Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-04-29

In a communication to the advisory
committee of the aqueduct William
Mulholland, general superintendent of
water works, fully answers the ques-
lions asked by the Democratic league
in letters sent by the league to the city
council and the mayor.
In answering one of the questions
as to why no right of way was Sc
cured for the aqueduct through the
San Fernando valley so as to connect
the Owens river water with the pres
ent water supply Mr.. Mulholland de-
clares the intention was then, as 1t is
now, to bring the aqueduct down the
county road, and he does not believe
the supervisors will demand any
harsher terms three years from now
than it would at the present
Mr.. Mulholland's letter is as follows:
LOS ANGELES, Cal. April 26, 1909.
To the Advisory Committee OF the Los An
geles Auueduct.
Gentlemen-In the matter of the com
munlcation to YOU from the mayor convey
ing communication from the Decorate
league, which was referred to me for reply
in 80 far the subject referred to engineer
ing historical matters concerning the
aqueduct, / beg to submit the following:
In answer to the first query, as to why the
purchase of rights of way for the construc-
tion of the Owens river aqueduct was
stopped at the head OF the San Fernando
valley. 1 wish to state that the aqueduct
ends at that point for reasons very fully
answered both in The written reports and In
the plans presented to the public and en-
phatically approved by them in the bond
election.
Indicated on Maps
The proposition presented to the people
was to build an aqueduct from a point on
the Owens river near Charley's butte to a
point at the head of the San Fernando val
ley, plainly indicated on the maps and plans
at that time. and submitted to the people
as the complete plan on which they were to
exercise their judgment in the bond cleo
ton. This point still remains the same as
then and there Is no authority vested In the
board of public works to extend the work
further even II there were need of doing
so. which there Is not, as will be shown fur
Their on, and which fact was fully explained
at dozens of meetings and in endless news
paper articles during the bond campaign.
The surveys showed that there were but
two reservoir sites in the San Fernando val
ley having the proper elevation to serve the
purpose Of the aqueduct In attaining It's
fullest advantages. The function of these
reservoirs is fully explained on page 10S Of
the first annual report, and their Importance
to the project is there clearly set forth.
Reservoirs Important
OF such Importance were these reservoirs
that 1t was deemed a wise move by the
board to acquire them lest the owners or
the land, prompted py their great NAiue "
the city, might be tempted to demand an
extravagant price for them. Now, the board
of public works. as before stated. could DO
nothing in the matter. these reservoirs not
being a portion OF the aqueduct, as orig
inaliy outlined. a conference was held
with the board OF water commissioners at
which 1t was agreed that, as 1t was always
contemplated and always fully ana clearly
announced that the water department was
TO take charge of the water from the end OF
the aoueduct to its distribution, and, indeed,
for that matter. of the aqueduct itself after
II was put in commission, the proper thing to
do was for the moneys of the water depart
ment to be used for the purchase of the res
ervoir sites.
There being no funds available at that
time in the water revenue fund. and 1t not
being considered advisable to delay the ac-
ouirement of the land, the money was ad-
vanced temporarily by the board or puphc
works with the understanding that the water
department would assume the obligation.
This sort of arrangement was made several
times during the period of the purchases or
the great land areas and water rights IN the
owens River valley, only that the water
denartment was the creditor in those cases.
as It has been the creditor OF other branches