The San Francisco call., 1909-12-02
NEW PROPOSAL
FOR VOTE ON
WATER BONDS
Two Questions to Be Submitted
TO Electors if Eastern Ex=
perts Approve Plan
Construction of Sierra System
and Purchase of Spring VAL
ley Plant Separate

The water situation assumed new
aspect yesterday. when the city's law
department prepared a modified form
for submission of the matter to the
voters il entails only two proposi-
lions. The first calls for the construc-
lion of the Sierra system for $4,000
0OO. but contains the proviso that if
the Spring Valley property is also ac-
Quired. bonds TO the amount OF only
s23 600 600 shall be issued The sec
ond proposition is for the purchase of
Spring Valley for S35.O00,000
In order that there may be no doubt
as 10 the legality Of this proceeding,
the law firm OF Dillon & Hubbard OF
Ne wYOrk viii be asked 10 pass on the
matter. City Attorney Long will leave
for New York this morning to confer
with the eastern attorneys.
EXPERTS WILL ADVISE
Dillon & Hubbard have been retained
by the present administration TO pass
on all previous bond questions. They
are experts in these matters. and their
opinion is regarded by hnanciers in
the same light as a supreme court de-
cision.
Long will reach New York next Mon
day morning. 1t is possible that he
viii be able TO wire the opinion OF
Dillon & Hubbard in time for the su-
pervisOrs TO act the same afternoon or
night.
TERMS OF NEW PLAN
The for mdrafted yesterday by the
city attorneys Office was suggested
by John 7. NOurse, one of the deputies.
It was favorably received by Long,
Judge Lindley and Mayor Taylor. 1t
follows:
Proposition No. Ito incur a
bonded debt of the city and county
Of San Francisco to the amount
of S45.000.000 for the purpose of
the acquisition, construction and
completion of a water supply and
works 10 be owned and controlled
BY The said city and county to
furnish 10 said city and county
and TO the inhabitants thereof a
sufficient supply of good. pure
water Tor al purposes, the sources
Of such supply to be Lake
Eleanor, the waters Of the Tuol-
umne river and its tributaries in
Iuolumne county. California pro-
on this ballot shall receive the
necessary twO-thirds vote, then
bonds TO the amount of s2$.o0O,OOO
only shall be issued under this
authorization. Bonds issued for
this purpose shall bear interest at
the rate Of AZ per cent per an
mum payable semiannually.
Proposition No. 2-To incur a
bonde debt Of the city and county
of San Francisco to the amount
public utility. towit, the water
supply and works of the Spring
Valley water company. corpora
tion, to be owned and controlled
by the said city and county to
furnish 10 said city and county
and 70 the inhabitants thereof a
sufficient supply OF good. pure
water for all purposes. Bonds is
sued for this purpose shall bear
interest at the rate of Az per
cent per annum, payable semian-
nually-
EFFECT OF PROPOSALS
This viii make it possible for the
voters TO declare for either the Sierra
or Spring Valley systems or both 1t
removes the disadvants ge contained in
the three-fold submission in that a
two-thirds vote is more easily obtained.
II proposition No. alone carries, il
means the construction of the Sierra
system. If No alone carries. il means
the purchase Of Spring Valley. II both
carry, the Spring Valley and Sierra
projects viii be merged. the duplicate
parts eliminated If either one fails
u may be resubmitted at a later date.
II this plan is adopted the election
can not be held before January IL It
would lie within the province OF the
next administration to nullify the pro-
ceeding should il so desire.
Company Tired of Strife
ALAMEDA. Dec. Herman Scbus-
sler. consulting engineer of the Spring
Valley company. spoke before the men,
bers Of the Unitarian club tonight on
san Franciscos water problem. He
announced that Spring Valley would
make no further improvements in its
ssstem while the agitation over rates
continued. He asserted that the COM
pany had invested 5000. 600 in the en-
terpTse and expressed the belief that
s35.ooo.ooo was very low price for the
properties.
Schussler expressed the view that the
Hetch Hetchy system had been con-
ceived 10 frighten Spring Valley. The
share holders. he said had tired OF
strife and were ready to sell.
He predicted that the Sierra system
could not be completed before 1920. He
thought a mistake had been made in
providing for only two pipe lines BY
1920, he said, the city would use more
water than the two lines could carry