The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-30
Ralph McLeran

In answer to my questions, McLeran
told me:
Il am SO years old. was born in
Santa Clara. San Francisco has been
my home for Is years. During that
time I was four years in Alaska 1
attended the public schools in Santa
Clara 1 learned the carpenter trade
and worked as a journeyman and SUI
perintendent until about four years
ago, when 1 went into business for
myself as a contracting builder 1 still
conduct that business. While in Alaska
built Fort Gibbon on the Yukon for
the federal government.
Il am member of millmens union
No. 423. / never took an active in
terest in politics until two years ago
1 took the lead then in the organiza-
ton of a building trades good gov
eminent club. 1 have always been
democrat and I helped organize the
San Francisco democratic club.
Il was nominated for supervisor on
the democratic and good government
league tickets and elected in 1907. /
am not a candidate for mayor of my
own choice, but because 1 was forced
into the race by the San Francisco
democratic club. and because I believe
that many things have been started by
the present administration that should
be carried out by some one who has
made study of the projects and who
is familiar with the needs of the city"
FAVORS HETCH HETCHY
Are you in favor of the Hetch
Hetchy water project and the acquisi-
ton and development of the proposed
municipal water supply?"
Yes, / am. 1t seems to me that a
sane and honest man can make but
be unusually enthusiastic over Hetch
Hetchy, but 1 have visited the reser-
voir and storage site. 1 am also ia
miliar with the attitude Of the Spring
Valley company, especially toward the
people in the outlying districts. 1t
has used the needs of the people as a
club 10 force the board of supervisors
TO give it increased rates and it has
positively refused to extend its system
into those districts which have been
built up since the fire and which are
now suffering for water.
Whether we buy Spring Valleys
plant or not we must have a water
supply source in the Sierras, and the
most eminent engineers in the world
have told us that Hetch Hetchy is
positively the best. Furthermore, we
have vested rights in the valley. We
have purchased and paid for all the
patterned idHuS. Il L WOQlQ line
the route from San Francisco to Hetch
Hetchy with men working on the pipe
lines. If l were elected mayor and it
were in my power / would remove any
city official who would put the slight
est obstacle in the way of the progress
of the Hetch Hetchy scheme
Is FOR SIS CENT GAS
Are you in favor of continuing the
fight made by the incumbent super
visors for an So cent gas rate, and
what in your opinion should be the
gas rate?'
Yes. 1 am. The SIS cent gas rate
fixed by the supervisors is unquestion-
ably a reasonable rate. / have made
careful Investigations and I am salts
fed that gas can be manufactured and
sold at IS cents and that that rate will
allow for reasonable rate of interest
on the money invested"
by the city in the matter Of the United
Railroads attempt to maintain it's mo-
nopoly on lower Market street,"
My attitude on the board of super
visors is the best answer. / believe
that the United Railroads should be
treated fairly. They should be given
privileges provided they give the city
something in return.
"They have refused to pay the CITY
for the use of the outer tracks on
lower Market street. 1 have been and
now am IN favor or allowing the
United Railroads to use the outer