you that IL is