The San Francisco call., 1909-12-11
VICIOUS ATTACK
BY SIERRA Club
HARMS THE CITY
Foes of San Francisco Attempt
TO Arouse the East Against
Hetch Hetchy
SpeciOus Arguments Based on
Utterly False Premises Be-
cloud Real Situation

letters and editorial clippings from
magazines and newspapers in all parts
Of the country. based on the nature
plea" as a means of attack. a promi-
nent place is given TO a letter signed
by John Muir. J. \. lie Conte, f. T. Par
sons and william F. Bade. Other clip
pings are taken from the bodies of ar
tscles appearing in publications friendly
10 san Francisco's interests, but which
clippings without the context, appear
as attacks upon the water supply
project In q particularly vicious clip
ping from the Portland Oregonian en-
tiiled "A Rich Grab" 1t IS insinuated
that the acquisition Of the Hetch
Hetchy water rights. while Ostenisbly
for the benefit of the city, is really in
tended as a plum for private interests.
Several pages Of the pamphlet are
given over TO views of the Hetch
TIerchy valley. yet practically without
exception these pictures were taken on
The property already owned by the city
of san Francisco. Others. pUrportlng
10 show scenic features that would be
destroyed by the construction OF g reser-
voir. include only the great cliffs and
peaks far above what would be the sur
face of the lake created. while still
fIIeFS We're taken from ~ 10 ~ lllllES
away from the reservoir site.
The board Of trustees of the chamber
OF commerce. by a resolution adopted
Yesterday. recommended that all voters
at the coming bond election approve
the acquisition Of both the Spring
Valley and the Lake Eleanor-TuOlumne
systems. The resolution was identical
with that adopted by the Merchants
association
Conference Called
A conference Of all civic and CONNER
cial bodies and Improvement clubs in
terested in the success Of the city's
water bond issue election January Il
has been called by Supervisor James A.
Johnston. acting for the public utilities
committee and the board. TO be held in
the chambers at the hall Of Justice. in
Eddy street, Friday evening, Decem-
Der IL.
Plans to bring the merits of the
water proposals before the people viii
be discussed. The s45.O00 00s Sierra
proposition and the proviso that only
S2s 00e. GOO viii be expended in the
Lake Eleanor and Tuolumne river sup
ply development, If the voters author
ize the purchase Of Spring Valleys
nearby sources, reservoirs and distribu-
fiOn plant, viii be explained By City
Engineer Manson and the other officials.
Ii is expected that City Attorney
Long may be back from his present
stay in washington, y. c.. and in that
case he viii present the attitude Of
the interior department of the federal
government toward the city's undertak-
ing and show the necessity Of demon
strating San Franciseo's determination
20 have its own mountain supply.
Spring Valley Holdings
Ways of acquainting the people with
the scope and extent OF Spring Valleys
holdings. the potential value Of its pc
ninsula reservoirs in connection with
the citys mountain supply. and of its
transbay' properties viii be taken up
and the officials of the company asked
TO cooperate IN promoting a campaign
Of publicity.
The sum OF S2SSS5 was yesterday set
aside by the supervisors finance com
mittee TO defray the expenses of the
two bond issue elections. December 30
and January H. This money viii be
available for the election commission
10 conduct the Sierra and Spring VAL
ley water bond submissions on the lat
ter date and the Geary road PROPOSE
ti0n on the former.