The San Francisco call., 1910-01-14
Spring Valley Purchase and the
Lake Eleanor Plan in the
Peoples Hands
Bonds for Dual System Are
Urged by Business and
Professional Men
Plant Would Pay for Itself From
the Earnings, Declare
Experts
Increase in Rates and Taxa
ton Is Denied by Friends
of the Plan

THE Spring Valley water system
will pay for itself. There will be
= no raise in rates. The revenue
will be sufficient to meet the interest
on the bonds and eventually to pay off
the principal Its purchase will not
mean extra taxes nor higher rates.
These are the facts that the citizens
water committee desires to impress
with special force upon the voters.
Convinced that the Sierra system will
find no real opposition, the committee
makes its final appeal for the purchase
of Spring Valley. The two projects,
combined and unified, will give TO San
Francisco an ample immediate supply,
with the certainty in the near future
of a system unexcelled in any modern
city.
Students of the public welfare have
declared the issue more closely inter-
twined with the city's future than any
question that has presented itself for
decision during the half century. It
is the big opportunity for which the
public has struggled. They will seize
or reject it at the polls today.
Foundation for Homes
A city owned water works, pumping
a clear and healthful fluid into the
outermost districts, is the first step
toward that destiny which has been
sketched for San Francisco. 1t will
be the foundation stone for thousand
homes and thousands more to follow
that will rise upon the areas that have
too long served no useful purpose It
will bring to commerce the needed i'm
petus. The lake shores will provide
the arena for San Francisco's recep-
ton to the world in 1915
Arguments in support of the dual
project have been piled high during
the days of debate. Against them
have been placed two contentious
that the law forbids the bond issue
and that the price is too high From
the highest legal authority-from
Dillon & Hubbard-comes the assur-
ance that the city is safely within its
legal rights.
Earnings Pay Expenses
The price is admittedly high. Never
theless, engineers have expressed their
conviction that the earnings of the
system win be sufficient to pay all ex-
penses leaving a balance to meet the
interest charges and in due time to re.
tire the principal
Speculation as to the size of today's
vote has varied from 35 900 to 45 600.
Registrar Zemansky estimates that
close to 10000 ballots will be cast.
In November, 19OS.' said Zemansky
yesterday. "411S7 votes were cast at
the Hetch Hetchy election. At that
time the total registration was 75,4s7.
Our registration at the present time is
approximately $1,000 L do not look.
however. for bigger vote than we had
on Hetch Hetchy with the smaller reg
istration. / think about 10000 votes
will be cast at this election. In the
Geary street election we had some 43-
600 votes. There was organization on
both sides on that issue and the cam
paign was carried on in a way to ex-
cite popular interest. The water ques-
tion appeals very strongly to the pub
lie, but 1 shall be surprised, neverthe-
less. if the vote goes very fan above
10000"
Gather Returns Quickly
The polls for today will be Identical
with those used in the last November
election. There will be 500 booths with
1000 officers in charge. zemansky has
made arrangements to gather the re-
turns with unusual speed. Adding ma
chimes have been installed in his Office
and the figures will be checked up as
quickly as they can be telephoned in
When the Hetch Hetehy was the issue
in November. 1908. it was approved by
s4.s5O votes The opposition could mus
ter only SOS.
The question will be placed before
the electors today in the form Of two
propositions. as follows:
LAKE ELEANOR
TUOLUMNE SYSTEM
Proposition 1. To incur bonded
debt of the city and county of San
Francisco 10 the amount of s45.-
0oo 900 for the purpose of the ac-