The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-06-24
1.-THE DIrcH-oR CANAL"
Sr.rrIE. June 10. 1894


1.-THE DITCH-oR CANAL"
SEATTLE. June 10. 1894
To THE EprroR: Judge Jacobs able let
ter in your Sundays issue under the above
title impels me to offer some recent MS
tory.
In 1892 the people Of the middle SAM
mamish valley asked aid under the ditch
law. Survey for canal was made by M.
Stixrud, but the matter was killed oy
remonstrance from the lower part OF the
valley.
During 1898 numerous interviews with
the county commissioners and their legal
adviser resulted in the decision that no
law exists under which the county can
undertake the work necessary.
Early this year the Washington I'M
provement Company were asked by some
who were anxious to get out of their
slough of despond' for permission to en-
large their present canal. intending, II
permission could also be obtained, TO en-
large the Lake Union outlet, TO form an
organization and, If possible. raise the
necessary funds by subscription Right-of-
way seemed to them TO be the first step,
without which second step was useless.
They failed to get an answer.
New impetus was gwen the matter by
A. E. Chaffey, manager of the Northwest
Bridge Company, who agreed to do the
work for land.
A meeting at the Chamber of Commerce
resulted in the gathering of few on the
stairs. Judge Wood and one other only
of the chamber being present, but the
matter was discussed and meeting called
for March 81, at which time committees
were appointed. On April Ii the right-of-
way committee presented proposition
from the Washington Improvement Conn.,
pany. They would allow the water to
flow for the following considerations:
First-S5. 600 per year in cash.
Second-We should obtain and give to
them a right-of-way through the Denny q
Hoyt addition.
Third-We should expend at least s10,-
900 on their canal. The contract to termi-
nate in two years.
We believed that not less than 200
must be expended on both canals in order
to justify any expenditure at all. There
fore the net cost of two years drainage
would be not less than s40.0 900. plus what
ever the right-ofway through Denny d
Hoyt's addition might cost.
The proposition was deemed absurd.
Mr.. Langston stated that he had been in
formed verbally that the company would
sell out for $4,000.
The committee also reported that the
university regents were willing to grant
permission to construct canal across
university land, and at a later meeting
that Mr.. Blewett would grant similar
permit through Denny & Hoyt's addition,
thus making the right-of-way complete.
Want of legal advice became apparent
and legal committee consisting of firms
who il was thought would give their adj
vice free of charge was appointed, as fol-
lows: Stratton, Lewis & Gilman, Ronald
O. Piles, w. T. Scott and e. c. Hughes.
A motion that the finance committee be
authorized 10 confer with the city was
tabled until the legal committee could be
heard from. April II the legal COM
mittee reported that the city possessed
certain advantages under the law that the
county or private corporations did not
have. Again a motion was made to have
the finance committee ask the city to take
hold of the matter. but it was withdrawn
and incorporation decided upon. A name
was chosen and the capital stock fixed.
April 28-Articles of incorporation were
presented, read and the whole plan of in
corporation rejected because SO many OBJ
jected to joining corporation.
Again the proposition TO go to the city
was.brought up and again abandoned and
Mr.. Chaffey was authorized to solicit sub
scriptions payable 10 himself through the
Boston National bank, who was to receive
them in trust till the work was performed.
The support of the committee was pledged
TO him. The city was also to be asked for
aid. This was the last meeting of the
general committee.
May 5-Finance committee met After
listening TO articles of agreement read by
Mr.. Chafey they we're not discussed, but
the whole plan was rejected. His bonds
were not even looked at. A new plan was
made, papers were to be circulated. sub
scriptions BEING made payable to William
Cochrane and John Langston as trustees.
1t was also determined 10 obey theinstruc-
tons of the general committee and ask
the city's aid.
May THE matter was presented to the
council. who appointed joint committee.
1t being known that the city could not
legally increase its Indebtedness, IL was
expected to ask that some of the revenue
from the water department, which last
year yielded a cash profit of $66, 703. should
be appropriated to the canal for the pur-
pose of purifying the water supply.
Interviews with the city comptroller and
members OF the joint committee made it
clear that nothing more could be expected
of the city than the use of its organize
ton and corporate power. This was ac-
knowledged to be of great value. The
conviction had deepened in the minds of
many influential promoters OF the project
that without the organization and power
of the city nothing could be accomplished.
The council committee asked that plan
be drawn up by our legal committee stat
ing plainly what We wanted them to do.
This was done.
At the same time an outline OF q sub
scription paper submitted TO the legal
committee by Messrs. Cochrane and Wolfe,
who had been appointed by the finance
eornmitte for the purpose. was found TO
contain inSufficient data and was laid
aside, il being expected and desired by
many lf not eli at that tiniel that nothing
further should be attempted till q reply
from the city could be obtained.
The council committee interviewed the
Washington Improvement Company. were
refused permission to dig and submitted
questions TO the corporation counsel,
which be. being very busy, did not an
swer till June