The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-23

river aud formed a jam against the railroad
bridge, but this was quickly cleared out Tho
roads were washed out in a number of places
ana the fences on the farms were carried away.
The snoqualmie is again within its banks
James Hart, OF Slaughter, has sent into tho
board OF county commissioners a written report
upon the flooding of White river valley and the
destruction OF the county roads in the district
around Christopher and Slaughter. The report
is as follows:
On the 18th OF December last and the 18th OF
April last forwarded you communications re-
ierring TO The above subject and calling your
very special attention 10 the damages TO tho
county roads caused by the action OF the North
ern Pacific Railroad Company lin these districts
referred to above) by filing ia the railroad tres
ties and thereby impOunding the natural flow
OF the natural drainage OF rain and storm water
on the east side OF their track for some miles IN
westerly to the slough The effect Of this sllinr
In OF tho said trestles has been to cnuse
the water to flow north alongside
ment as far AZ Thomas station, and from
Christopher's depot Thence north it has again
ruined the county road, torn out the bridges
traffic OF any nature. and also cut the road from
the Christopher railroad depot running east TO
the southeast corner OF my land and John Gives
northeast corner, washed off the surface and
carried IL over the surface OF the land and i'm
proved valuable farms lying north of said road.
These roads were put into good stete of re-
by the county, and il Is an infamous injustice
10 the county and every taxpayer in said county
10 nave their money so spent In making ont
roads so wantonly and outrsgeously wasted aud
destroyed, and for one OF the taxpayers, and I
speak the voice of every farmer that have
spoken to on the subject in this district, protest
ana object to such high-handed ruin by the
Northern Pacific Railroad Company.
The railroad company ought to 10 compelled
TO open these trestles at or near to the "Hughes
iarm, and at once, that would preventa recur-
renee of this trouble, and unless done il is liza
Die TO occur again any and every day this winter.
nave resided here eight years and over and
no 1ooding OF this nature has ever occurred un-
ti last year. After the railroad company had
done the work before named and in my letter to-
you OF the i3:h of April last / told you then
this hoocing Will occur every year until the
trestles are opened.
We look to you commissioners to protect our
roads and not to permit any such damnable cor
poration as the Northern Pacific railroad or any
other to spoil roads. make them impossible,
waste the county money spent in improving
our roads, and in addition damage the taxable
property and value of our lands 20 tho extent of
thousands of dollars.
ark OF you, gentlemen, to Immediately cause
an inspection to be made OF the district, as to
appreciate the position and thereto get into
court and obtain nandamus to compel tho
railroad company To open out the natural water
ways, and also TO recover damages from said
company for injury done TO said roads.
The railroad company has been written to
many times respecting these matters, and they
opened out a small passage for water in the
Hughes irest!e about three months ago. but
this il too small; it should be At least six times
as large to accomplish the desired result.
The farmers in this district not prepared
to submit to, nor will we submit to such willful
injury at the hands of the Northern Pacific
company nor any other. and il We can't get re-
dress one way we must try some other.