The San Francisco call., 1909-08-13
HETCH HFTCHY
TROUBLE SEEMS
EASY TO CURE
Engineer Manson and Super
visors Believe Danger of Sit
uation Exaggerated
City Authorities Will Place the
Matter Before BaIIinger, Ex-
pecting Early Settlement

All issues pertaining to the Hetch
Hetchy water system are to be thrashed
out between the city authorities and
Secretary Ballinger of the interior de-
partment as soon as the latter reaches
san Francisco.
Ballinger's itinerary is not known
positively. The impression prevails.
however, that he will visit San Fran
cisco within the next few weeks. If,
however, he should be unable to come
here, City Engineer Marsden Manson
will be sent on to reach a complete un-
derstanding with him.
Neither Manson nor the supervisors
regard the situation as fraught with
such danger as the public has been led
to believe. They say that there has
been some misunderstanding and that
the matter should be placed properly
before Ballinger before further action
is taken.
GARFIELD GRANT STANDS
Manson received assurances by wire
from Washington yesterday that the
I grant made by former Secretary Gar
field had been IN no way modified or
abridged. The city engineer contends
that the powers conferred by the Gar
field permit are ample for the work
he had in mind. However, the ruling
Of the interior department must be ac
cepted for the time being.
The orders from Washington will
delay the work." said Manson yester-
day, but they viii by no means be
fatal 10 it. We had undertaken to be-
gin preliminary operations when we
were informed that no permanent
structures could be erected on govern
ment land. We had intended TO run
a line across the dam site to study the
conditions with view to future con-
struction. This contemplated a path
two or three feet wide down one side,
across the base and up the other side.
We applied for permission to cut the
brush away, but this also was denied.
HALT CALLED IN WORK
Our forces in the valley were also
ready to study the stream conditions
and to remove boulders in the bed of
the river at the base of the proposed
dam. This was necessary in order to
get a clear idea OF the formation
at the stream bed. This work must
now wait until We are able to reach
an understanding with the interior de-
partment.
Il have felt that our permit was of
sufficient scope to allow all this work
In fact. I regarded it as pretty we'll
understood that we were to go ahead
in that way. There is no question as
to the permit itself, That we have
I The difference of opinion has arisen
simply over the Interpretation of the
! language of the grant.
| MANSON DEPLORES DELAY
! Naturally, I regret that there must
be delay. Especially do / regret it, as
/ il Will give fresh hope to those inter
] ests which have been inimical to the
I Hetch Hetchy project. 1t will give
them an incentive to work for further
delay In the hope that they may be able
in the meantime to prevail upon con-
gress TO act adversely on the city's
claims. 1t will also encourage these
! interests TO seek to elect to office men
antagonistie to the Hetch Hetchy
project, which has been carried for
ward by the present administration
JOHNSTON Is CONFIDENT
Supervisor Johnston, chairman of the
public utilities committee, believes the
present difficulty will be overcome.
This is one of the many obstacles
which viii be encountered in this
work" he said, but which will be over
come. AS to the permit, there can be
no doubt that it contemplated the very
work which we have undertaken. We
! commenced preliminary construction
on government land. This is just what
the grant gave us authority TO do
Otherwise, what would have been the
use Of the permit? AS to the location
| of the dams there can be no misunder-
standing. Our maps are on file in
Washington and they indicate just
where the work was to be done. 1t
was with the full knowledge Of all this
that the permit was granted by Secre-
| tary Garfield. I believe we will be able
to adjust all these matters in good
| time"
SURVEYORS KEPT AT WORK
Supervisor Murphy also holds that
the project is not seriously endangered.
Il do not regard this setback as
very serious" he said. 1T is merely a
question of Interpretation. We con-
strued the language of the permit to
give us full authority to proceed. At
Washington a different view has been
taken. L think that after the matter
has been talked over with the men AT
the head of the department of the in
terror, all difficulty will be removed"
The surveyors now in the valley will
continue their operations. Temporary
buildings will be erected where neces-
sary and much preliminary work will
be accomplished.