The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-08

The revised quantisiss could b readily OBJ
tainsd from tie nosss Of the survey made b. the
government mginseex By either plan ws are
confident that the cost can b kspe down to iess
tnaa 2.ooo0m The towering of Lake washing
ton would drain much valuable land in both
the Black and samamfsh River valleys, and en-
tirely prevent the overflow Of the Black and
White rivers. II would also reclaim great deal
OF land all around Lake Washington. and would
uncover the shores 70 such an extent o to make
ample room for the construction Of railroad
tracks and level roadways Ill about the lake.
Assuming that the cost Of the canal would
be &2.0)0,o00. the issue Of bonds would b far
within the constitutional limit Of per cent.
the asscssed valuation Of King county for la92
being Isl. 939 I'D and the outstanding bonds only
$4,000. Tho county's Per cent bonds would
readily sell - premium and the annual inter-
est charge wouid be only 100000 We have con-
suited many OF our most conservative citizens
and largest Taxpayers and We fnd the consensus
OF opinion to b that the construction OF this
canal would. within three yssrs, add to the tax
able valuation Of the county not less than
go, 900, and that therefore the burden Of tax
alton would b lightsnsd rather than increased
BY this improvement Our population would be
doubled before the work wouli Be completed.
II IL probable that Il could be best 70 limit the
OF this character 70 such IN amount that . mill
tax would pay the interest thereon II the peo-
pie Of King county vote 70 undertake this work
and TO issue the county bonds therefor 1t il very
clear that il such bonds ran for twenty-five
yeafs . 1-mill tax would not only pay the inter-
est ON the entire issue. but would create . sink.
Ing fund sufficient 70 retire the bonds 1t ma
turtty. Surely there 10 no citizen Of King county
that would hesitate to vote for this work If IL
required taxation of only mill to secure It,
With the beginning OF this work We would
enter upon IN era Of great commercial activity
and business prosperity and there would b
abundance Of work for both skilled and un-
skilled labor. Almost the entire cost would b
expended in labor and such material - We pro-
ducs In this immediate vicinity. The impetus
to the growth OF King county that the imme-
diats undertaking OF this work would give and
the general prosperity that would follow are
worth 20 the county many times the cost OF the
canal. There is no interest In the county that
will not be benefited BY IL The necessary leg
islation TO enable the county to undertake the
work should be obtained from tho present ses-
sion OF the legislature. so that In case congress
ct the present session does not make an appro-
priatiou the county will be In = position to un-
dertake the work whenever IL chooses to do 90
We therefore earnestly recommend that = bill
Be prepared enabling the county to undertake
the work. and that its passage be secured By the
present legislature Respectfully submitted,
D. H. GILMAN, Chairman.
Members Of the Chamber of Commerce
who were in Olympia yesterday worked
hard to bring the bill out for consideration
in the senate today, and are confident that
it will be passed by that body. They are
hopeful that it will pass the house on
Thursday if it can get there in time. Some
of the members of the King county dele
cation are said to be unfavorable to
the bill, maintaining that the work
should be done by the general gov.
eminent In this view they are
supported by the men who are
working for the passage of the bill, who of
course claim that the work should be done
by the general government and merely de-
sire the passage of the bill so that, in case
Of any unreasonable delay, the county
may take action, provided it may see fit to
do 90. These gentlemen yesterday circu-
lated petition among prominent King
county men then at the capitol in order to
bring these members into line as hearty
supporters of the measure. The petition
and signatures secured are as follows:
OLYMPIA, March z, 1893
To the King County Mem bers Of the legislature:
The undsrsigned taxpayers OF King county. now
present In Olympia. among whom are some of
the very heaviest taxpayers OF said county, re-
spectfully ask you to secure the passage of SEN
ATE bill No. l5s to prescribe the powers OF coun.
ties relative to public works and structures for
county purposes. We regard the bill - the
most important for the interests of our county
now before tho Legislature:
D. 7. Denny, George Kinnear.
John Leary. Il. n. Smfthers,
Hilory Butler II. b Ragley,
J. r. Mcknight E.. T. Whittier.
II LA