The San Francisco call., 1910-05-26
HETCH HETCHY
HEARING BEGUN
At washington
Long Urges BaIlinger to Make
Thorough Investigation Be-
fore Deciding
Suggests Detailed Survey TO
Determine Availability of
Other Sources
ISecretary of Interior Declares
He viii Not Act Arbitrarily
in Case
Especial Dispatch 10 The Call

Nv ASHINGTON. May 25.-A hear
w ing before Secretary Ballinger
was granted to representatives
OF San Francisco today. in order that
they might show cause why the Hetch
Hetchy water supply should not be
eliminated on the Garfield permit
granting the city access to Hetch Hetchy
valley. san Francisco was represented
at the hearing by Mayor Mccarthy. City
Attorney Long, Special Assistant City
Attorney r A Lane. City Engineer
Msrsden Manson. Philip Z. Harroun and
others. John r. Freeman. an eminent
consulting engineer, who was employed
to defend san Francisco interests from
an engineering standpoint, was unable
TO be present.
Those present from the interior were:
Secretary Baninger: Frank Pierce. as
sistsnt secretary; oscar Bswler. assist
ant attorney general; T. W Clements;
George Otis smith. director of the geo
logical survey, and the board of army
engineers, composed of Colonel Spencer
Cosby, Lieutenant Colonel John BiddIo
and Lieutenant Colonel Harry Taylor.
Various civic associations were repre-
zented as follows: J. Horace MacFar-
land. president Of the American civic
association; Edmund A. Whitman, At
torney At law of Boston. representing
the Sierra cluh.-Prof William T. Babe
Of Berkeley. director and president Of
the Sierra club. and George Edwards,
secretary Of the western branch Of the
Association for the Preservation OF Ma
tionsl Parks.
Long Asks Investigation
Secretary Ballinger opened the pro-
ceedings by outlining the events lead
ing up TO the present investigation.
city Attorney Percy Y. Long gave the
position Of san Francisco and outlined
the history Of the attempts made by
san Francisco TO secure suitable
water supply. He suggested that be-
fore any decision be made by the
interior department 2 detailed survey
be made and Investigations be con-
Quoted by competent engineers to de-
termine the possibility of reservoir
sites other than Hetch Hetchy. Upon
being asked by Secretary Ballinger
how long he thought it would take for
such surveys to be taken. Long said
ii would require about three months.
but that a years observance OF rain
fsu and snowfall would be necessary
before definite data could be had on
these matters. Long further stated
at this time TO make proper showing
In the matter OF the order to show
cause why the grant could not be elm
mated because Of a lack of data upon
which a proper showing could be based.
Whitman then outlined the chain of
events leading up to the Garfield permit
and said that the hearing should not be
y Mined TO the question Of whether the
watershed OF Lake Eleanor was ample
for all future possible needs, but
whether that source with others which
the city can obtain is sufficient so that
they should not be permitted to use
.'one Of the most important features" Of
the national park The question as to
the eity's right to use any part of the
park. he said, is still open.
Mccarthy Urges Care
Mayor p H Mccarthy said: The
department having taken this matter
up with the view Of doing the right
thing ought TO be assisted. not ham,
pered. in its investigation. and a mat
ter OF such moment as this question to
the people OF San Francisco and the
transbay cities, as well as the people
Of the country generally. can not be
attended to as il ought to be without
giving it proper care. Now, how are
YOU going to give il that degree Of
thought while sitting here in Washing
ton dealing with the problem, the seat
OF which is $500 miles distant? This
investigation should go TO the bottom
and determine whether San Francisco
and her people, not Of today, not of so
years from now, but for all time to
come, are entitled TO the supply of
water coming from that valley
Secretary Bauinger then said:
san Francisco can exercise no right
whatever over Hetch Hetchy until after
the development of the Lake Eleanor
site, and that development shown to be
Inadequate. II vested rights can be
sNquired under those circumstances L
don know what the vested rights are.
Now this hearing has been called for
3 sIr.