The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-06-17
"THE DIToH-oR CANAL"
SEATTLE. June rs. 1874

SEATTLE, June 10, 1874
TO THE EnIroR: From late observation
Of the overflow of the valleys OF the Du-
samish. Black, White, Cedar and Sam
smish rivers, am satisfied that prompt
and effective, If not heroic means ought TO
Be taken, and every power. express or inn
pied, direct or incidental, ought to be
employed TO prevent q recurrence of this
waste and desolation in the future. Wa
ter eyerYwhere; ruin, staggering If
not paFalyzlng. faces the farmer. His
best and most productive lands, rendered
araoie BY the privations and labor of
years. are covered with water lingering In
is cold dominion until seed time is past.
lie has no use for helping hands TO aid in
tne cultivation of his otherwise fertile
acres His purchasing as well as debt
paying abilities are greatly limited II not
entirely gone. lie and his family remain
On 1.-THE old homestead, the melancholy
spectators of the ruin.
How Is it with the merchants. manu-
iaesnsers and business men7 There must
@amarked shrinkage in the volume cd
BUSINESS arising from the decrease of pur-
eaAsers aud the want OF means. This situ-
a'ion reacts upon itself, and results In q
eal o. wages or q discharge of employees,
or both,
"hat The effect on the eountys It's roads
Hewashed away or so cut into sections or
quilted out as 20 render them dangerous,
not absolutely impossible. In some
PAGES its bridges are gone; in others the
approaches have been swept away, and
NsSe 4 not for the railroad and steamboat
Aaes but ies people would do business
In eur city.
saeh = brief. bat imperfect, sta tement
= vac situation, AMI the question arises,
1aeTe no remedy Are there no powers.
taPFess or Implied, that can be legiti-
na's'y EXERCISED 10 pat a stop TO this an
as@ destruesioBg / answer both qaes-
.,eas afarmatively. My answer 10 the
ssss 80 Tar IS the inundated farmers are
s'acsrned. Is based on benefits to be re-
sea and IN the absence OF an
sAaie law tor the ascertain
s aad assessment OF such benefits,
~ nast be law unto themselves, and
eve Il 70 themselves 10 see that such
aAoeral IN is provisions and that IL
sgenerous execution. They viii re-
s-as aeenent over and beyond the general
80 ami they ought 70 respond accord
Ihis IS pivotal point in the move
Bat they ought not to DO judged
- sAFsAiy. They are far from receiving
sae BENEFITS. The business puslie Is
assd also. The ooanty owes them a
1 saose extent and execution ought 10
,ss TIE rnost Liberal construction. 30
ne business public is concerned.
- tas benefits 70 be received by them
es eiaSse3 as indirect. yet they
sas.g impsnge upon the line separating
rem Indirect BENEFITS. Heresofors
sas asstory of this city and county
.-1aea duty, especially II il bad inter
- n Il sc element OF public enter
-. -aa rs discharge would result In the
49, good Or promote the common pros
- hss always met with = ready re-
80 and prompt execution. Is that
-. 1eAaf ! think noL Ifnot. then It's
Assei'ee Is sufficient guaranty shat the
tassy. i''''''' i'N'--' f''s
a SENS - b conceded that tae oaIy
s outlet 70 the surplus water OF the
- mentioned IS BY a canal connecting
AIS sad the bay. This being %.
- y Tie opinion that the Powers of the
,s-''ss' % Of The city even. are ample for
!. @sFsse. IFae. the poser IN both cases
s.lsd, eas e nightly implied. the faes