The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-20
Hetch Hetchy Grant Confirmed
by Decision of Secretary
of the Interior
City Engineer Manson Reports
<On Efforts of Spring Valley
and Gas Companies
Board of Works Advised That
Vigilance Is Needed tG Pre-
serve Rights of People
II ICHARD BALLINGER, secre-

4 IL AN--a A - IL B = ~ ~ ~ A-ANr 49, \
X tary of the interior department,
has met a secret assault upon
San Francisco's rights in the Hetch
Hctchy valley by confirming the grant
of Secretary Garfield
For the last month the water,
light and power interests Of this city,
using John Muir. the naturalist, as a
dummy. have eNerted their full inhu-
once to induce Ballinger TO cancel the
permits executed under authority OF
his predecessor.
City Engineer Marsden Manson has
kept in touch with affairs at Washing
ton through friendly agencies in that
city ard has conducted the fight by
wire in behalf Of this city. As soon
as he learned that his efforts had been
successful he made full report to the
board of public works
Reports Victory of City
This report reached the board yes
ferday and contained a full account OF
h5e latest defeat OF the interests an
tagonistic to the city's water project.
The stand taken by Secretary Bal
linger places this city in a stronger
" don than ever IN regard to its
Sierra supply. Ballinger refused to
entertain the proposal that the city's
permits be revoked, and after review
ing the situation said that he saw
no reason for disturbing the decision
OF Secretary Garfield
The secret attack upon the city re
vealed the Spring Valley company and
the San Francisco gas and electric
company standing side by side, exert
ing their combined political pressure
upon the department at Washington.
The light and power interests have
been known foes of the Hetch Hetchy
project, but have always worked COW
crily Their opposition sprang from
the fact that enough power viii be de-
veloped from the Hetch Hetchy sys-
TEN TO light the bay cities, with much
10 spare.
Letters From Manson
Manson's report, received ycstcr-
day by the board Of works, was as
follows:
To the honorable board of public
works. city and county Of san Fran
cisco:
Gentlemen: Upon leaving Washing
ton early in March last. I anticipated
that efforts would be made TO induce
the incoming secretary Of the interior
10 revoke the rights granted on May
il. 1908, and on February 25, 1903,
i 5herefore made arrangements to be
rsonslly advised Of any attacks upon
the water rights and interests Of this
city
on the 2lst of April, 1909. received
= telegram advising me that certain
efforts were endangering the city's in
terests. and suggested that authority
BE given to temporarily look after the
city's interests. / Immediately. in con-
sultation and with the approval Of the
Hon. A. II. Giannini, chairman Of
Alt EAD4it UTILITIES NDAiihittFc VI AhS
board OF supervisors. celegraphed such
authority, and by letter of April %,
1903, learned that petition had been
filed by Mr.. john Muir, asking that
the secretary exercise his supervisory
authority to open up and reconsider
The Hetch 1etchS permit; that this
effort was backeS up aggressively by
frequent visits and strong representa-
ton made not only through agents Of
the water company but also of the
electric light companies which are fur
nishing electric energy in San Fran
cisco and neighboring cities; that
there was greater danger than can
possibly be shown from surface indica-
uons. because these representations
were al secret
Adverse Interests Baked
I have now the honor to report that
these adverse interests were not able
TO carry out their designs and that
the honorable secretary Of the interior
has set the matter at rest for the
present, upon the grounds that the
reasons for granting the permit to
thN city are fully set out in the de-
cisidn Of Secretary Garfield of date
May II. 1903, that several bills were
introduced in congress last winter to
enectuate the permit. and that after
careful consideration by the house
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