The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-26
FaCOMA'S WATER JOB.
- Council Shifts RESPONSE
bility to the People.
.<caAL ELECTION ON MARCH q.
-. Prscs Fixed 1t $500, 600 More
49, value Estimated by .
Competent Esgineer.


41ccaA. Feb. 25.-ISpecial. + Tonight
eisy council passed an ordinance sub
-r1ise % the people proposition to pur.
- ehs water and electric light plant for
XS2ooo and the very first sentence
- ster that body adjourned was:
len only question il how much did it
= eet the ordinance through :" This
- vas made by member of the
ssusdl.
sAnd now will the same kind Of infiu-
g. used in passing the ordinance b
- = ~ the people to adopt itf" was
-
AsWell, should say 30" was the reply.
n = nutshell the above sums up the
I fraeton. But thus the council has merely
f5pd the purchase of "a pig in poke
A. sns people. Chairman Berry. of the
I 81 and water committee, President
oSus,i, Of the council, who appeared to-
500, 70 Be steering the scheme through
- 4 h was the head attorney for the
firht and Water Company, and everybody
9: - vho ought to know, manifested the
tnpest kind Of ignorance - to what was
I ~ purchased. Berry admitted that he
!. A. pever seen the company's inventory,
!: : sehedule, or what it was intended to sell
= the price now being asked. 81, $50. 600.
hyotibg against the ordinance Council
~ Wright said;
:; ve6o not know what We ere buying. There
Sbss aass in putting this question to the peo-
So b ~ present shape. We are referring 70
4Aapsspis the question OF expanding 81, $50. 900,
- vntch We have no schedules. and none of 10
.nss what We are doing. More stood out
uuIs9 the ordinance than vas expected, -
.ona pressure the council had . month ago
.oosd y recommend 10 the people the pur-
g. Of . plant for 81 $4,000. considering that
IL y 10 the best interests OF the city.
I. Tonight it was not insisted on that it
lvus 70 the best interests of the CITY to
{; pshs the purchase at all, therefore that
: essss was stricken out. The vote was
vi in favor Of the ordinance. and several
il those favoring 1t in doing 50 stated
;sAas they did not consider it . good busi-
49, proposition. While condemning it
shy waived their own judgment and
!. uhouldered the responsibility upon the
sDsopis. Boardman said:
Aeompstent engineer. whose ability and hon
~ 10 man doubts. after careful examination
llulssed the plant worth 500, 600 less than the
.:elpn.tiou which We are submitting to the peo-
!. = This proposition has already been univer-
!, ~ eoodemned.
lupstte said "Amen" to Boardman's
ncmsnts. and others voting favorably
announced that they had no excuses" to
.Bska March 81 is the date fixed for the
sYscisl election to accept or reject the
sHrpposition. Already delegate has gone
.bGiess the Trades Council. which consists
~ representatives. of all tho union laborers
Sesday. and championed the purchase Of
slhe plant His side of the question was Of
.;sarse printed in full in newspapers which
ssses the sentiments Of the water and light
Anpeny, while those who opposed the
Ynrchase we're dismissed with half dozen
b - There are two ways in which peo-
49, - Influenced to favor tho purchase
A&Uo0oO. or $500. 600 to $3.50. 900 more
|. In the most liberal estimate of the value
= H. plant, viz: BY purchase of princi.
r ph end individuals controlling votes, or
~ . guarantee from c. b. Wright that he
WI utilize the money realized from tho
NE IN connecting his railroad system in
knlssn Washington with Tacoma. Both
hsss alternatives will apparently be used
X quietly With due regard where the most
i oeod can b accomplished.
y G. b Wright notified his agents here to-
x ~ that the city must ''either fish or cut
ssn' on the water works question. He
tod them that il the council did not allow
sne question Of taking the plant of his
ssnds at $l.7Jo,00O. excluding the gas
pant, 70 60 to the people at once-that is,
MI AID not take action At the meeting this
e esenine--ihen the deal would be of, and
would withdraw all negotiations.
ven. - heavy taxpayers and leading
|: .essnsss men and contractors have con.
semned the whole scheme, of course it was
|; uPecsed that the council would not go on
nsssef dilly-dallying when Mr.. Wright
- come out square-toed and notified it
|: s.ss % wished 1t to reject or accept the
pens 1t N,7J0, 600. So when the water
Nuiaance came up this evening Council.
nan A. knoel declared in favor of expend.
ing no more wind"
ihere was talk of printing the ordinance.
..louning for lunch. and what not, when
We matter finally did come up Then the
"onciimen began talking up to and away
.0m me proposition. There was talk of
We council being funny" and mo, at all
nous, when it decided not to pay over
Ns""p for the plant. including the gas
8 suks For everything. Mr.. Wright has
ssksd Il 81. 600
ahe nemming and having resulted in
oaneiiman Fontaine proposing to in
clnseiy postpone the whole subject.
encaimsn Cove seconded the PROPOSE.
win enthusiasm. Councilman Stein
co came out and pleaded that the ques-
not killed ia that way" Stein.
: the man who formerly opposed
rHns N,s0o0. That was before he
ssa' TO Philadelphia to see Mr.. Wright.
oagaout the seven hours the council
~ SESSION not word was said about
"fights announcement, that those in
on the ordinance must act immed-
49, Twas therefore interesting, know
~" Wright's edct had been received.
sa "en the unhagging industry of
Behind the ordinance in
ring their shoulders to the
49, Tonight, outside of those
,sy interested In putting the ordinance
4 ~eh' no one knows why SO much
n N vas developed. Public health de-
taat new sewer system be con.
i ,ea. out 1t MAS deiied by the council
i <*a. aud II prefers evidently To en-.
4 ~ s TOE lives OF citizens because of the
q s@up ordinance. which will EMMY the
j and prevent the city from raising
4 ssAsr funds.
q advantage Of Water Meters.
sus' fea. 2a.-tSpecial. speaking
al N.Y.