The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-02

tails OF which this letter intends 10 lay De
fore the public.
Before doing %, however, one OF the
several erroneous statements contaneo IN
the Sunday communication should De cor
recfed. namely. the one regaruing tho
origin OF the present ditch movement
The communication says: In assz the
people Of the middle SaInamish vailey
asked aid under the ditch law Survey Tor
cznal was made By N. Stixrud.
The fact IS thai the petition OF the Sam
amish people. and the surveys made &C
cording TO il, dealt solely with the straight
ening of Samamish slough. IN order 10
carry the Samamish lake overflow into
Lake Washington. but had nothing what
ever TO do with the draining OF the flood
water of Lake Washington through the
ditch and canal now intended TO De built.
The inifiasory steps for this latter con-
templased i'm Improvement and especially the
start for the present ditch movement. have
been made by the county commissioners,
County Auditor Twichell and the under
signed; and through their efforts the
county has obtained from the regents OF
the university . right-ot-way OF 200 feet
in width over the university grounds,
agitation has been based.
And now TO the ditch question Any
body who knew the farmers views and
wishes could easily have ioreseen that the
city councils offer would never be ac-
cepted by them. They did not want any
irresponsible, non-accounting red tape
tied TO this projecr, but expected TO get
financial help, an immediate beginning OF
the work, security that their money would
not be squandered in buying the old ditch,
and the guarantee that the improvement
would be quickly, finished, kept in good
order in the future. and enlarged to carry
of the food water without delay.
OF all these demands the city did not
concede q single one; hence its offer was
rejected. But if 1t had not been killed
that way, IL would have died out anyway.
because the stipulation that 500. 900 must
be raised before TIE city would do any
thing was q suicidal one. That amount of
money cannot, presently, be raised. and
least o. all under the city plan. with its
unbusiness-like conditions
Now the plan first proposed by the origi-
majors of the ditch movement, but which
was lost sight of under the many schemes
offered at the different meetings, is taken
up again, and strong efforts will be made
to carry it through. The proposition is to
keep on obtaining subscriptions OF land,
labor and money in the city and country,
but with the following understanding:
Amy ditch or canal which the subscribers
may get constructed to be turned over
when finished to the county commission
ers, who will, under the new ditch law to
be passed the coming winter. have the
right TO take care of, improve and enlarge
said ditch or canal. so as to make it cap
able of giving full and permanent relief to
the flooded districts.
When the county levies. an assessment
for its improvement the work done and
paid for by the subscribers is to be taken in
consideration and credited to them on
their assessments so that the land owner
who voluntarily sunscribes now does not
have to pay twice, and his benefited neigh
Dor who now refuses to contribute will be
compelled to pay his due share in the end.
In this manner the county commission
ers have regulated the White river valley
ditch assessments. and as they have ex-
pressed their Willingness to help this ditch
matter along to the full extent of their
legal authority, there's no doubt but the
same assessment rule will be followed by
them in the future.
1t is evident that under such plan a
more general subscription can be raised
from the land owners than if the subscrib-
ers must expect to have to carry the
whole cost of the work alone, while the
non-subscribers pay nothing, but share in
the benefits of the improvement.
1t is furthermore expected that the
South Seattle canal scheme will stir up
the owners of land and lots on and nesr
Lake Union to hasty cooperation with
the farmers. tor the construction of the
Lake Washington drainage ditch is the
beginning of the building of the Lake
Union ship canal, which otherwise may
not be commenced for years to come. if
ever.
This is the plan under which the parties
who have so far pushed this ditch move
msnt are working, and as it is rea-
sonable and practicable one and fair to all
the benefited land owners. they have
reason to believe that the public will favor
it and help to bring it TO a successful
termination. O. f. WEGEsER.