Los Angeles herald., 1910-04-02
SEEK To REDUCE COST
OF WATER At HARBOR
Complaints of Shippers Visiting
San Pedro Taken Up by
Improvement Club

SAN PEDRO. April 1.-The North
End Improvement club has taken up
the question of water rates charged
vessels while in port, The public utili-
ties commission will be asked to fix
the rates on a basis that will place this
port on an equality with other ports
on the coast.
Masters of vessels calling here have
long complained about the piice
charged for water here while in port.
The rates are Il cent gallon or just
double the charge at San Francisco
and three times the rates charged at
many ports.
Steam vessels engaged in the coast
wise trade seldom buy water here on
account of the cxorbitant rates
charged. but sailing vessels remaining
in port for several weeks are compelled
TO buy water to supply steam for their
donkey engines and :lso for their
crews.
THE water situation here is good
deal like it used to be down on the
west coast" said a skipper who has
been running here for years. Down
there we used TO have to buy water or
they wouldn't sell us meat. Here the
same company sells the water that
runs the tow boats and does the dis
were refused water because we sailed
into port and refuse to pay towage.
AT most ports they try to encourage
shipping instead of driving il away.
Portland employs four pilots on the
Columbia river bar and for years has
maintained a pilot schooner outside to
watch for incoming vessels.
Another skipper on a steamer run
ming regularly to this port said today
that he had not bought water here for
two years and had instructions from
the company to buy no water at TINS
port unless absolutely necessary. For
eign steamers are often compelled to
replenish their supply here.
PAY NO CITY LICENSE
The water furnished steamers at this
port is supplied by the Banning COM
pany. 1t developed today that the
company has not been paying license
charged other companies that are en-
gagged in the business of supplying do
mestic water. When the old Seaside
Water company succeeded the Banning
company in supplying water for san
Pedro the Banning reserved the right
to supply vessels in port.
The water question in San Pedro is
becoming a live topic and there Is a
strong sentiment in favor of municipal
ownership Both the North End and
Southwest Improvement clubs lfave
taken up the question. Charles Mason,
who for seven years has been manager
of the San Pedro Water company, has
resigned his position, to take effect
April Is.
Since the fire at East San Pedro last
Saturday which destroyed seven build
ings there has been a renewed agita-
tion for better fire protection in con
nectiop with better water service. AT
the meeting of the North End Improve
ment club tonight ii was suggested
that if fire boat is put into service
it could also be used for a toWboat to
bring sailing vessels into port.
Until a few months ago all lumber
towed into port was taxed 20 cents 1000
feet by the towboat company. Later
some of the gasoline launches entered
the field and the price was reduced
to IA cents and then raised to 10 cents
when the launches went out of busi-
ness. Even at the reduced rate the
fees for towing a vessel into port
amount to over 500 on an average
cargo.