The San Francisco call., 1910-07-08
Spring VALLEY
HOLDUP STIRS
Fighting BLOOD
COmpany's Demand That Ship
pers Install Distributing Sys-
TEN Angers HarbOr Board
Corporation Says It's "WiIling"
TO Comply With Law at the
Consumers Expense
Commissioners Plan to Buy
Water and Resell TO Steam
ers at Docks

The Spring Valley water company
yesterday laid before the state board
Of harbor commissioners a statement of
the conditions under which the corpor-
alton would be willing" to comply
with the new law fixing the rates for
water supplied to shipping. The mes
sage aroused the commissions lighting
blood. and after a brief but warm dis
cussion the harbor board took the first
steps toward securing for the shipping
Of this port permanent relief from the
exactions Of the Spring Valley and a
fair and equal rate for the water sup
piled the ships that use the state
whsrves.
AS the words Of the Spring Valley
uitimatum fell from the lips Of Assist
ant Secretary Byrne the three harbor
commissioners squirmed in their chairs
At the conclusion of its reading Presi-
dent Stafford was beating his left palm
with his right fist, Commissioner Den
nison had squared his shoulders and
D inflated his chest to an extent that i'm
per.led the integrity Of his vest but
tons ana Commissioner Teller was Civ
ing an imitation Of a man sitting on
hot bricks.
"Studied InsOIence''
In substance the comm unication,
which was branded by the commission
as being strongly tainted with stud
led insolence." sets forth that the
Spring Valley company will only COM
ply with the new law under conditions
which would make the acceptance of
the reduced, rate a heavier burden than
the imposition the board of supervisors
sought 70 relieve The equipment for
supplying water that can be sold at
rates ranging from s1.5o a thousand
gallons TO as much more as the victim
can be induced to pay can not be used.
according to the Spring Valley com
pany. for supplying water that must be
. sold at 4 lower rate Before the ship
owners can derive any benefit from the
rate fixed by the new law the Spring
Valley company must install, at the
ship owners expense. an entirely new
and elaborate distribution equipment.
The Spring Valleys ultimatum fol-
lows:
rowing TO the peculiar conditions
which prevail upon the water front it
Will be difficult. if not impossible, to
give our consumers there the benefit of
the new water rate without subjecting
them at the outset to some little incon-
venience and expense. The inconveni-
ence in question will result from the
fact that consumers viii not be able to
. obtain water from hydrants and other
connections indiscriminately as they
have done in the past, but viii be un-
der the necessity of taking their sup
: ply. from q particular hydrant or GER
tain connections which the company
viii install at their request and for
their own exclusive use. These service
connections. like those dealt with in
the city itself win be made at the ex-
pense OF the consumer. and the prices
charged therefor will vary according TO
the work to be performed in each case
Conditions Summarized
To summarize the conditions which
exist touching the operation of the
new meter law would say:
"First-Each consumer must have
direct connection with our main.
''second-Each consumer must sign
formal application specifying the exact
location of. the service connection.
'eThird-Each direct connection is to
bel Installed at the expense of the con-
kumer applying for same.
"Fourth-Each direct connection in
stalled viii be counted as one Service.
and all water passing through it will
be charged for on an individual basis.
1T is urged that Immediately upon
receipt Of this letter you viii commu-
'nicate with our water front Office and
give fun information as to the number.
character and location of the services
you desire to be installed"
The communication was signed by
secretary Wallace for the Spring Val
. ley company.