Editorial: To the Supervisors

Daily Review, Sept. 17, 1949

Full Text:

(Adjoining, under the heading "Our Readers Say," is the full text of a letter from Harry Bartell, chairman of the Alameda county board of supervisors, concerning Russell City water conditions and the board's opinion of a Daily Review editorial. We urge that you read the letter.)

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Mr. Harry Bartell and other members of the board of supervisors:

We have tried to be fair in handling the matter of getting water for Russell City—fair to you in the county that govern Russell residents, fair to the residents themselves, and fair to Hayward's councilman who made an offer to sell water to Russell City if and when a pipeline exists.

We are happy to know that such a situation as that which exists at Russell City cannot blight another area within our county.

We are aware, and our readers have seen in our news coverage of your board's activities, and that of your private opinion—we

are aware that you have considered the authority to aid Russell City in obtaining a water connection not within your legal powers.

You state that "In many portions of Alameda county, there are serious water conditions and there is no authority to use the funds of all the taxpayers of Alameda county to correct conditions in any particular area."

We will not attempt to disputė your legal Interpretation of the board's powers regarding water conditions in any particular area."

But, Mr. Bartell, we in Southern Alameda county consider the Russell City situation a problem of health, the effect of which is borne by the whole of our area within the county.

We feel that your action in dismissing the original proposal as offered by Hayward councilman may have been

justifled on the legal grounds you offered. But it hurt us that you did not seem interested in sitting down with the city's councilmen in an attempt to find some legal method to accomplish the task of getting water to Russell City.

We would like very much to discuss this matter with George Janssen, but, as you know, Mr. Janssen is on a well-earned vacation, the first in a number of years we have been told.

Meanwhile, there is a deadline facing us on the present proposal to join the Russell City project with that of a pipe line to the National Guard facilities at the Hayward airport. By joining projects, thousands of dollars could be saved getting water to Russell City.

Although we must admit that the responsibility of eventually getting water to Russell Clty rests for the most part with residents of that area, nevertheless, we assume that as the governing body for unincorporated board also has a responsibilIty.

The whole county is affected when an epidemic hits any portion of the county.

We feel sure that you agree that the elements that precede such epidemics are very evident in Russell City.

Yesterday, we suggested that if a district has to be formed, then your board might well take the lead by forming such a water district. If a bond issue must be voted, then your board might well suggest it. And if bond issue funds are not enough, your board might legally loan the district additional funds until new development (made possible by a sanitary water supply) could afford to pay back to the county such a loan.

You have asked for suggestions. That would be our answer If county funds cannot legally be spent to safeguard the health of our people.

This has been an issue of great importatice to us and to the people of our area the whole of Southern Alameda county. We have been pressed by the knowledge of a deadline when work must start on laying the pipe to National Guard buildings.

Because of a sincere belief that something can be done to solve the problem, and because we realize that the full picture must be placed before our entire area, we may have sounded unfair to you gentlemen.

We did not mean to indicate that you were not performing those duties for which your board is formed. That would be "biting the hand that feeds you," so to speak. It is your leadership, your decisions that are needed by residents in Russell City.

The people of that area want water. They don't know how to get it, but they look to your board as their only hope for an answer. Surely, gentlemen and sincerely, if the county can legally put up street lights in Russell City, there must be some legal way to get a water pipe laid. 

Our Readers Say...

Following is a letter from chairiman of the Board of Supervisors, Harry Bartell, regarding an editorial printed in The Daily Review September 8:

"A copy of the Editorial Page of the "Daily Review" under date of September 8, 1949 with the heading "Russell City and Water" was forwarded to the undersigned by Miss Grace Vivien Koster, director of the Laura Francis Home.

This editorial is not fair to the Board of Supervisors and pointed question that you make:

"How about it Mr. Janssen, Mr. Bartell and you other Supervisors?"—the Board of Supervisors has taken action so that, never again in Alameda county, can the condition that now exists in Russell City again occur in this county. However, the Board of Supervisor's knows of no authority by which it can change the present condition and would be glad to have you, or any other citizen, make any recommendations that comply with the law and which can correct these unsatisfactory conditions.

"In many portions of Alameda county, there are serious water conditions and there is no authority to use the funds of all the taxpayers of Alameda county to correct conditions in any particular area.

"It probably would be much better, if this matter were discussed with people capable of answering the questions, and I refer to the Board of Supervisors, if such action were taken, instead of writing unjustified editorials indicating the Board of Supervisors is not performing its duty. I am sure if you will discuss this matter with Supervisor Janssen who represents the Russell City area, he will explain in detail to you the complications that arise in correcting an unsatisfactory condition such as now exists at Russell City, Let me assure you very definitely that the Board of Supervisors is not unmindful of the unsatsifactory condition now existing and the time may come when drastic action will be taken if the people affected in that area do not clear up the conditions themselves, which is their obligation and not that of the Board of Supervisors. 

"If you should desire more information on the subject, I would be glad to go into the matter more in details with you. 

Respectfully yours, 

HARRY BARTELL

Chairman, Board of Supervisors

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