The San Francisco call., 1908-09-22

Supervisors Unanimously Pass
to Print Ordinance Accepting
Engineer Manson's Report
Two Propositions Offered, One
for Hetch Hetchy and the
Other a Combination
Date for Bond Election Will Be
Set for Early in Mo-
vember
q

Sierra water supply was taken unani-
mously by the board of supervisors
yesterday in the passage to print of
an ordinance accepting City Engineer
Manson's exhaustive report on the
projected Hetch Hetchy Eleanor sys-
tenn; calling upon the citizens to ratify
the acceptance of the gift of the fed
eral government and declaring the
necessity of preliminary bond issue
of 100000 to secure private holdings
and to begin actual construction.
The date of the special election will
be set by the board at next Mondays
session and will probably be fixed for
shortly after the general election OF
November 3.
Yesterdays ordinance recites that
offers were asked on existing plants
(the Spring Valley neglecting to ac-
cept).
son report submitted yesterday and
forming the basis of the supervisors
action follows:
u
contemplates the development of the
Lake Eleanor sources without the pres
ent use of the Hetch Hetchy. In all
his plans provision is made for double
the present population of San Fran
cisco.
SUPPLY TWICE THE PRESENT
The city engineer estimates that Co.,
100000 gallons Of water can be brought
daily -
s30.746,210. This would give a supply
almost twice as large as that now be-
ing furnished by the Spring Valley. A
distributing plant for a Sierra supply
according To- Manson's figures, would
cost $12,I70.S20. bringing the total ex-
penditure necessary for an independent
Sierra supply to s4z917. .030.
The city engineer submits this as
one of two alternatives The other
is the acquisition of the Spring Valley
plant and the development of the Lake
Eleanor project as an auxiliary supply.
Manson makes no specific recommends
tion as to which he regards as the bet
ter, but he intimates that it would be
the part of wisdom to purchase the
Spring Valley system IL 1t could be
obtained at a reasonable figure.
Used merely as an auxiliary supply
Manson figures that 10000, 900 to 49,
100000 gallons could be brought daily
from the mountains at cost of $19,-
6S6,66o. The saving would be effected
In the pipe lines and the mechanical
equipment. Taking the Spring Valleys
offer to sell at $32,ooo,ooo. Manson
writes on $z,000,00o worth of useless
property and adds 81 100000 as neces-
sary to bring the plant up to a proper
state of efficiency. He then reaches
the conclusion that the cost to the city
of the Spring Valley plant at the COM
pany's own figure with a Lake Eleanor
supply as reinforcement, would cost
the city total of s51,1s6.s6o.
TWO ALTERNATIVES OFFERED
The report offers to the. people the
two alternatives-an independent Sierra
supply delivering s0,ooo.ooo gallons a
day for $42,917, ,030. or the Spring VAL
ley. at its own price, reinforced by
Tuolumne source, for $51,186,660
plant for the sum at which the city en-
gineer has valued 1t. the two projects
would not be wide apart as to cost.
In commenting on the situation Man
son says. In reference to the Spring
Valley:
mitted, such as the electors of this
city will be justified in approving, the
development Of the Tuolumne source
as an auxiliary supply. with control of
its own power. will follow In due time.
But If no satisfactory basis for the
purchase of the existing supply can be
submitted by the Spring Valley water
company the development of the Tuol-
umne source and Its independent power
should be pushed to completion, as
herein Indicated"
Manson recommends that, in any
event, the city proceed at once to avail
itself OF the rights and privileges
granted by the secretary Of the In
terror and purchase the reservoir lands
held by private parties. He then pro-
ceeds to point out some features Of
the water situation which have not
hitherto been dwelt upon. He says:
I'm considering the acquisition and
operation of this necessity It must be
constantly kept in mind that the In
| terest upon the capital invested comes
from tho rates and not from the taxa
ton Of properties; moreover. that a
sinking fund may be derived from
either source OF revenue and from the
relief Of taxation now imposed for
/ lighting streets and public buildings
This averages more than 100000 q
year. Capitalized at per cent this
expenditure represents an investment
Of es.0o0.ooo- Tho present gross in
come from water II about 100000.
"of this income the interest on
| 81 500. 900 II spent by the city and
through the Spring Valley company in
| salaries. legal expenses. expert serv-
| ices, printing. etc; expenses which
could be avoided by the removal of the
! prime cause of litigation-namely,
Ownership. BY corporation.
SAVE LIGHTING EXPENSES
The yearly amount paid for light
| ing streets and public buildings Is
over $500. 900. which sum Is collected
by taxation and would not be burden
to the taxpayer II this lighting Is made
an incident to the public ownership and
| operation OF the Tuolumne source; or
! Csnt1nue1 - Page :, Celumn