The San Francisco call., 1908-04-12
WATER SUPPLY
BECOMES A VERY
GRAVE PROBLEM
City Authorities to Call Big
Public Meeting to Con-
slider Situation
No Attempt Will Be Made to
Break Deadlock Until Hetch
Hetcliy Is Secured
While Sierra Source Is Sought,
the Supervisors Must Fix
the Rates

the most serious question before the
people of San Francisco at the pres
ent time and that the gravity of the
situation has been greatly augmented
by the deadlock between the city and
the Spring Valley company, Mayor
Taylor and those associated with him
In the city government will cooperate
with the local civic organizations in
big public meeting at which the en-
tire matter will be discussed. City
Attorney Long is already at work
upon the details Of the conference. Nc
attempt viii be made to settle the
problem until after the bond election
in MAY. That will put the public meet
ing over to the end of May or the early
part of June.
In the meanwhile the board of su-
pervIsors viii be called upon to fix the
rates for the fiscal year. The majority
report of the committee which has
been considering the matter recon-
mends the re-enactment OF the 1902
schedule under which the Spring Val
ley has been collecting under an in
Junction The corporation, however,
has held out for Is per cent increase
and IN the words of Captain Payson.
president OF the company. will fight
TO the bitter end This declaration is
interpreted as an ultimatum intended
to convey the impression that the mat
ter will be thrown into the courts for
final adjudication. The sentiment
among the members OF the board ap-
pears to favor the 1902 rate, although
a minority report submitted by Super
visor McAllister proposes that Spring
Valley be given the desired increase.
WILL SECURE SIERRA RIGHTS
Although the question is now up for
settlement there is reason to believe
that il will not be finally determin ed
until definite word has been received
from Marsden Manson. who has gone
to Washington to obtain the Hetch
Hetchy rights for the city. Among
those who have been following the
negotiations for the Sierra sources the
impression prevails that San Fran
cisco viii be given full use OF the
water sheds by the national govern
ment- The reports to the contrary are
regarded as Spring Valley literature.
With the rights to the Hetch Hetchy
in the hands of the city the way will
be cleared for a general discussion of
the water question. The authority to
draw on the Sierra supply will not
eliminate other projects. but viii serve
as basis upon which the city can nego-
tiate to better advantage. In this con-
nection the availability of Clear lake
has been urged upon the board of su-
pervisors.
With the deadlock between the
Spring Valley directors and the board
Of supervisors unbroken and the sum
mer pressing for q solution OF the
problem the public will be invited to
assist in safeguarding the city. A big
public meeting will be held which will
be attended by representatives OF the
civic. commercial, labor and improve
ment organizations 1t will be gath
ering in some degree like that called
to discuss the proposed bond issue.
At the gathering the possible pur-
chase of Spring Valley by the city will
form the main theme II it appears
that nothing more can be accomplished
with the local corporation new
scheme will be launched by which the
cities surrounding the bay may join
forces to secure common supply.
CITIES MAY JOIN FORCES
The plans for joint water supply
have progressed to the point where the
city attorney has sketched out a gen
eral method of procedure. The state
law is such that the cities about the
bay may join forces to obtain an ade-
quate water supply without consolida
uon Of any sort This is the basis OF
the plan on which Long is at work
The cost would be distributed among
the cities that would benefit and the
largest expense. naturally, would fall
upon san Francisco.
In case the project of a joint water
supply were taken up a large meeting
VIII Dc ntlu dltcHuc4 DS representa-
tives Of the interested municipalities
and a detailed plan of action mapped
out.
In the discussion bearing upon the
purchase of Spring Valley it has been
pointed out that the distributing sys-
tenn of the company is not ample tc
meet the present needs of the city. In
some sections the mains are too small
for IRE lighting purposes. This has
given rise to the impression that the
auxiliary system provided for in the
coming bond issue would be used as
the basis for distributing plant oil
any water sources that the municipal
ity might acquire. The mains in the
auxiliary system are to be unusually