City Of San Francisco

Original Document: Representative pamphlet on the pro-dam side of the debate over the acquisition of the Hetch-Hetchy Valley for a  reservoir to provide water to San Francisco.

1.  All of your water is presently supplied by one company is using all of its available water sources.  Demand for water will soon exceed supply.  You are not convinced the company is doing all it can to develop new water sources.  Its stockholders claim water rates are not high enough for them to take the risk.  YOur city engineer suggested a site in Calaveras.  Due to a "leak", the company found out and beat you to purchasing the site.
2.  You have tried to buy-out the company since 1873, but voters thought the price was too high.
3.  In 1901, City engineer Grunsky recommended the Tuolumne River after studying 14 options including the Spring Valley Water Company.  To prevent speculation, the mayor filed for water rights as a private citizen.  In 1903, the Interior Secretary denied the first application to develop Hetch Hetchy.  the Board of Supervisors abandons the plan.

4. The city is suffering chronic freshwater shortages. The earthquake of 1906 particularly emphasized this when the water supply was disrupted and the city burned for three days/
5. In 1908,  you resubmit the plan to the Secretary of the Interior. He gives limited permission. In June, voters pass a $600,000 bond issue to buy the surrounding lands.  In 1910, San Francisco votes 20 to 1 for a $45 million bond to build the project.
6. In 1910, a new Interior Secretary withdrawals the permit to construct the reservoir at Hetch Hetchy and Lake Eleanor. The Secretary appoints a Board of Army Engineers to study the matte.
7. They recommend in 1913 that Hetch Hetchy will be a $20 million cheaper to build. The Secretary of the Interior refuses further permits without Congressional  authority.
8. You introduce a bill (the Raker Act) directly to Congress that, if approved, would give the city all rights to these sites. If the Act is approved, water supply to San Francisco would cease to be a private monopoly, but would be owned by the citizens of San Francisco.
9. The city acknowledged the recreational value found in Hetch Hetchy Valley, but in this case, human health, and comfort, and even human life is at stake.
10. Building a reservoir in Hetch Hetchy Valley would actually improve the scenery. Roads and trails could be constructed around the reservoir, thereby making the region more accessible to the public as a "playground".
11. You argue that diverting water Tuolumne River for your city would have no effect upon the San Joaquin Valley farmers since many times the amount of water they presently require for crop irrigation is allowed the flow unused to the sea. San Francisco would store the excess water during flood season. You can guarantee a constant adequate water supply to the farmers.
12. You may want to offer any power generated by the project to the farmers at a fair cost in return for support of Rakers Act.