The San Francisco call., 1908-04-15
PLAN PARTNERSHIP
IN WATER SUPPLY
Joint Purchase of Spring Valley
and Other Sources Is
Suggested
San Francisco and Bay Cities
Could Join Issues for
Future Needs

A plan of vast proportions for the
acquisition of an adequate water sup
ply is soon to be placed before the
board of supervisors. 1t calls for CO.
operation with the cities Of Alameda
county and the joint purchase of avail
able sources on both sides Of the bay.
The project is the outcome of meet
ing held early In the present year by
representative of San Francisco and
Oakland, at which the advisability of
concerted action on the water question
was urged. At this meeting special
committee composed of Mayor Taylor,
City Attorney Percy V. Long and James
D.. Phelan of San Francisco and Mayor
Mott and City Attorney McElroy of
Oakland was appointed to investigate
the matter. A subcommittee, consist
ing of Long and McElroy, was author
ized TO draw up a detailed plan. This
subcommittee has considered the ques-
tion in all its phases and will submit
it's findings early next month.
Because of San Franciscos deep con-
Germ In the matter, City Attorney Long
has given a great deal of his time to a
study of the most feasible method of
procedure. He has been assisted by
Engineer ]. H. Dockweiler, who has
given years of study to the water
sources about the bay.
FOLLOWS BOSTON IDEA
The project as outlined by Long, Nc
Elroy and Dockweiler calls for munich
pal cooperation without consolidation.
The scheme is modelled after that adopt
ed in Massachusetts, when Boston and
the adjacent cities entered into part
nership to secure an ample water sup
ply. In order to carry the plan to COM
pletion in California a special legisla-
tive enactment would be necessary. The
charter changes necessary, if any,
would not be difficult to arrange. City
Attorney Long is greatly impressed
with the readiness by which the plan
could be put in operation as far as
the legal issues are involved, and the
engineers are equally as enthusiastic
over the possibility of the physical ad-
justments.
The project. as outlined, provides for
the Joint purchase of the sources of
supply of the Spring Valley company,
the Peoples, water company of Ala
media county and such other sources as
may be available as contributing to the
general scheme. The control and man
agement of the properties thus acquired
would be vested in a metropolitan com
mission. Provision for this commission
must come from the state legislature.
OWN DISTRIBUTING SYSTEMS
With the joint commission in con-
troll of the sources and the main pipe
lines, 1T could bring water to the doors
OF the interested municipalities The
plan provides that each city shall own
its distributing system. The cities con-
cerned would purchase the water from
the commission and in turn sell to their
inhabitants. In this way each munich
panty would pay a sum proportionate
to the amount of water 1t used.
In speaking OF the project, Long
stated that it would not only lessen the
cost of administration, but would lend
Itself TO expansion as the needs of the
cities grew. He pointed out that the
question of an adequate water supply
was matter of far greater moment
than was generally believed.
The city is growing rapidly" said
Long, and new suburban tracts ara
being opened. San Francisco must take
care or these places. Many of these
new tracts are without water connec-
tions. Homes are being built and the
people must be properly supplied with
water. If we do not provide for these
tracts we restrict the growth of the
city"
EXCHANGE FOR CITY BONDS
While detailed method of acquiring
the water companies and natural res
SA'O'A olbCS dDOut the Day mas not vet
been nade public, Longs plan will
contain the suggestion that the bond
holders of the different companies ex-
change their securities for municipal
water bonds secured by mortgages on
the properties. In this way the city
would be called upon to expend a com
paratively small amount of cash to take
over the water sources. 1t is figured
that the cost to San Francisco out
side of the outstanding bonds would
not exceed s20,000,O0o.
While it is estimated that the water
thus developed would suffice the cities
of San Francisco, Oakland, Alameda
and Berkeley for some 20 years, Long
figures that ultimately the bay cities
must draw upon the Sierra. His plan
contemplates the utilization of the
Hetch Hetchy in connection with the
sources about the bay The Hetch
Hetchy project. he figures, will take
many years to complete and could be
begun. as soon as the cities interested
direct. In this way, it is argued. an
adequate supply for SO or 100 years
would be assured.