The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-10-28
WATER SUPPLY.
Shall the City 60 in Debt
$1,000. oD0s
4 VARIETY or AsswEns-



age Presents Itself rrs.fseusiy :
A GeneraI Expresstsn ~ opisics-
At the las meeting q the city coun-
ell. Il adopted = special report which
instructed the city clerk 70 call spec
ia election for November ~, % vote
on The proposition 70 asthoEixs the
city 10 issue bosds in the sum Of 81.
90 30 for the purpose u bringing IN
from Rock creek an ample supply of
water. To sound pubiic oTanion on
THE important question, reporters OF
The rosr-fsYgtEFsgswKR were detailed
70 interview citizens Of all classes.
These interviews are subioined:
+. Thomas Y. Jones. member Of the
CITY council The quality Of tins present
water supply II very poor. but ! am
not decided that this IL the proper
time 20 20 In debt 81 Co 90 for bet
ter supply. The Spring HiH company
has furnished an abundant quantity
OF water, but the quality II what
object 70. ! favor the scheme OF tbs
cfty owning its own water supply. bull
I am not fully satisfied thst the time
has come for the city 70 take hold Of
sn undertaking which involves %
great sam Of money.
Hon. j. J. McGisvra--I doubt very
much II the time has come for the city
10 assume such an Undertaking we
are doing 20 much street work and in.
curing 70 Fnneb indebtedness that
Doubt the expealeney OF the cify's 60
lnr in ,iet,s 81 90 60 for water II the
present time. We are going ia debt
last enough. and had better be little
careful. Ultimately ] shall favor such
a sebefne as Is saow proposed.
William aeydsnbaaer, the pioneer
baker Yes, I favor the scheme. II
has got 70 come. The longer We wait,
the worse the quality OF the present
water supply becomes. As the eoun'
try around the lake settles Up ths
quality of the water viii necessarily
become more impure. do not cons ldei
the present water supply NJ 70 drink,
but ID Il all right TO put out hfss
with. The city must take the respon'
sibility Of furnishing pure water 20 ~
citizens, at reasonable figure, and
might as well do IL now, and let US al
have the benefit. ! attribute much Of
the sickness here 20 The use OF Lake
Washington water. Other cities own
their waterworks, and why nofseattie
NJ. J. Carkeek-I am in favor Of the
scheme, and the sooner II Is done the
better, A million dollars put into wa
ter-works b. the city i money well Ia
vested.
In. Blgelow While | believe that
the city should own the water supply
am In favor OF securing good sew.
erage system first. and after We get
that then let ns 60 for water. II the
proposition to 70 In debt 81 600 900 fol-
water at this time was submitted. dc
not know how should vote on the
proposition.
John Haley, OF the firm OF Haley &
wright-If the proposition ever goes
20 popular vote Il win carry. ! favor
the scheme, provided the city owns
the water supply, and conducts the
business on the same principle that an
individual or corporation would:
Otherwise | oppose Il. Some think II
the city puts In the water works. wa
ter viii be free. The city can no more
afford to put in water works at a
cost Of 81 ,0O0,0 900 and furnish free
water than a private citizen can, but u
can put In water works and furnish
pure water at a reasonable figure "a
the citizens. and be doing great pub.
lie good.
DIR. +. l.. smith--No, do not favor
the scheme at this time. ! think there
Is something we need worse. We
ought 10 improve our sanitary eondi.
ton, first. We need the water and Il
will be good thing after while. The
works will not cost any more in few
years than now. and in the meantime
We can improve our sanitary condition
and tx up our streets. and when w
get these things paid for. then let Us
10 for water.
w. III. Shoudy, ex-mayor OF the
city-Yes, sir, | am in favor of the
proposition. I can't see why this !,
not as good . time as any TO com
mence this good work. The city
should own the water supply. That 1
n settled proposition. Then why wait
another fiyc or ten years7 IL Is viii
be good thing for the city in 10 YEAR,
why Is II not good thing now
County Treasurer Pontius said hs
thought II a very good scheme and
that he was very much In favor OF Ii
not only for the reason that he ap
proved OF the idea OF the city owning
is own system, but also from sani
tary standpoint, as he thought that Il
the plan was carried out consumers
would he Supplied with puFer and
more healthful water.
George II. Adair, president OF the
board OF trade, said that he was en-.
phaticAliy In favor Of the proposed
change. 81 am, and always have been
in favor OF the city owning and con,
Quoting the gas and water supply
Certainly private individuals or com.
panics are not running such an enter
prise at q loss Properly managed
the city water works would give us Z
better and cheaper service.
Colonel Halter argued that there
woald not only be better service and
pnrer water at cheaper rates. but the
city would bc relieved OF its present
large expense for water which Is the
same each month regardless OF y hethei
eiaeratson af the amount used.
Fred Is. Sander was Just leaving for
his residence on the street car and had
not time Co go into details, bat said
briefly that he was and had been an
advoC ate OF the idea OF public owner.
ship OF the both gas and water works
Z. g, Niles, though busy in his
eountinE-room, spared time 10 say
that In his opinion il was the best
thing that the city could under.
take. II would establish soiidily tc
the city, and judging from hts knewl
edge of the working OF the system in
other cities, il would prove a better
and more reliable supply az cheaper
rates. There would not be an in,
sufficient supply in case of large fires,
and instead IL being tau aud a bar
den to the people, lt would be felisi
from the present high rates aud waals
al the same time show itself IA br a
source 81 reycaUc 30 the city treasury
Ex-Gav, +. Z. Ferry, vice- president
CT the fusVt SQUAD National hank.
was secn At his osi.ye and asked Tor his
opinion from = financial standpoint.
Mr.. FERRY eouuieBce1 BY showing sta
tsSsiCs OF The csss - ates-systsnis ia
- OF the largest cities in the United
States. The works are owned hv the
c.ty in every case hnttso. The largest
cost OF plant was IN New York city.
So 90 60, and The smallest cost vas
IN New ogiezaS, s. .tss3 nsA. The average