The San Francisco call., 1910-04-06
BALLlNGER'S ACT
PLEASES OFFICIALS
Accessibility of Hetch Hetchy
cpOrt Changes Water
Situation
City's Case Will Be Presented in
Washington by Long, Nc
Carthy and Manson

The decision of Secretary Ballinger
that san Francisco may now have
access TO the report Of the engineers,
which he has endeavOred to construe
as a basis for the revocation of the
Hetch Hetchy permit. has placed an
entirely new complexion upon the
water situation 1t is felt in admin
istration circles that the city's posi-
tion has been greatly strengthened by
the latest turn Of affairs. The view
is taken that the claims of this city
are predicated entirely upon reason
and law and that the position OF the
city is practically impregnable.
II was feared that with an unpub-
lshed report reposing in secret al
cove Ballinger could DO about as he
chose in regard TO the questioned per-
nit. With all the facts in evidence.
however. and a fun hearing upon the
merits of the issue, there is little fear
among local officials that the privi-
leges heretofore bestowed can with
justice be taken from san Francisco.
There has been a lurking suspicion that
the case has been programmed against
San Francisco. However. the opinion
prevails that an open presen tation OF
The facts viii nullify the opposition.
City Engineer Marsden Manson was
greatly pleased when he learned that
BaIlinger had removed the ban Of Sc
crecy from the engineers reports He
at once wired TO Judge Stockslager.
who has been acting for San Francisco
at Washington. requesting an imme
diate resume of the documents. This
should reach Manson within a day or
Two.
In the meantime City Attorney Long
D.. eli f,a
has been preparing TO submit on be-
half OF the city. He had been proceed
ing on the theory that the reports in
Washington would not be placed at his
disposal. Even with the change in at
titude on the part of Secretary Bal
linger it is felt that the city has been
placed a a disadvantage.
From now on the city's case viii be
prepared as rapidly as possible. The
delegation TO Washington as at present
planned viii consist of Mayor Nc
Ca-thy. City Attorney Long and City
Engineer Manson.
The hearing viii be held before the
department Of the interior on May 3.
Elmore Lehingweu, secretary to the
mayor, said yesterday that it was Nc
Carthy's intention 10 90 70 Washington
on the Hetch Hetchy mission IL his
health would permit. The mayor viii
address himself TO the general features
~ the project. Manson viii deal with
the engineering aspects, and Long will
handle the legal end.
Although there has been no official
communication from the national cap
ital disclosing the nature of the data
that appear to have had such sudden
weight with Secretary Ballinger, it is
believed here that the arguments were
based upon the theory that the Lake
Eleanor supply could be made all suf-
fcient for the needs of San Francisco.
This would call for the development
Of the watershed over the ridge from
Lake Eleanor and the diversion of the
streams by means OF long tunnel into
the Lake Eleanor reservoir. The
streams requiring such treatment
would be Jack Main creek, Frog creek
and Stubbleheld creek. Not only
would the cost of this method OF con-
strUctiOn be enormous, but il would
call for the destruction of some of the
most beautiful scenery in the Sierra,
for which Ballinger has professed such
a tender regard. It would obliterate
the wonderful falls on what is known
as Falls creek
The Hetch Hetchy project will claim
the close attention of the administra-
ton until the hearing in Washington.
HetCh Hetchy Indorsed
OAKLAND. April 5.-The central Ia
council Of Oakland viii make strong
hght in favor Of the Hetch Hetchv
water proposition now before the peo-
PIE Of san Francisco. At last nights
meeting Of the labor council w. H.
Irmy, chief Of the electrical depart-
ment Of san Francisco, and B. B.
Rosenthal, first vice president of the
San Francisco labor council. were in at
tendance. and an apepal was made to
both councils for cooperation in the
fight now being made
IL was argued that the secretary of
the interior had no right to interfere
in the development of a water supply
for San Francisco, and a resolution was
presented protesting against such in
reference, TO be forwarded TO Presi-
dent Taft and members of both the
house and the senate of the United
States.
The resolution comes as a result of
Secretary of the Interior Richard A
Ballinger notifying San Francisco Of
ficials that he proposed to reopen the
matter Of water supply, and consider
the desirability Of revoking the rights
owned by the city to its largest and
most important reservoir, in which the
city owns more than half the storage
area under patents from the United
States, and the right TO utilize the re-
mainder under the laws.