The San Francisco call., 1909-12-10
CITY SURPRISED
AT BALLINGERS
LATEST ACTION
Officials Wire Washington Rep
resentative to Ask for a De-
tailed Explanation
Contend That Garfield Grant
\ Gave Full Power TO Clear
Lake Eleanor Site

Secretary BallAnger has gain sur
prised the city officials by his ruling on
The sierra permits for the development
of water supply BY declining to ac-
cept the city-s profered paynsent he has
refused Engineer Marsden Manson per
mission to cut the timber on the Lake
Eleanor reservoir site. The action came
as so complete a surprise to the local
administration that it wired Judge s.
N Stockslager. its representative al
Washington, 10 ask Ballingep for a de-
tailed explanation.
The mayor the board Of supervisors
and the city engineer have relied on
The language Of the Garfield permit. 10
which Baninger has formally assented,
40 allow fuI development at Lake
f11leanor. In fact. the Garfield grant de-
T1ands this development. As a prelim-
tsnary step il IS necessary TO cut the
timber from the reservoir site. 1t was
e greed with The department OF the in
1erior that the timber should be cruised
End appraised by the forestry bureau
ssnd payment made by the city before
Scu1ting should commence.
The forestry bureau appraised the
Timber at S13.l2S.7T. The city, follow
Sne ont the agreement. made payment
through the local sUbTeasury. Now
fBallfnger has refused 70 accept the
s1noney, declaring that the city holds no
fpermit 10 cut the timber.
WILL NOT CAUSE DELAY
The secretary's action wiz not cause
sSieIay ~ this time. because II would be
Impossible 10 cut The timber during the
winter. The focal fUthorittes are salts
NED that the matter viii be adjusted,
but they are displeased at Bsllinger's
= ttitude-
BaUinger's orders 10 Assistant Treas
urer william c. Ralston were to refund
1he money. but Manson has declined TO
accept IL pending further negotiations
with the interior department As ex-
yslanation Of his policy that has in
Cured the evident displeasure Of Sec
setary Ballinger, Manson referred yes
Terday 70 his correspondence with
Judge Stockslager, the city's repre-
sentative.
Writing under date Of December 6.
Manson called attention to a letter
written by the secretary Of the interior
10 the secretary Of agriculture in re-
gard 10 the timber TO be cut. On this
point the secretary Of the interior said:
IN is not the purpose Of this depart
1nent TO exact any compensation for the
rights OF way desired BY the city over
park lands, which are to be used In
efectuating its agreement with the in
terror department. II Ghe city, will
he required, however to make pay
znent for such timber as may be cut or
destroyed in the construction Of such
rights of way"
THOUGHT RIGHT PLAIN
Manson construed this as a distinct
recognition OF the cfty's right to cut
the timber. The reservoir sites he re-
CARDS as necessarily parts Of the rights
II way through the park. Continuing,
Manson wrote:
Furthermore, in the telegram re-
ferred 10 in the letter Of the secretary
or the interior of date November 10,
1903. and in the correspondence therein
already referred 10, il was the under
standing Of this Office that such timber
as might be cut on the park lands in
the enjoyment Of the rights granted
this city was 70 be paid for at rates
hxed by the forest service. Therefore,
on October g. this Office. having pre-
viously secured from the forest service
the cruising and appraisement of the
timber and forest products and the ap-
provsl Of the board of supervisors made
the necessary payments"
The clearing of the brush was not
only contemplated as part OF the pre-
liminary work at Lake Eleanor, but
was intended. furthermore, as a safe
guard against FIRE
we desired to escape any danger oi
FIRE" said Manson yesterday, by cut
ting a 80 foot strip across the entire
AREA and to burn up the cuttings from
the reservoir site
-eIt would not be feasible now to &c
forward with the clearing of the site
and that viii have to wait oyer until
next season. We shall 90 nothing fur
iher until we hear from Judge Stock
slayer"
Favor Dual Project
The directors OF the Merchants asso.
citation have adopted unanimously a re.
port recommending the purchase OF
Spring Valley for s95.000. 900 and the
expenditure OF s2s,000,0 900 for the ST.
ezra system. The resolution follows:
Resolved that the board of directors
Of the Merchante' aSsoclat ton strongls
faVors the acquisition Of both Tho
Spring Valley system at S35. .000 600 and
the Lake Eleanor Tuolumne system az
$4,000. .O0e the latter for the future
water supply Of san Francisco, and we
recommend and urge the members oi
this organization to vote yes" for
propositions No. 1 and No.-2 and not tc
vote for either OF the two proposition.
alone. as neither in our judgment, viii
itself adequately serve the present and
future needs OF the city.
The campaign for the water bono
project IS TO be launched at a public
meeting 10 be held next Thursday might
inathe rooms Of the board of supervis-
ors. IT is believed that representative
of the commercial and labor organiza.
lions viii be present
EADDECTEn nN CHADGE