The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-03-01
OAKLAND COUNCIL
WILL MEET TIVS
Names Committee to Discuss
With Him His Proposition
to Supply Water
[SeecinL Disnatch 10 The Call

Especial Dispatch TO The Call
OAKLAND, Feb. 2S.-Negotiations be-
tween the officials of this city and w.
S. Tevis of the Bay Cities water com
pany reached the second stage tonight
when President B. Fl. Pendleton of the
city council appointed a committee to
meet Tevis as the properly designated
representative of the city. This will
invite the head of the Bay Cities project
to submit in writing whatever propos-
ais he may have to make.
| President B. H Pendleton said that
the Peoples water company will not
long be able to meet the demand with
its present facilities. On the authority
| of the j. G. White company of New
York, consulting engineers, he asserted
| that the Peoples company must spend
$4,000 600 to raise its present sources to
| their highest capacity. On this invest
ment the city would be compelled to
| pay a return; and according to the same
| authorities no new sources or water
sheds are available for the Peoples
! company
FEAR BALLINGER'S ACTION
committee who will confer with Tsvis,
pointed out a grave situation in regard
to the Hetch Hetchy project Adverse
| action by the interior department, such
as Secretary Ballinger is said to con-
template, according TO Ellsworth would
deprive this city, Berkeley and Alameda
of their most feasible Sierra supply
proposition
"Such supply as we now have or ex
lis only temporary. Our permanent
supply must come from the Sierras. III
Rallinger is about to revoke the Hetch
Hetchy permit we ought TO confer with
the Fan Francisco authorities at once
and see to it that we are entitled to
the use of Sierra water Otherwise, the
failure of the Hetch Hetchy project is
our doom. We will have no permanent
supply The Hetch Hetchy project
should be saved"
In bringing up the Tevis overtures,
President Pendleton rehearsed the his
tory of other water company ventures
and explained his conference last
Wednesday with Tevis.
''Tevis asked me to bring this matter
to you" said Pendleton "he would like
the city to take the initiative in nego-
tiations, and he has promised to meet
our delegates and to explain his plans
When the purchase by Tevis interests
4
ing considered Mr.. Tevas said he would
not make the acquisition without this
city knowing by stipulation the price
to be paid and the conditions. The
negotiations fell through last week.
''Tevis bases his right to come into
this city with water on two things
The people need the water he has to
SELL and the Peoples water company
Il has not supply enough to meet con-
ditions that may at any time arise"
QUOTES AUTHORITIES
Pendleton then quoted reports from
Arthur l.. Adams, an engineer of the
| Peoples water company, and from j. CT.
; White & Co, the water supply experts.
What | have explained to you" the
president of the council continued. lis
&. the only reason Tevis has in coming
/ before us with his projects. We must
have water and Tevis says he can give
| it to us. But if we entertain his
| project we must use the utmost care
TO safeguard the city.
I'VE should determine the value of
the Bay Cities properties to be used
and an option should be issued to the
city for its sab when water is actually
delivered to the city.
THE city should have a minority
representation on the Bay Cities COM
pany's board of directors, with access
accorded to it or to its representatives
to all books and records to determine
the exast cost of al lstructures. dams
! and mains and so forth, and further
, option should be given to the city that
these structures can be purchased at
their exact cost plus an agreed per-
: centage of profit.
This would have no advantage
The city could exercise its rights under
the option to acquire municipal sup
ply of water or, if the city determines
not to purchase the plant, the exact
value then has been determined for
rate fixing purposes. which is of in
calculable value to the city
Pendleton said that he had obtained
! for the city the reports of the White
company, giving the values of all the
watersheds and properties involved, Sc
that the fixing of actual values can be
easily accomplished.
OTHER CITIES INTERESTED
Mayor Noy and Councilman Bullock
5 of Alameda attended the meeting, and
, Noy explained his negotiations with
t Tevis.
ssreyis called on Councilman Bullock
r and me-" he said. "and asked us to con-
4 slider a proposition. We asked him tc
D submit it in writing and the converse
: ton with mi was taken down in short
n hand"
Commissioner Norton of Berkeley, al.
i, so present, said that the Berkeley co,rn
e ell had asked to have the proposals il
writing.
The council decided to make the sam,
request and a committee, composed O.
PendIeton, Bronner and Ellsworth. wal
named to meet Tevis for the first con
ference They will explain the council,
e action to him.
e Sam Bell Mckee, counsel for the PEG
n ple's water company, submitted a de
e tailed report of the properties included
n in the Oakland division by his clients
d which the council accepted. A supple
3 mentary report of added, information
n was asked and will be ready in a few
: DAYS This information the coEncis will
t. use in fixing the water rates of Oak
land for the fiscal year 1901.