The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-03-08

y ~ diseussfoa " vsssr psoposttsns
su1a1s1 ekie1y - fsenss nscssnitiss md
fntsssses. - Dseen1ttss M intsssses q
~ pssssss 49, - - soFgpttsn. wsuld
y ~ b viser poaksy - arue ssasnd - -
nseds Il His tims asd Isess - futzse -
msss IL ovn psoeis1ss
The wster sffussson y q this tins very
sesious. A systsm crsasei 10 supply ths
ssnts ~ from IN - efsssn thousand go
pis + now estisd upon 10 supply fhrss
times fisas numlss. and b. u course. IN
equal 70 The tssk. Tbs spsins Hill works
ars too small In every department.
The pumping capacity II not great
enough. The pipe Inns connecting ths
lake and The reservoir - poorly constructed
and NOS large enough. Tho storass cspsc-
ity Is LIMITED. and the reservoir not 1igh
enough to supply tbs more elevated dis
tsicsa Many oil tbs newer parts of The
city are wholly hsyond the range Of ths
present syssen Of mains. and are clamos-
ing for water. In the business district the
supply II not sufficient TO answsr the needs
Of consumers. while II is 70 small - 70 b
almost vaiueIess for nrs protection. So
limited II the pnmping and storage capacity
- compared 70 the consampsivs demand.
that The distribution pipes hsvs 70 BE- cut
Oh from tbs source d supply and allowed
v stand empty for about ons-third Of the
time.
This being the situation In March. what
muss Ne expect In July snd August, when
domestic consumption VIII b much larger
and when the burnt district 10 again occu-
pisdf We must expect nothing more nor
less than this. that thsrs VIII mot b one
gallon Of water WHARF four are required;
that water VII b wholly shut OF twelve
hours Of The twenty -four; that domestic
uses win suffer untold annoyance, and
worss than all. that the city viii b. utterly
defenseless against Ore.
In view Of our recent dirsful experience.
there Il no need Of discussing this last fsct
excepting In IT. relation 70 insurance
charges. A every business man
knows. Seattle b now paying
suinous rates for insurance. rates 20 high
that business cannot prosper hers should
they b permanently maintained. Only
- temporary and unusual thing. - part
Of the general loss Of our great disaster,
can they b supported. II may a. we'll BE-
said plainly that Insurance rates must
come down or business must stagser and
decline; and furthermore, thsrs are many
who win not put mp contemplated costly
buildings. because they cannot afford the
rates now charged. Thus. business ID taxed
10 the point Of distress. stocks are kept down
70 the lowest practicable limit. building en-
tsrprise Is hindered. and our credit il af.
fectsd through The absence Of the ordinary
and necessary facilities for 6rs protection.
There Ii bat one thing to b done,
namely. 70 increase the capacity Of our
waterworks and 10 enlarge the distribution
systen--and this must be done now.
There ia no time to waste. no time TO argue
about the future. Lei us provide for the
present in the only way that u practicable
and leave the future 10 meet its own neces-
stiles. Win the council take up this ques-
tions win IL take IL up without another
day deiayf Or will 1t waste time discuss
Ing proposition 10 do an impossible thing
in the interest of an indefinite futursf