The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-08-06
WATER SUPPLY.
Another Letter From Chief Justice
Hanford On this Subject.

SEAt4Lhs mug. -
To The Editor: The object If my com.
manication, which you were kind enough
TO publish Sunday morsing. was 70 psh-
lieiy emphasize the Importance of imme-
dlate action TO provide this city with a
sufficient supply OF good water, bat re-
marks made In my hearing ipaicste thas
some, at least, obtained no other inprs -
sion from the article than that IL adyo-
Gated the purchase OF the plant of the
Spring Hill Company. | crave i1f ulgenee,
therefore. ~ make second attempt 10 h!t
the mark aimed at.
Since the great scourge tAat swept aw a J
the buildings sud goods Of our citizens 10
the amount of many millions of dollars
and cut of the trade 81 our mert htats and
manufacturers, cniail!ng an additional
loss upon them of many million of dollars.
three other cities OF the territory have suf.
fercd la Ike manner, and in esch, as in
our own case, the great calamity was pos
sible only because of the lack of the means
70 tura a food Of water upon the fire in
me to extiaggish it In its incipiency
These instances only prove the familiar
rule that like causes and conditions pro-
dace Ike results, snd should teeeh seattle
that while her iiizens are 80 busily en-
gagged IN rebuilding OF both wood ard brick
and filling new stores aud warehouses
with goods OF every description aud We,
neglecting ~ provide the most important
thing necessary for the preserves ton there
OF. she Is only inviting and may at any
time expect repetition of the Dir. aifHl
loss she has once suffered, and not only il
this true but the population OF he city is
increasing s0 rspidly thar we Will soon be
vi bout Sufficient water for ordinary use
unless We IN some way increase the sup
pig. Now what is wanted IL y s,er. go II
water aud plenty Of IL; and We must have
IL QUICK. The right taing 20 DO ihen II 10
l.
want aud not waste any time about ii, aud
then proceed al once 10 supply the want
by that way, whether II Is To bring water
In pipes or otherwise from Rock creek or
Lake Washington or elsewhere. ~ whether
il involves buying cut the Spring Ii II
Company or not Considering the Situa-
ton of the lake and the large vo.ume of
water So easily obtainable theIefrom, il is
2alpabiy plain proposition that ii the
quality OF It's water Is satisfactory, the lake
is the source from which we can obtain the
most abundant snd reliable supply az the
least cost and the quickest time. Tae
quality oil the water can be easily aud
quickly proven, aud IL should be done
If the lake water is wanted II does rot
necessarily follow that the city must buy
out the Spring Hin Company. The city eau
provide new machinery, pipe aud reser-
yoirs and do everything necessary indie.
ptndenug OF that company. Tue plant of
tha, company, however, Is OF some value,
and there viii he sosae advantage in ter
misatlng the rights the company has
under ~ franchise In the street,: but the
city need not and should not pas for these
things more than they are worth
The consideration OF this subject brings
into view the possibility Of combining a
work ~ prime necessity with one of great
utility IN developing the maryelo sdysn-
tages Of the situation Of this city az a site
for great manufacturing and COM
usereial center. What refer 10 Is
this, II the lake water csn be-
used for all purposes. the inschin-
cry 10 t0ree IL ~ the highest points may De
propelled log electricity. and the water
power produced hy cutting the anal across
the portage between Washington ana
tnion lakes - sufficient and can be asei
conveniently and chespiv tn produce the
Electric power, not only for the wstsF
ao7ks bat also 70 propei al the cable sad
motor lire street railroads, aud Az the ssw
nils aud factories oi the city, entirely 81
preceding the use 81 steam FOR these par
poses. saving much To The prayrfesoFs ot
these enterprises b. less ming oIserafi ng
expenses. and relieving tae atmosphsre OF
the coal smoke and steam WIKI D renders
most manufacturing elites SO cisReroRbie
G. II. EkSFoRp.