The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1913-05-20
BOURN SAYS He
WILL HELP GE I
He ITCH HETCHY
Spring Valley Chief Ayers
His Firm, if Given Warn
ing, Will Not Oppose
Grant
WILLING TO AID
PLEA TO CONGRESS
Declares Concern Will Quit
City Without Fight
Wants Time Contract

President William B. Bourn of the
Spring Valley Water company. told the
water rates committee of the board of
supervisors last night that his COM
pany had no objection to the city's in
Producing the Hetch Hetchy system if
an agreement were given the Spring
Valley firm stating how much longer
the city would want the present sys-
tenn. AT the end of that time, he said.
the Spring Valley company would move
out of the city.
I'VE are not opposed to the Hetch
Hetchy grant declared President
Bourn. Our only objection in Wash
ington was to certain statements in the
Garfield report that our water was poll
luted, and we desired to have that
Strengthened out.
we are willing to helpvyou petition
congress to get the Hetch Hetchy. If
you will give us a contract telling how
many years 1t will be before the new
supply gets here, we shall accept it, and
at the end of that time get out. We
nicipally owned system
INTIMATEs PENINsULAR FIELD
Just what the Spring Valley would do
after the Hetch Hetchy water was in
use Mr.. Bourn did not state directly.
He indicated, however, that new oppor-
tunities to supply communities were
fast opening down the peninsula and
that many calls for water had come
from that district already.
he meeting was called to consider
the prospective water famine. Mr..
Bourn reiterating previous declarations
that extensions could not be made with
out better rates.
The purchase offers for the entire
Spring Valley came into the discussion
also and he said that the offers made
by the directors of the company had
been against his judgment.
To solve the whole problem he sug-
gested bringing Judge harrington to
the city to explain his ideas and his
findings. Five per cent return on the
investment was unfair, declared Bourn,
and an attempt TO raise sS,00o.000 or
$4,000, 900 for. extensions on that basis
would be hopeless.
sDUTY TO CITY ENDED LONG AGO"
Il consider our duty to the city long
ago ended" he said 1--WE have been
called a monster, but / assure you we
are just as human as you. No fair
minded man could reconcile your $685.
100000 offer with Judge harrington $
decision
Chairman Andrew Gallagher said he
give the Spring Valley decent rate,
even a better rate than the present,
if the company would do something
to restore public confidence in it, More
confidence in the boards of supervisors
of the present and future would be a
good thing, he continued.
A definite statement regarding ex-
tensions and capital expenditures
would be given to the city in a report
now being prepared by the company
directors, said Mr.. Bourn
City Engineer O'Shaughnessy's re-
port, stating that 100000 gallons Of
water day out of a total of 10000
900 were wasted and that something
must be done to remedy the situation
was read at the opening of the meet
ing, and much of the discussion was
based on this. The session was the
last open hearing before the commit
tee fixes the water rates for the fiscal
year.