The San Francisco call., 1909-01-07
REACH AGREEMET
OVER BASIN SCHEME
Representatives of Commercial
Bodies End IslaiS Creek I'M
proyements Controversy

An important meeting OF representa-
tives OF the commercial bodies has been
called for this afternoon. when, 1t is be-
lleved. an agreement will be reached
on the India basin bill. 1t is understood
that the contention OF the people of the
Mission for the acquisition Of 63 blocks
will be upheld The meeting Will mark
the conclusion of bitter controversy
over the improvements proposed at the
mouth of Islais creek Influences have
been quietly at work to bring all fac
tions into harmony and 1t was generally
admitted yesterday that success was at
hand.
Although it has been stated that two
bills, antagonistic in their terms, would
be presented to the legislature for ap-
propriations for the India basin project,
Il 10 now understood that the opposing g
factions have united on one measure
which will be introduced at Sacramento
with the full support of the San Fran
cisco commercial and Improvement
bodies.
Before the election of last November
the Mission residents and the members
of the commercial bodies divided on
the question of the length of the bonds.
When Is year bond issue was made
possible, as a result of the November
election, it was thought that all differ
ences had disappeared. Fresh trouble
appeared, however, the Mission promo
tion association urging the condemna-
tion of So blocks and the commercial
community generally contending that
A blocks would prove ample.
When it appeared that no agreement
was possible and that the matter would
be carried to the floor of the state
legislature, thus endangering the entire
enterprise, the local commercial asso-
Citations took active steps to restore
harmony. The Merchants association,
the chamber of commerce and the Mer-
chants exchange each appointed a com
mittee OF three to hear the arguments
for and against each of the propositions
and to report as to which scheme of i'm
proVement appeared the more desirable.
This committee of nine has had sew
eral secret sessions. 1t will hold it's
final meeting at o'clock this afternoon
in the rooms of the Merchants asso-
citation. The committee would have
| been able to report on Tuesday, but
two of its members, F. G. Sanborn and
William L. Gerstle, were not in at
| tendance.
The Mission residents. represented by
| Supervisor George Center, have adhered
strongly to their original position that
! the full So blocks We're necessary. AS
/ the opposition heretofore was based
| largely on the belief that the 20 year
| bond proposition was not advisable, it
! is felt that the contetntions of the Mis-
sion residents should be upheld in view
of the fact that a 75 year bond issue
| is now possible.
Another factor which operated in
| favor os"the proponents of the So block
project was the argument that the
state should have full control of the
approach to the proposed basin Such
complete control, 1t was contended
could be obtained only through the con-
demnation of the full SO blocks
! President Andrew NJ. Davis of the
Merchants association has been most
active in his efforts to bring all fac
tions together. He has been supported
by c. c. Moore, president of the cham
Der of commerce, and others prominent
In the commercial community
ut is absolutely necessary that we
reach some agreement" said Moore
1 for otherwise we would endanger the
whole project"