Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-16
RETIRING PRESIDENT
DISCUSSES WATER SUPPLY
AND OTHER PROBLEMS


Retiring President W. ]. washburn
reviews some Of the problems of admin
istratlon, not only of the exchange but
Of Los Angeles as we'll. He says
THE matters that have received
largest attention at the hands of the
directors during the past year have
been those pertaining to the owens
river water supply, the San Pedro
harbor, the consolidation of the city
and portions of adjoining territory
San Francisco relief and the exhibit
at Atlantic city.
THE part which the Los Angeles
chamber OF commerce took in the sue
cessful efforts to locate the harbor at
San Pedro is still fresh in our minds
! The interest I'm its establishment was
not greater than its desire that II
remain q harbor free for the uses Of
the people. II has therefore viewed
with grave concern the continued ef-
forts of corporate interests to secure
control Of all the water frontage
The harbor committee has expended
much time and patience in the mat
ter and it Is confidently believed that
the results of the litigation inaugural
ed by this chamber for the purpose
of protecting the public In its posses
sion will be satisfactory to our MEM
bers.
"The expressed desire of the people
of both San Pedro and Los Angeles
for consolidation of the two cities
caused this chamber to secure the an
nexation of intervening territory,
which was necessary before the in
auguration of the proceedings now
pending for it's final accomplishment.
The Water Supply
THE matter OF greatest Importance
before our people today Is that of our
water supply. 1t involves the largest
expenditure, and is prerequisite to
our future growth and prosperity. The
situation is unique in the history of
American communities. Here is a city
practically twenty-five years of age,
which, with the territory it is proposed
to annex, will rank about tenth in pop
ulation, and growing at rate that Is
unparalleled. The country is semi-arid,
the rainfall being confined to about
four months in the year. The limit of
cur local water supply has nearly been
reached.
IF the increase in population con-
tinues it is necessary to bring addi-
tional supplies from great distance
and over long stretches of desert. This
supply has been acquired and means
must be found for it's conveyance The
preliminary question seemed to be
whether the city should construct a
conduit of a capacity only sufficient to
meet the demands of its own citizens
or whether 1t should include in it's
plans the inhabitants of the surround
ing territory, whose necessities are as
great as our own.
THE latter involves additional
problems. 1t incurs a larger aggre-
gate, but proportionately less expense
1t requires either the political union of
number OF cities of different forms
of government with intervening terri
tory or change in our laws, which
Will permit the territory receiving ben
eft of the water supply to share the
outlay.
Political union involves questions of
forms of government of different locali-
ties These different sections have di-
verse IDEAS which have to be recon-
ciled
Private Interests Opposed
Added to all these, it has since devel-
oped that the larger plans are consid-
cred adverse to certain private inter-
ests, and no encouragement has been
received from these sources
When the matter was first broached
by the city authorities a committee of
this chamber made as careful inquiries
as the time permitted, and as a result
of the investigation the board approved
of the preliminary issue of bonds re-
Qured but suggested that no greater
outlay of funds be made than necessary
to conserve the citys interest until the
whole question be passed upon, both as
to feasibility and cost, by the best eX-
perts obtainable.
The board of water commissioners
readily agreed to this plan, and all
subsequent proceedings of this board.
the city council and the board of public
works, have been conducted in accord
ance with this understanding. More
than that, there has scarcely been any
steps in the proceedings that they have
not consulted with our committee.
The report of the engineers recently
filed approved the plans and confirmed
the estimates. 1t is understood that
the city authorities now contemplate an
invitation to the different localities w.
ing between the mountains and the sea
to consolidate into one city, with some
borough form of government that will
permit the different localities to retain
their local designation and self-govern-
ment Also to construct a conduit, ac-
cording to the approved plan, of suffi-
cient size to convey all the water neces-
sary for the uses of the larger city for
all time to come.
Aqueduct Right Of Way
"In June officers of this chamber were
requested by our representatives in
congress to go to Washington and as
sist in the presentation of the city's
claim to a right of way over the desert
for the proposed aqueduct. The oppo-
sition was Of the most determined char
acter, and it was only after our repre-
sentatives had sought the aid of the
president, which was accorded In the
characteristic manner of our chief ex-
ecutive, that it was finally accom-
plished.
1T is almost inconceivable that a
project that is recognized by nearly
the whole of our population as being Of
vital Importance, and for which they
are ready to make many sacrifices If
necessary, should meet opposition of
this character. Nor is it easy to pre-
dict what would be the effect on a now
complacent public should the efforts to
thwart the project at any stage Of its
progress become successful"
EXPOSITION WORK
KEEPS CALIFORNIA IN
THE wORI ne HAzE