The San Francisco call., 1910-01-11
WATER COMMITTEE
TO PUSH CAMPAIGN.
Series of Meetings to Boost the
Dual System Will Be Held
This Week
Statement Issued TO Voters
Who Believe Spring Valley
Price ExOrbitant

The citizens water committee com
'leted arrangements yesterday for
series of meetings to be held thi
week. Speakers will be present g
heSe gatherings TO urge the passage c
10Th the Spring Valley and the Sierr
.ystem bonds Former Mayor Taylo
VIII address the voters at Clement ma
Thursday night.
The COMMITTEES was in conferenc
yesterday afternoon and was incline
o take a very hopeful view of tn
situation. The following appeal wa
ssued.
Statement TO those voters who
believe $50 .000, ,00O TO be above a
fair price for the Spring Valley
properties.
Gentlemen: You have been
taught for many years that Spring
Valley has been oVervalued for rate
fixing purposes. That is still the
opinion of the ma ajority Of this
committee. You believe that it is
now overvalued in the price set for
space of FIVE minutes TO convince
you that an opinion formed
through years is wrong. In fact,
some members of your committee
believe YOU are right. But all the
members of the committee are con-
vinced by buying at s35,000,000 that
the best interests of the city will
be served. They are going to vote
for both propositions. We there
fore set forth the reasons that lead
them TO this determination, in the
belief that they may also have
weight with you:
l. Private ownership of the citY's
water supply is a continuing in
jury to the city. 1t has retarded
the growth of the city by rate
litigation and insufficient service.
INJURIES OUTLINING DISTRICTS
,. 1t is estimated that the refusal
OF the Spring Valley TO extend its
mains into the outlying districts
has prevented the building of
10000 homes in San Francisco,
which would house $4,000 more
people. They have gone elsewhere
They spend at least 500 a year
apiece elsewhere. which means that
obstructive tactics and the uncer
tainty OF the water supply costs
the city not less than $5,000,000
5. Engineers inform us that it
viii take 10 years to bring in
Sierra supply. For 10 years, then.
We must depend on Spring Valley
for our water. The continuance Of
present conditions for 10 years
means a loss TO San Francisco in
business of not less than $4,000,
0O0.
I. The Spring Valley company.
under court injunction. is taking
from the rate payers Il per cent in
excess of the rate fixed by the Su-
pervisorS. This is over 100000
wear. In 10 years this will amount
to s. 600 600. 1t can be saved to the
people by buying the property.
>. The Spring Valley COMPANY re-
fuses TO spend 2 dollar in extending
its mains TO the outlying districts
or charging It's supply TO the pres
ent business and residence districts.
S. There is no way to compel the
company TO perform this moral OBJ
legation by mandamus or by suit {
law. II can prolOng litigation in
definitely. The rate suit of 1903 is
still in its early sta ges after nearly
seven years Of lighting in court.
Z. Private ownership OF the
Spring Valley properties has been
the chief source OF the opposition
that has for 80 years prevented san
Francisco from getting a Sierra
supply. The corporation has financed
the agitation against the city in the
irrigation districts and is the back
bone Of the fight in congress TO de
priVe the city of the Hetch Hetchy
rights. II viii doubtless continue
its fight IN future, if il is still in
the water business Therefore to
buy the Spring Valley viii cut the
ground from under the opposition,
save long period Of litigation and
advance by several years the COM
pletion of the Sierra water supply.
s The purchase of the Spring
Valley properties will put the city
al once in possession of a going
business with an income Of more
than S2.500,000 3 year. which is
enough to pay all costs Of opera
ton. meet the s1.575.000 interest on
S35.000,000 worth of bonds and
leave surplus besides.
q II Will enable the city within
six months. at a cost of $3.50, 900. TO
increase the present daily supply
OF $4,000. 600 gallons up to 40 ,000.-
GOO gallons. This viii enable the
city to meet its growing needs for
several years and at once to extend
its mains into the outside districts.
10 1t viii enable the city TO at
once start construction or the Lake
Eleanor supply. to increase the sup
ply by 3e.0eo,ooO gallons or more
without having to fight the cor
poration 10 a standstill before bonds
can be sold
II. It will give municipal owner
ship of our water supply now. in
stead Of waiting 10 years or more.
some' of Us won't be here in 10
years.
For these reasons we are unan-
imous in urging the voters TO ratify
both proposition No. I and PROPOSE
fion No. 2. The policy win pay the
city Even at this price IL is good
bargain.
The directors of the real estat
BOARD has embodied its indorsemer
# both propositions in the followin
-esolufion:
Resolved. that the board of direc
ors OF The San Francisco real estat
BOARD indorse the acquisition o; bot
he Spring Valley system at s35609.G0
md the Lake Eleanor -Tuolumne sys
EN- at s2S 900. 900, and we urge rpo
he members of this organization :
-ote yes for both propositions No.
md No. ?, and not to vote for eithe
Il the propositions alone. as neithe
n our Judgment. will of itself ade
luately serve the present and futur
reeds OF the city.