The San Francisco call., 1908-09-27
MAYOR TAYLOR
|. SAYS THE WATER
/. GRANT IS SOUND
City Is Not to Be Frightened by
Reflections Made by In
terested Persons
Governments Concession of
Rights in the Sierra Will
Be Priceless
Attorney Lewis bennett Denies
Intimating That the City
Was Bunkoed

San Francisco is not to be fright
ened at shadows" said Mayor Taylor
yesterday, speaking of the efforts in
some quarters to raise doubts as to
the genuineness OF the rights be-
slowed on the city in Secretary Gar
fields Hetch Hetchy and Lake Flea
nor grant.
This grant" continued the mayor,
was made by the secretary of the
interior pursuant to his own and the
presidents judgment of the best pub
lie policy and in accordance with the
laws Of congress vesting the depart
ment with authority. The grant Is
good. It confers on San Francisco
reservoir rights in the Sierra which
will be priceless to its future. II the
city fuIflIs the conditions which are
the subject OF the bond issue election
to be held November IL il Will be time
TO search our title before expending
sums OF money. Secretary GaTfield's
grant was made in good faith and for
a great public purpose I regard il
as good as patent
the value of the citys Sierra grant
was reinforced yesterday by plain
statement sent TO City Engineer Man
son by the legal representative of the
Modesto irrigationists, Attorney Lewis
L bennett. bennett writes denying he
had ever intimated the city got the
worst of it in the Garfield grant Re-
ferring specifically to misleading g
quotation published sin~the Chronicle OF
9. - ~
a portion of an interview published in
a Modesto paper and one which might
be construed as a claim on my part
that the settlement with San Francisco
was more favorable to the district than
to San Francisco" bennett continued:
II think IL is only fair that you
should understand our attitude in this
matter. While there are some par
ticulars in which the agreement might
be favorable TO the districts, l believe
that as a whole the settlement was
eminentiy fair to all interests con-
cerned, and that there is assured to
San Francisco the opportunity of OBJ
tanning abundant water supply with
convenient storag ge facilities. and at
the same time the districts are pro-
tected in all of the rights which they
possessed to a sufhciency Of water for
the beneficial irrigation Of all the land
contained within InelI DOUHOdGies, anu
that no unfair advantage was given
either to San Francisco or 10 the dis
tricts."
City Engineer Manson replied yester-
day to the letter of Attorney bennett
thanking him for his communication.
Manson said:
'T am this morning in receipt OF
your timely and courteous correction
of a misstatement by one OF the papers
Of this city in matter in which the
mutual interests of San Francisco and
of the district are vitality affected.
Like yourself l am fully satisfied
that under, the grant of reservoir
rights to this city the interests of
both parties to the great water re-
sources of Tuolumne river are well
guarded and that they can be devel-
oped to mutual advantage.
II take the liberty of sending copies
OF your letter to the board of super
yisors and to the mayor, and hope that
we may soon undertake the develop
ment of this supply to the benefit OF
both this city and the districts