The San Francisco call., 1909-11-23
BOURN AVOIDS
FIXING PRICE
ON HIS PLANT
President of Spring Valley Com
pany Holds Conference With
City's Committee
Tells of Great Value of Holdings
but Declines to Name Figure
for Their Sale

President William 3. Bourn of the
Spring Valley company conferred for
more than two hours yesterday with
The representatives Of the adminisfra-
tion but declined TO name price for
The sale Of the plant. He consented
finally 10 place the matter before his
directors either today or Wednesday.
II they are willing TO fix definite fig
0re 1t win be communicated to the COM
mittee. Otherwise negotiations viii
either drag or be dropped.
Supervisors Thomas Jennings and
James A. Johnston and City Attorney
Long. who composed the special com
,nittee were disappointed at the turn
q the conference. They had expected
10 receive a tangible proposition upon
which the board of supervisors. could
act Instead Bourn talked at great
length OF what he termed the 'un-
dreamed Of value" of the system. He
would take the committee over the
whole works. would show them that
Spring Valley was infinitely more
worthy than they could fancy, discussed
laleAA possibilities anu ldlAtu Ot
everything, in fact. except the price at
which he would sell
When requested bluntly if he was
prepared TO settle on a value Bourn
replied:
II would not want 10 assume that
responsibility. I viii take the matter
up with the board of directors of the
company. They have the power TO fix
price. I VIII cali them together and
viii notify Won of OUr action
IL HANDS OF DIRECTORS
That is the way the matter rests.
The administration wants a tender of
all the properties without strings.
What action the directors viii take
none Of the interested parties would
attempt 10 predict
There is TO be no delay on the part
OF the city. however. This was made
clear later in the afternoon when the
supervisors passed finally the ordi-
nance calling for the election for the
Sierra water supply December IS. The
plans for the election and the pur-
chase 0f Spring Valley viii proceed
simultaneously.
The conference with Bourn was
called yesterday morning in the Office
of Mayor Taylor in the Mills build
ing At a few minutes after II o'clock
BOUrn had been greeted by Johnston.
Jennings and Long II was 1870 o'clock
IN the afternoon when they adjourned.
The session was executive, but the city
officials talked freely at its conclusion.
Bourn referred all questions TO Long.
After the usual eOurtesies had been
exchanged the city officials recited the
purposes of the meeting and asked
Bourn what he had 10 offer. BOurn
thereupon began 10 explain that it was
his desire TO establish a foundation
by which we might bring our minds
together" He then proceeded in sub
stance as follows:
The Spring Valley plant has value
uncreamed Of by the citizens not inti-
mately acquainted with its properties
] should like TO take the members of
the committee over every part OF the
plant 10 show them what we have
believe it would bring you nearer TO
. realization Of what We possess Its
latent possibilities are tremendous. far
beyond the general belief"
NOT An APPRAIsING BOARD
The committee explained that they
were delegated for the purpose Of So
Letting in fair and open spirit an offer
ot sale rather than as an appraising
board 10 adjudicate the value of the
system Bourn. who did nfne-tentbs of
. The talking, resumed, in substance:
i would suggest that we take the
plant separate il into its parts and try
10 reach common basis of agreement
on the various pieces Where we fail
10 agree we can either seek legal ad-
vice or arbitrate. Then we can assem-
bic our valuations"
This process did not appeal to the
committee Bourn was then told that
the committee desired above all else an
offer to sell the fun plant at a stated
price. To this he replied that he would
take the matter up with his directors.
In the afternoon the board of super
visors issued the formal call for the
election for The s45,000,0 900 in bonds for
the sierra supply. The ordinance was
passed finally with only two dissenting
votes supervisors McAllister and Pol
lok opposed il. The ordinance fixes
December IS as the time for the cleo
tion. II names as the sources of sup
ply Lake Eleanor the Tuolumne river
and its tributaries
There was no debate over the ques-
ton, as the matter had been thrasbed
out q week before. The opposition at
that time was based on the assumption
that the Hetch Hetchy valley was not
included among the available Sierra
sources. It was explained that the city
could construct the Hetch Hetchy res
ervoir al any time when required
In a few days an active campaign
viii be launched in behalf Of the Sierra
supply election. II Will be in charge
Of Supervisor Johnston. It is the in
tention 10 obtain Improvement club
halls throughout the city and to send
speakers wen versed on the subject
into every part of San Francisco The
desire is TO explain fully To every voter
the details Of the proposed system.