The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-06-24

4kAIfLks S0ne -
To SaE KDiToR: A. yon remarked wisely
II Ne foe1-4HIELxxGKScxaO f this morn
Ina II y especially desirable q this time
that oar mnnicipal expenditures shOald Be-
kept within The limits Of necessity. and
conducted upon the c5ooest pCsstbio econ
omy. Ne ere In = situation uhich MAKES
81 oar city TO cali for large sums u
money fr0m abroad Outside capital
in tho forms OF investments or loans
we must have 70 hniid anew. To those
% whom ~ must apply fCt this
capital no fart In The whole range OF our
prospective raie II municipal faxaEian.
Large expenditures for pubic works mean
high taxes fUe many years 70 come. High
taxes mean etah<r positive bar or sefi-
GUS limitation 10 tnyestDenta. A. the yefy
least high lakes mean higher rate Of tn
Important. - yun soygosts that II pfovtd
lug needed psblfc Wsrks We seOuld 60
shout the task Ntth The careful busfness
method that viii inspire confidence.
rather than dissruss, IN the money
markets 70 which We mas apply.
against mrs through an Increased water
sappiy, Il. believe. - thoroughly im-
pressed upon myself Is upon any other
citizen OF Seattle. II II absolutely necos-
safy that We should furnisn adequate
water projection for the buildings about
20 be rv-ers AID Ia the burnt districA A. .
business proposition We must tse able e
guarantee efficient pf0teSfion against the
dangers u nre to the capita when We are
now inyfsi0g 10 lake station IN substantial
for.H la tn mes seattle.
VIII e holding fixnly To these views l
believe II would be very impradent ana
exfrayagsnr step at ths.. time 70 create i
NAY axa ys-F ri 4 Ar s&f
million or more dol!arA This great sum
added 10 tbs cost of . sewer &c system.
and other municipal reforms which ean.
MT be postponed. would make . debt
asat 81 the city whose magaitufe Ia tie
view Of investors would be simply appasi-
lag. Indeed. l be ieve with q debt cf from
twto three millionsuf dollars Ia the pro-
eeSs ef creattuii--And ali the proposed I'm
proyeme1is, II the water system be in
tlased, w0ald come to this colossal figure
--wssiid prevent ns from securing ON nain-
raj and easy terms the capital necessary
for rebuilding the city.
The trosble wltn our present water ser
vice II net. 50 ! am told. thar the supply Is
inadequate, but faMz the central mains are
not large enough. II my information r.
correct, the extsifng se.ervoirs and pump
ing machinery have ample capacity for
aHy poe<ibse demand upon them ard couid
essi y supply ma rs Of any reasonable raj
fbre in . pceSibie emergency. Assuming
this 10 ba the fact, IL SCENE 10 ME taAs il
would he nfiaitely wissr 70 require the
spring Hill Wat Company to lay mains
OF lsreer diameter through the pnneipsi
streets than. al this time. to go into an ex-
peHsive eu'erprxs which would have To
Be carried out apon the basis Of great pub
lie debt.
The idea witch seek 10 impress IS this,
briefly, that ii il Is possible IN make the en-
listing water system On adequate ire pro-
lection, IL weud be extremely unwise 10
burden tbs city with the cost of the pro-
posed pub ic works. chiefly because IL
would discourage the incoming of capital
~ time when il II imperafiveiy re-
qnlsed-.
Concerning the general principle that a
city shns,ld own =, d control fss own water
suppl, l v II add that support IL fully but
do believe thst now, when the city l. on
its back. Is . bad time To make the invest
meut-prpvid q, III course, tue chief end 10
be desir-d can BE- accomplished tempora-
riiy by O'hef means. H.A. d.