The San Francisco call., 1908-05-19
WATER RATE WILL
NOT BE CHANGED
Citizens Will Pay Same as Now,
but City Makes Conces-
sions to Company

The 1902 water rate schedule-the
one under which the Spring Valley
company is at present collecting-will
be re-enacted by the supervisors and
will regulate the charges to be made
during the coming fiscal year.
This was decided upon by the special
water rates committee of the board
last night, and means that the bills of
the private consumers will remain un-
changed for another year.
The citys bills will be increased,
however, as it is proposed to allow the
corporation $125.ooo for hydrants,
$4,000 for water supplied to public
buildings, $4,000 for street sprinkling,
$4,000 for public schools and $4,000
for the arks>
When the water rates committee of
the board reported several months ago,
Johnston and Murphy favored the re-
enactment OF the 1902 rate. with a
slight increase for the hydrant service
while McAllister recommended the 1908
rate, which is now in the courts, with
a 10 per cent increase.
After several weeks of discussion
it was found that there was small like
lihood Of the board agreeing on either
bill. and the 1902 rate was offered as
a substitute. 1t was then that a special
committee; consisting Of the water
rates and utilities committees and the
chairmen of the finance, fire and health
committees, was appointed to work on
new measure.
CITY WOULD BUY, BUT
At the first meeting of the special
committee Johnston was instructed to
make an effort to get the stock holders
OF the Spring Valley company to agree
TO sell TO the city for a fair valuation,
the price fixed by the directors, S32, zoo,
600, being considered exorbitant John
ston undertook the task only to meet
with failure, for he received a report
yesterday that not a dollar would be
taken off the first price asked by the
company.
AS the budget committee is anxious
to conclude its labors this week, John
ston called the special committee to-
gether last night to settle on a rate
to be recommended for next year. The
city's share of the revenue of the cor
poration is raised by taxation and
necessarily must be included in the
budget.
After lengthy discussion the members
decided to recommend the 1902 rate.
which has been collected since 1903.
when the company appealed to the
courts from the schedule fixed for that
year. The committee thought it ad-
visable TO raise the allowance for the
hydrants from $4,000 to 1925, 600 in
order to permit the company to extend
its mains into outlying districts that
are lacking in proper protection against
hre. The funds for the hydrants and
other public buildings which are to be
the same as now collected. will come
out of the pockets of the tax payers and
not be a direct charge against the pri-
vate consumer.
AS the special water rates committee
is composed OF half of the members of
the board, it is likely that it's recon-
mendation will be approved at the
meeting next Monday.
MANSON MAKES REPORT
City Engineer Marsden Manson ap-
peared before the board at the meet
ing yesterday afternoon and told of
the success of his mission to Washing
ton, d. C., to secure the Hetch Hetchy
water supply for the city. He said
that the arrangements made with the
FEDERAL government insure an adequate
and ineXhaustible supply of water to
the city. Moreover, the city is empow-
cred. to sell excess power or water to
irrigationists or others desiring to pur-
chase 1t. One of the most important
stipulations. Manson said, is that no
rights can ever accrue to any person or
municipality using the stored waters
Of the Hetch Hetchy outside of San
francisco. In conclusion Manson de-
clared his belief that the. terms made
with the government are fair to the
city and all concerned
Manson filed with the board a copy
Of Secretary Garf1eld's letter TO the
commissioner of the general land Office.
which contains the stipulations entered
into, and also copy of his petition to
the interior department setting. forth
San Francisco's claims to the Hetch
Hetchy supply.