The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-06-08
THE DRAINAGE DITCH
Conference of Farmers and
Members OF Council
PROSPECT or 4 PROPOSITION.



Avsu attended meeting OF farmers ard
other property owners Of the valley ianes
vas held ~ the council chamber yester-
day. Messrs. Caxksek. Kelso. Lsnxston.
Van Asset. Liyssiey snd others sess met
by Mayor Pbsips. Comptroller Parry.
Aidsrmsn Cliss. Compton, Hifier ana
I,ovsjoy and Dsisgstss James. Little AMI
Hard. A vsry fail discussion uss had oil
eli the legal and other obstacles IN shs way
Of the city assumisg the cost Of construct
ing . drasnaxs ditch. and Of the difficulties
encountered By the farmers In every a.
tempt thsy inside 20 secure united action.
Il VS. . double meeting, Alderman elise
acting q chairman Of the council commit
- and n. J. Casksek Chairman Of the
farmers.
Alderman Cliss Submitted the following
letter. written By himself 60 the Washing
ton improvement Company, which owns
she portage:
Yesterday tbs corporation counsel gave
IN opini0n - 10 the powers 81 the city
With ssfencs 70 the purchase or use OF your
canal for water purposes. The commissee
understood from your SECRETARY that upon
receipt Of this opinion that you would
give us IN answer TO the propositions
made by the COMMITTEES 70 you verbally
s.Ftrss-for What amount and under
What conditions will you allow the city TO
enlarge the present canaI. and
ssSecond--What viii you sell outright
for
1--WE win state that Ne do not believe It
possihle for the cisy TO purchase 81 the
present time. and would therefore ask .
fuli reply 10 the first proposition.
Ea
counssl. which please return. We desire
~ early reply - possible"
To this letter Mr.. elise had received tho
following rsplys
We desire to acknowledge the receipt Of
your favor Of the 5sh inst. together with
Enclosures. In reply We beg To say that
ve do mos desire 20 Ok price on the Lake
Washington canal unisss the city at Seat
tie or some other responsible party should
indicate ifs or thsir desire TO purchase the
same. However. having In view the benc-
fits 10 accrus TO the community following
tbs widening and deepening OF the canal,
as . low figure and on liberal terms to the
city. should u desire TO purchase and Inn
prove the same ~ indicated above.
Alderman Ciiss said that IL the farmers
expect 70 rely upon the county II would be
necessary TO wait until the legislature
met. A bill must Be passed and the only
way by which the county could act would
be BY submitting . proposition to the
voters 10 bond the county. That would
put the work OF until next summer and
another season would b. lost. Mr.. elise
suggested. - . basis for . proposition,
that the special COMMITTEES report TO the
council reciting the proposition made to
et<~V ~ h. L. 49, Al
digging Of . new drainage canal and
the enterprise. and also that Il furnish
such supervision and engineering - may
b. necessary TO carry forward the work,
provided the farmers would either raise in
cash or IN approved security the sum OF
$4,000 This sum should be placed 1t the
absolute disposal Of the city and the city
have the right 70 either expsnd IL In buy
ing the canal Of the Washington Improve
ment Company or In digging new ditch
~ she city may determine The council
on Monday night should say whether or
not they would undertake the matter
under thsss conditions. II the council de-
cidss IL would b willing 70 take hold OF
the matter under these terms. then the
farmers are 10 at once raise either the cash
or the securities and place them In some
bank. When this 10 done the city should
determine which course IL will pursue,
and that once determined upon to carry
the same out promptly. using the funds
provided a. may be necessary. The city
should have absolute discretion in all
matters and not bind herself 10 do other
than 10 furnish the use Of her maine, the
engineering and the supervision, aud that
the money shall DO economically spent
and 10 the very best advantage. In other
words. that the farmers must trust the
city and the city on her part viii do every
thing TO accomplish the best possible re-
sulis.
Mr.. Carkeek, ~ chairman Of the farm
ers, called for . motion on the subject. but
said he would like To know what was the
best the city could do. The farmers ought
SO have two or three years To pay in. He
concluded by moviag that the farmers
raise 81. 00a
Delegate Little doubted IL the city
could undertake u for that sum.
John Langston thought . good plan
would DO to have . stock subscription so
that the county could eventually buy it
and reimburse the subscribers.
Alderman Compton suggested that the
city make an otter to the farmers, as the
farmers did no. seem quite agreed among
themselves. The sum of $4,000 would not
begin 10 pay for the opening of the ditcn.
Mr.. kelso said he and others had been
working hard for a long time. but he
feared the sum offered Was too small.
Mr.. Carkeek did not agree with this
view: the eity would be the great hene-
ncisry for very many years 10 come.
Delegate Hard said that while there
might be q delay by waiting for the ieris-
isturc. any other attempt was likely to be
retarded by iniunesions.
Soue discussion took place rs to the
authority Of the regents OF tho university
10 give rtght-of~way, and it was explained
that the regents and Mr.. Biewe,t would
give the right 10 dig and guarantee per
petasl dow.
Mayor Phelps said /. Vas maeh needed
Improvement. and is seemed as II there
must ee some way 20 accomplish H. lie
believed .ae city had fan power 20 cut the
ditch. bat the city did not have the money
now 10 DO IL. He beloved the committee
sheald make q report 10 the council en-
hodying . distinct proposition. lie wouia
himself give every support 10 any lswfal
proposition, IS he was deeply Impressed
With the urgency of the case. lie believed
thai II sae present canal were bought shs
osners should he fully reimbursed tie
iaoney tasy had expended
Henry Van ASSET the whiie-hssred
pioneer. Vas called for. and he responded
IN vigorous speech. which brought oct
great applause
This Is no question between city and