The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-10-19
WATER SUPPLY.
Z, the City Issue $1,000
600 Bonds 2
e,.r ELECTION ORDERED
....,-e.s % Decide by Vote Mo-
~. idsh whether the Indebt-
= 20 he Tncurred-Estf-
81 Cost Of Pipe Line From
~ creek sss4.eso.

...a Cost Of Pipe Line From
40 creek sss4.sso.
uaran and e0uneiImen Durie.
As.V tc,es Rsitze and Green were pres
pzs -. ss meeting Of the city council last
- =. The most important matter
- ssrne up for consideration was the
~ a the IRE and water eomlais'ee on
wo~.uss message urging the neces-
~ city controlling lis oEn water
the report, which is very compre-
eH =. aiopted unanimously, and Is
Hs 49, below in full. together with City
49, ~... srurry's estimate OF the cost Of
s!.sst;na a com plete water-works sys-
SEATTLE, Oct Is. 1855.
- uanoraf,ie the Mayor and Com
1e sezsrncil Of the City of Seattle: Gen
~ vau- committee on fire and water
$3.50, wss referred the message of his
she Nayor. regarding the future aud
800 ssnsnt water supply OF the city. beg
rrsoft IS foIilws;
xsrr committee recommends tnst t1e
-, III anon the citizens OF seattle
e1s<ss,e Il special election for that pur
"a go = ~ held on the 18th day Of Nov,
rsssher they will autEorise the issue,
.ss f,ifv OF seattle, OF bonds to the
- al one million dollars, or as much
800 sssne a. may he necessary for the
Ns.s.@sss-rcficu Of system OF water works,
sssssh anal supply the city with water
- Roek creek, In the manner hereinafter
~, committee has no doubt OF The de-
x.ksi,ty q the city controlling its own
-. sstnply. neither has IL any doubt but
~ yery large majority OF the citizens
VI; endorse this opinion ft the polls.
sesre arc many reasons why the city
SnrH undertake this great work. II Is
,.,i5Iy increasing In population and
.1sltk. and lis resources and credit are 50
ssssf that II is sbundantiy able to do 80.
fne present water systems have become IN
.Srs,1afs. because the city has oufgrown
Ssm The quality OF water supplied is by
" means the best obtainable. The cost Of
,sfer 10 the consumer Is and must always
y hjeh. when the same is obtained by
srmplng. either from wells or from the
kfr<' We ought not to be dependent in the
natter Of wstersuppiy, which may te called
~ likelihood OF city, on the caprice
rapacity Of any corporation.
not that the city 81 seattle
- srer. 70 far, been imposed ON by
n these companies have been, up TO the
prssent time. mainly owned by our own
citizens, aud this has been measure of
protscii0n. But we have no guarantee for
ne future that this stock viii not pass
into foreign hands, who will not scruple to
ezsct from us ali that the business viii
bear and their charters authorize. should
i1e city own her OWE water system she
might rapidly extend over the whole city
scomplefe system OF fire hydrants, which
we're Il possible 10 de by our present sys-
tens at present rates, would almost drive
the city to the verge Of bankruptcy. The
eiiy c0fild also offer great inducements FOR
the establishment Of manufactures, and
By this means increase our taxpaying
wealth 20 such a degree that tho water
rents OF every individual in the city would
decrease year by year. There are many
other advantages which suggest them
elyes. not the least OF which Is the matter
Of health. With an abundance OF water
for the purpose OF flushing our sewers and
washing away the surface filth OF the city,
who can doubt that We viii be both health
Ter and happier?
Your committee next considered the
feasibility OF the city obtaining her own
safer supply. This consideration natur-
ally divides itself into three paris; the
legal, the engineering and the financial.
Under the charter, the city of seattle
has power 10 erect aud maintain
xater-works aud TO issue negotiable bonds
or warrants for this purpose. payable at .
stated time and bearing interest at rate
not exceeding 10 per cent. per aununf.
These warrants 10 be redeemed and inter.
est paid out OF a specified fund. There
IA no limit except the viii of the people.
and the restrictions contained in the 4th
section of the act of congress OF the Dth of
July, lSSd, pamphlet laws 1876, +. III.
10 the amount of bonds for this purpose.
which may be issued. Your committee
would stale that on this subject they have
consulted several eminent legal esunseis.
Your committee directed the city engi-
neer j. q. scurry, Esq, to prepare approx.
innate estimates for the construction of q
water system 10 be fed from Rock creek,
and would refer the council for a fun I'M
dersfanding OF this portion OF the subject
10 the excellent report of Mr.. scurry, which
Il herewsth appended aud made part OF
this report
You will observe that Mr.. scurry esti-
mates the total cost Of constructing the
complete system 10 the reservoir In Seattle
al the sum OF 500, $50, exclusive OF the dis
tribution OF the water through the city.
Your committee desired him TO make q
liberal estimate and We are confident that
he has done so. Ii Is somewhat difficult 10
estimate the cost OF distribution. rs the
field Is constantly expanding and by the
time the conduit IA completed the city viii
have greatly increased her population.
In the Judgment OF your committee, the
citizens Of Seattle should be asked 10
authorize the issue OF bonds not to exceed
tie sum OF one million dollars, which
amount will be large enough to cover the
expense OF constructing what viii
he the most complete and excellent water
system OF any city In the United States.
You viii perceive that the supply Is cal
culated TO be sufficient for city OF loo. 0oo
population. when we exceed that amount
II viii be very easy TO parallel the pro
posed line and supply the same from feed
ers In the neighborhood Of the head works
on Rock creek.
Your committee has made inquiries OF
several prominent financiers as to the
probable value OF our bonds In the money
markets OF the world. Supposing the bonds
70 be issued according 10 law, aud are as
mred that the same can be placed at an
Interest charge OF not exceeding six per
cent, per annum. should the amount OF
bonds mentioned be necessary, the
amount OF interest TO b. raised every year
would be, say $4,000. Your committee Is oil
opinion that the best way to provide for the
payment OF the same. together with the
operating expense, would be TO charge
nom residents very moderate water rem!
and to levy special tax on al the taxable
FtuPtfty OF the city To make up the balance
IN The manner provided fof IN Sec. 10 OF
The city charter. But this matter can b.
properly aud fully considered in the future.
Regarding the head works, tho righs-of
way and the ground necessary for reser
Voirs your committee Is informed that the
CITY j. Invested with full power 10 con
acmn property for the same.
!, Tour committee therefore recommend
maj as commencement OF this under
iaking. the city clerk be instructed 10 pub
hsh call for an election 10 be
neld at the usual voting places ol
The city ON the nineteenth day oi
November, iSss, for the decision OF the
question, whether the city OF Seattle shall
Incur an Indebtedness not exceeding one
million dollars for the purpose OF con
tituctlng system of water works TO sup
ply the city Of Seattle with water. such
construction aud water works to be III
general aud substantial conformity to the
plan aud estimates set forth in the accom-
pshsihg report OF Mr., scurry, and also al
necessary pipes, works and reservoirs fol
NE distribution Of said water Throughout
we city. u. T. DCRig. Chairman,
e. I, RElrxE,
T. T.. JONES.