The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-10-27
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THE WATER QUESTION.
sgAr1LE. Oet o

10 TIE Editor have seen but little ia
yonr paper on the subject Of the proposed
water loan since your very excellent
article written shortly affe. the action of
the city council on the subject. Think the
subject cannot be put before the people
too often. for the issuance OF the water
bonds al the present time would be moth
ing short Of public calamity.
Ia my opinion the bonds could not be
Heated al 6 per cent 4 coed water bond
Is a security much sought after In the
money markets. but when such bonds
coming from cities OF 20o.Ooc inhabitants
and upwards are hoafed at from 81 per
cent upwards, we cannot EXPECT that
bonds coming from a " estern town Of 20
600 people viii be eagerly sous At after at 6
per cent Seattle Is only known in all
places where these bonds would be taken,
except perhaps San Francisco. as an un-
commonly promising place. but the mere
fact thai Il has doubled IN population in
the last two years would make the invest
ora IN the bonds stop and consider before
investing instead of seeking such an in
yestment fnyesiors ia bonds are veTy
different kind OF people than Investors Of
real estate. The SasEe man may OF course
be an investor In both securities, bet the
course OF hts reasoning before investing In
bonds and in real estate Is totally different
4 man may invest in the most speculative
kind OF real estate aud At the same tine
may prefer home bond at ~ per cent 70
a foreign bond at ; per cent "a money
centers these people are plenty enough,
aud these are the people who vii be an
preached as buyers OF 8 per cent bond II
q 100000 Issue from a-iown Of 300
people.
Apart from the question as 10 whether
such bond could be marketed well, which
is merely matter OF opinion. anc cannot
be proved till tested with the risk then OF
failure, the very pertinent question srises
II such an extraordinary expenditure
necessary Is It policy for people al tho
dawn ~ most excellent prosperity 20 have
such burden 10 bear? 4 burden hieh Il
rot even self approximation II = proposed
10 make q general tax to make up the
shortage OF reyauue-wheFeas the contrary
ought 10 be tue ease. II should BE- self sup
porting. with a balance st the end of the
year 70 place TO the credit of It's sinking
fund secouat Again, II the city has this
money 10 spend, % can get II TO spend. Is
this the most necessary improvement II
this large debi be incurred for this one
purpose, viii rot the means be exhausted
TO make further Improvements With
We have at present IN the Lake Wesh-
ington water. a supply tha. probably gives
as little Dissatisfaction as does the water
supply OF most cities, which Is saying q
good deal ia rs praise; we have in addition
the great advantage Of several smaller
water supplies which fu.nish exception
ally good water Rnd which viii continue
to do SO for number Of wears before here
can be any danger q pollution hy reason
of the growth Of the city.
These different wafer sysiems are ali The
time enlarging their water districts %
meet the needs aud can be
Tslied on e continue doing So,
that the work OF taking In this new water
supply viii cost more Eve years from now
than Mt present, and with the prospect al
the end Of that period 9f mote sud hence
cheaper labor the work viii probably eest
less than now. II these facts be true, that
we have al adequate supply now, with
every reason 70 expect an adequate supply
for the next five years; that the water we
have Is wholesome, aud thst We can Fe;
the new water as economically five years
from row as We caR aow, why burden our
selves with the most crushing Of all bar
dens. an unnecessary debt, and IN this esse
a debt all cut of proportion 20 our means.
With the complain. IN every mouth OF
bad odors, why spend all cur means aud
credit IN getting 10 water when we have
40 means OF getting Il outs oar water
system is white angel compared with our
sewerage system O., ard while We have
abundant water 20 keep Us well we have
abundant sewerage 20 keep Us sick Our
wster system a present wc can point 70
with pride. while our lack Of sewerage
system or even sewers, We have to blush
for. sewers. and a sewagsse system we rlssi
have aud have soon n We want to keep oar
health and our city's reputation, while q
water system we already have both for now
ana for the future II we need money for
sewers we caa fes it as easily IS We can for
wste- ! believe the voters wiz not yolua-
tariiy burden themselves with this debt 81
this time, and most sincerely hope that
they viii not ifnpulsiveiy take ap this Idea.
and want IL carried out ON the basis that q
COED aud abundant water supply Is iadis-
peuszble. Nc e8c questions that but let
them carefully weigh ali the circumstances
In this especial case, aud The good sense Of
the people can he relied aros . vote a
good solid mo. g.