The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-29
SEATTLE, FRIDAY. NOV. 90.
sEATTLE'a FOLLY.

circular sent broadcast through the
city signed by Alonzo Hull and others and
one signed by Alderman Jordan claims
that the city needs better water supply
Immediately. They show that for the next
fve years the cost of pumping from the
lake. including interest and new reser-
voirs. etc. will not be less than $4,000 an
nually. These statements are confirmed
by reports of the city engineer.
The city then seems To be confronted
with an important question: What is the
best way 10 secure new water supply?
The plan offered by the council is that the
city should proceed to construct a gravity
supply system. based on an issue OF city
warrants. IT is admitted that IL would
take two or three years to begin the work
OF construction. Opposition will be made
20 the legality OF the warrants and per-
haps successfully. Some tine will be re-
CURED TO secure the necessary lands and
rights. II is estimated that the cost Will
rot exceed s.. 2oo0oo TO 81. 25o.eO0.
with past experience. We may indulge in
come doubt whether the cost will lie kept
within this limit II Is also said that
the engineers have overlooked important
items, which will raise these figures 70
'l.eoooco, Buttf wctake 8. 90. 900 as the cost
the snnu4l interest charge viii DO g6o.C0o.
Judging from experience this large
amount OF warrants cannot De sold. faint
a az they will be by their questionable va
lldity. at more than 50 cents on the dollar
II the contractor has 70 stand this loss he
NJ aad & o tAs amour. II his Did, or get
II cat OF the city in some way or other.
II si,2ooe0o Is tho cost we must therefore
add % per cent or $4,000 for loss on war
rants. or We must issue warrants for say.
si.bno,ooo. and Instead Of S0oo0. must pay
an interest charge ~ s55eoo. Whichever
way We Took Al il. Il seems certain that the
estimates are TOO low, ana the proposed
amount OF warrants Is too small.
Another erfor Of great Importance Will
lie fo0ad IA the item Of $3.50 annually fo~
maintenance. Maintenance consists Of
care and repairs. The care Of twenty five
miles az pipe line. dams. reservoirs. gate
houses cite. viii require many men sta
toned along the line 20 guard % and at
tend TO the daily routine OF preventing sc-
cidonts. They muat be men OF some Capac-
ity. TO say that this can be done Tor S2.5l0
IS simply absurd. IL would probably take
nearer tlo.ooo especially about the time of
elections. when politicians were looking
for places for their followers. There IS.
then. $50 allowance for repairs, II We say
that repairs along The line would De az
least $3.50 10 s.. 80 Per aunum Il IS rather
below than above what they would actu-
ally cost. Ne allowance is made for deter
ioratlon. ard 20 mention 81 msds or this
important element ln annual charges. IL
is very serious oversight The gravity
plant vii rot last forever any more than
engines. boilers and buildings or the pump
ing plant. which yhe engineer says must
now he renewed at great cost. Two Per
cent per annum would De a low allowance
Ter deterioration % the gravity plant. aud
Il would amount to $500 annually.
Taking al Theses Items % annual cost
care. ua0o. repairs. *5ooo; deterioration.
s. aoe-wc have an annual charge or So asl
instead O. s 5so. 49, set down foS maIntcn-
ance, ana "a total annual charse. iuclutlug
interest. az t'aeao& instead ~ se.,so3 n
sl.50o. 90 % warrants should, as IS proAs-
HE. be required. 10 would raise The annual
charge Tor this gravity system 10 $liSoaa
In this aspect q the ease she present
remplng Arrangements WoCl5 certainly De
The cheaper. even y ether pumps ana more
apparatas should - needed. provided ire
water Is satisfactory. A. to this. tie evi-
denee seems 70 show that the People 81
Seattle are in no immediate danger.
me circulars Si!ate w.;h singular loose
ness and laek q common sense uQ9a TIE
,noorne 10 hs derived from the use e
water Ter power aud to produce .sAi. NJ
estimates are given 81 the cost % Install
,nx light aad power plants ncr of opersi-
Ink thcna. nor - by.as.aE power from
sNan AXE as $ masuiaceu''y suggested
b. saSSe n&iseon4ss pamphlets. Ths.E "a.