The San Francisco call., 1908-03-13
CITY HAS OPTIONS
ON HfTCH HFTCHY
Marsden Manson Testifies That
They Stand in Name of
Mayor Taylor
Expresses Belief That II Offers
Far Better Facilities Than
Tevis Plant

Through the testimony of City En-
Bulletin libel suit. it was revealed yes
terday that the options for the Hetch
Hetchy reservoir sites are now in the
hands of Mayor Taylor. Manson had
stated that he believed 1t would be un-
wise for the city to take steps to ac-
quire the Bay Cities system. He spoke
OF the options in the Hetch Hetchy
which had already been obtained. Man
son was asked If he had any financial
interest in these options and replied
in the negative.
How were those options obtained?'
interjected Sullivan.
Exclusively for the benef1t of the
city. They are now in the name of
the mayor of San Francisco and his
successors" answered Manson.
Comparing the catchment area OF
the Bay Cities water company's pro-
Ject with the catchment area of the
Hetch- h-Hetchy system. Manson defined
that Of the former as absolutely in
ferior to the latter.
so far as 1 have been able to learn
the area directly tributary to Hetch
Hetchy and Lake Eleanor and the
area that can be made tributary by
diversion of the waters of the Cherry
river are areas uninhabited and prac-
tically uninhabitable. So far as the
catchment area of the Bay Cities wa
ter company is concerned, / have
found the upper portion of that area
absolutely ideal. SO far as the possi-
bilities of pollution go. I am speaking
now of the regions about Meadow lake
and Bay Cities lake, but in the lower
portions there are some small vii
lagos"
Manson was then asked by Attorney
Matt I. Sullivan If the villages he re-
ferred to were above Bucks bar.
which, according to Manager c. N.
Beal of the Bay Cities company. is
federal property, and Manson replied
in the affirmative.
would the waters from the re-
gions which you describe as ideal of
necessity be mingled with the waters
according to the plans of the Bay
Cities company" was asked of Man
son.
YES" he replied, there would be
consequent pollution by the bringing
of the waters from the higher regions
to Bucks bar"
BAY CITIES PLAN POOREST
Which. then, do you consider the
better water system for San Fran
cisco-the Bay Cities water company S
scheme or the Hetch Hetchy SYSTEM
asked Sullivan.
Lake Eleanor and Hetch Hetchy,
most decidedly" said Manson.
Upon what do you base your opin-
ions that the Hetch Hetchy valley is
uninhabitable generally?" asked At
torney Sullivan
Because a number of persons have
attempted to live UP there and found
they could not. An old friend of mine,
sturdy pioneer, went up into that
region and took with him IL goats.
He came out alive, but his goats per-
ished. If a man of hisss1ardy physique
cannot endure the climate there, much
less so can the ordinary man. The
first trip I made through that country,
in 1901, / did not encounter an animal
of any description. Thessecond time ]
passed through there + counted about
a Dozen"
Are there any other~reasons why
the city of San Francisco should not
accept the proposition made by the
Bay Cities company BESIDES those
which you have just mentioned?" con-
tinued Sullivan.
Decidedly so, in my opinion" an
swered Manson emphatically. There
are number of private holdings
which / fear would involve legal diff
culties and no doubt would throw the
city into an enormous expense, with
the possibility of an unsatisfactory
conclusion. For that reason L do not
believe San Francisco should take
steps to ac c-luire the Bay Cities COM
pany's project"
Near the close of the afternoon ses-
sion Manson was asked for a defini-
tion of the word Hetch Hetchy by AS
sistant District Attorney william Hoff
Cook. Manson said that according to an
old Indian story which is repeated in
the valley in question the two words
are translated GLORIOUS reservoir" Fol-
lowing this Manson exhibited a relief
map of the valley pointing out as he
did so the proposed place of erection
of the $50 foot dam. which would pro-
vide for a great water supply for San
Francisco
The usual recess until 10 o'clock this
morning was then taken.