The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-01-11
AT WORK IN EARNEST.
Farmers Unite in q Petition for
Drainage bitches.
CITY AND COUNTY ASKED TO ACT
They Wsst Cedar River Turned Late
Lake Washingtsn and the Oaties
EsIarged-Nssy sign H

The movement started among the farm
ers OF the Lake Washinzton and Duwam-
ish basin to secure relief from the food
water has At last taken shape in the form
OF petition to the county commissioners
and 20 the mayor and city council for the
making of the desired improvement The
petition 10 as follows:
Your petitioners respectfully represent
and show the following facts.
First-fhas they are each and ali either
farmers residing near or adjacent 70. or
land owners owning property near or ad-
Jacent TO some Of the streams or bodies OF
.aser In King county, Wash, to-wit:
Duwsmish, White. Black or Cedar rivers.
ington or Union or Salmon bay.
second-Tnas by reason of the present
condition Of the various outlets OF the
foregoing waters and their connection.
one nth another, the farms and lands of
petitioners are constantly subjected to
overflow and floods from the high waters
OF said streams and lakes aforesaid. and
that during the present year and the pre-
csding year In particular, their said farms
and lands have been thus flooded and over
flowed. thereby causing great loss and
damage 70 their said lands, 70 their crops
and 20 their buildings and improvements,
and IL said waters are permitted TO con-
tsnue in their present condition a. TO con-
neetions and outlets. such overflow will
occur regularly through each succeeding
year. and the most fertile and productive
land In King county. tributary 20 Seattle.
will become useless and the trade and
prosperity of Seattle viii be thereby per-
manently injured and impaired.
''Third-That in the opinion OF the Pc
titioners the difficulties herein mentioned
are easily remedied with q comparatively
by all the farms and lands aforesaid can
be fully saved and protected.
'Fourth--That If the course Of Cedar
river were so changed as TO ind an out
let directly into Lake Washington. and
then the outlet between Lakes Washing
ton and Union, commonly known and
designated as the portage were properly
dredged out, deepened and widened so as
to permit a freer passage of the water
from Lake Washington into Lake Union
and thence by q widened and deepened
channel through Salmon bay into Puget
sound, all the difficulties herein men,
toned would DO remedied and . vast
quantity OF highly fertile and arabic lands
would be restored to occupation and culti-
walton.
Wherefore your petitioners pray
''First-That you receive this. their petit
ton, that you ascertain from your proper
legal adviser. by written opinion, whether
or not there are any legal obstacles in the
way of the county making the said i'm
sprovement. and If 90 what they are and
how they can be overcome.
''Second-That you proceed to take ac-
ton on this petition, looking to the imme-
diste making Of the improvement sfore-
said: that, If necessary. you submit the
question to the electors Of said county.
and above all, that said improvements be
Immediately undertaken. and your petit
TONERS viii forever pray"
This petition is being circulated for sig.
natures all over the district to be bene-
fitted, and 10 being extensively signed.
William Cochrane is canvassing the White
river valley, Dr.. O. r. Askam the Black
river valley, II. H. Western the Duwam-
ish valley and others are circulating it
around the lake and on the Sammamish
river, while John NJ. Langston 10 working
the city. Already several hundred of the
largest property owners Of the city and the
valleys have signed It.