The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-08-11
LEWIS STREET LOTS.
Complications Concerning tho
Engine House Site.
4 WARNING FRoM THE MAYOR.
Ne Cantseas he Cesncil Nee 60 Crease
Dsaeissey n shs Fire
Fund.

clerk his objections TO signing the bill pro-
vidine for the purchase Of two lots on Yes
Ter avenue. between Taylor street and the
ravine. upon which it 10 intended TO erect
fire engine station. There 10 . curious
complication lying by. From Yesler ave-
nue. south about 10 feet Taylor street and
Lewis street run side by aide. Henry Yes
ies ran Lewis street across Yesler avenue
TO the line OF the donation claim. When
Taylor street was opened it Was run up to
its present opening. through Mrs. Yesier's
property. which has never been dedicated
rs street. DR.. coe had bought the lots
now offered the city, supposing them to
front on Lewis street. j. d. Lowman. al
administrator OF the Mrs. Yesler estate.
offered to Kive mp the land on Taylor
street In return for the land on Lewis
street. but the city could not make the
trade on account Of Dr. Coe. The lots
have since been sold to Fred Everett, and
by the city purchasing them an awkward
complication will be avoided The mayors
letter is as foliovs:
by ordinance No. 2,9o3 recently enacted
by your body providing for the purchase
Of lots 5 and 8, in block 81, Of II. l. Yes
ler's First addition from Fred Everett for
the use Of the fire department. it was en-
city should pay s.. 500 in cash and deed to
said Everett the strip 40x12O feet now used
BY the city for that purpose, south of
Jackson and east of Market streets, in this
city. This ordinance directed that upon
the certificate of the corporation counsel
that the city would. by doed from said
Everett. obtain . good and valid title to
said lots aud 8. the mayor and city clerk
should thereup0n execute deed Of the
said 40xlO feet Aforesaid to said Everett.
The corporation counsel advises me that
Mr.. Everett can give to the city, by : con-
veyance, good and valid title TO eaid lots
8 and g subject to : mortgage thereon In
favor OF w. w. White. upon which there
is now due. principal and interest, about
$2.047. This mortgage, however, il Is pro-
posed by Mr.. Everett to have Cancelled ct
once. 80 that it will not stand in the way
Of our having . good and valid title.
have not. however. rs yet signed the deed
which /! am by said ordinance No. 1898
directed to sign.
II deem II proper to lay before your hon.
orahie body the facts which induce me to
withhold my signature and to recommend
that You at OnCe amend ordinance No.
2,9s3 There is In the fire fund $50 50
with which TO MAINTAIN this department
until tho LIST Of January, 1894. Should
this deed be signed and the deed Of Mr..
Everett accepted il will necessitate the linz
mediate paying out Of this fire fund Of
81. 500 above mentioned. This will leave :
balance in the fire fund Of s., 500 50 for the
payment Of expenses Of the fire depart
ment from the LIST of July until the close
OF the year 1893 From this must be de-
Quoted the following amounts: Bills for
the month Of July. $3.50; cost Of two trucks
now being built. 500; cost OF one pair Of
horses to be purchased, 500, which leaves
balance in the fire fund Of 81, $40 50 to de-
fray the expenses Of fire department from
the LIST Of August, 1893. until the close Of
This is entirely inadequate to meet the ex.
penses of the fire department.. Tho cost of
feed and coal alone exceeds this amount
monthly. The minimum monthly ex.
penses Of this department are $3.50 Should
We. therefore, pay out this s.. 500 it il plain
that the money in the fire fund will be ex-
in order to meet the current expenses Of
the tire department for the last three
months of this year We will have to resort
to the issuance Of scrip without any funds
In the treasury to meet the same. In my
Judgment We cannot afford 70 do this. We
must live within our income.
.srhe bank of Dexter Horton 4 Co. bo!A
the mortgage referred to Of w. w. White.
have seen the manager OF the bank, who
agrees to extend this mortgage until the
18th day Of February. 1894. upon the
city's agreeing 70 pay the interest - il
comes Que. BY TINS latter date the fire
fund will DO ample TO meet this mortgage.
In view Of the fact that the city 10 getting
. splendid bargain and that the purchase
of this property 10 very greatly needed.
therefore recommend that ordinance No.
1898 be amended by providing for the as
Stunning by the city of the mortgage on the
purchased property and paying to Mr..
Everett the difference bstween the pur-
chase price and the mortgage being about
500. and conveying to him Likewise the
40xl20foot piece Of property above re-
ferred 70. Ihavs thought best to lay this
matter before the council aud. unless the
council amends the ordinance % sug.
gested. have no other alternative but 10
obey the former ordinance and sign this
deed, thereby pldcing the responsibility
for deficiency In the fhre fund not upon
this. but upon the legislative department.
The house Of delegates will meet to-
night and the aldermen tomorrow.