Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1891-09-10
Communicated.

EDITOR HERALD The unfair remarks
OF the editor of the Bulletin in reference
to communication from me, published
in his last issue, leads me to think l
would better seek representation else
where. 1t seems to me that his construc-
ton OF my remarks is very far fetched.
did not say I would have taken the
course of the plaintiff, if did not have
battle OF my own to fight" What
did say is that under like treatment
l would have acted just the same as they
have done; but nothing in my letter
justifies him in saying would have done
it for them; indeed / could not have
been urgend to have fought anyone's
battle against this city excepting my own
or that of weaker citizen. have had
strong provocation and nothing but my
own loyalty kept me rom:defending my
self at law long ago. have been gener-
GUS with this city, offering them my
water privilege at half it's real value;
and giving them, without cost, twenty
acres Of my best land for park, to Sc
cure the purity of the water. AS re-
ward they have three times allowed their
contract with me to expire, and they
have put me to all the trouble and ex-
pense possible. Did they not enter my
private property and take possession of
what they called streets, against my will
Did they not try to fence out my entire
property by laying the pipes diagonally
across hill at the entrance to my prin.
cipal street? Did they not refuse to or
der street opened, in order to let the
pipes be permanently located, though we
agreed to do the city's work for less than
$500. If the council had looked into
matters, as We have right to expect
they would, they must have known that
the pipe elevated across the opening to
this street would practically have shut
me out of the market; yet the same ruse
was tried when they reached the bluff at
the eddy; and in order to protect myself
without appealing to the law, have
been compelled to keep men and teams
employed since the latter part of June.
My expenses for this and what 1 have
been compelled to pay for lawyers has
been very great; yet have borne patient
ly until patience has ceased to be vir-
tue. At the last meeting Of the council
it was know that the city was working
upon my property without authority, my
contract having expired September LIST,
yet, though I was present, no effort to
come to time was made. have had
several times opportunity to have taken
advantage OF the city if l wished, but
have renewed my contract every time,
putting the city's interest before my own.
But now, if the law will afford it, will
have settlement with this city which
shall leave me as we'll off financially as
I was before they entered my premises.
The assertion that my principal griev-
ance is the old water plant, is true. /
boil with indignation when | think that
councilmen are stockholders in the old
company, they refuse the people the
right to vote new system, unless they
will purchase the old. 1t was this effort
to force the old plant on the city, which
caused the blunder which made neces-
sary the coming election. And the
present form, which makes the PROPOSE
ton to vote bonds contingent upon the
proposition to purchase, seems to me no
better. The vote has always been 1.-THE
old system or no water" and, of course,
in their helplessness, the people voted
the old system. And even l, when the
election was over, decided to submit to
the evident injustice rather than hinder
the getting OF the much needed water.
But now l give warning before hand,
that if submit next election, it will be be-
cause l must. l ask only that the peo-
pie be allowed to vote upon the different
propositions Independently of each other,
and not as now, be forced to reject the
bonds if they reject the old water plant.
Honestly put, l will stay with the ma
jority, gladly.
AS to the closing remarks of the Bull
letin, believe it is patriotism and dis
interestedness' that causes me to take
the stand do. Can he not see if were
moved by selfishness would try for the
favor of the men in power? For little
diplomacy end blindness would have
saved me many dollar; hut knowing
have but one life, and it is pretty well
spent, / will not throw dust into the
eyes Of my conscience, nor choke it
when it seeks utterance; no, not even
to win the good will and respect of my
fellow citizens (Which like every upright