The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-12
WATER FOR TACOMA.
Must Be Drawn From Clutches,
Springs and Wells.
GLOVER CREEK IS CUT orr.
Strike OF Brickiayers on the State Cap
or Union Pacific Branches.

Tacoma, March u-Special Through
the lenfency of Judge Parker, the mayor.
city attorney and hoard of public works
are stiu unpublished for not obeying the
courts Injunction restraining the city
from taking water from Glover and Span
away creeks until the judgment of s14.-
80. secured by Robert p. Rigney in the
condemnation proceedings. be satisfied.
Today Judge Parker rendered his decis-
ion In the action for contempt brought
against the officials named. He declared
that the violation of the Injunction order
Notwithstanding the appeal and attempted
stay. was contempt OF court. He held
however. that the proper procedure would
be for the court to issue an order direct
Ing that they be tried to ascertain their
guilt or innocence. Believing that the Of
ficials had acted In good faith and under
misconstruction of the law. he would
not issue such an order IL the city would
agree to obey the injunction.
With visions of dungeons dancing before
their eyes the officials nearly fell over
themselves IN their haste to make the re-
quired promise. Then as quickly as pos
sibie the water of the creeks was shut
OF. 1t has up to this time furnished
about 2.50a,o00 or 100000 gallons daily of
the 100000 required by the city.
Then there was a hasty conference of
the powers that be--in municipal, not
court affairs. and plans to secure enough
water TO supply the city with We're des-
cussed. The gulehes. at a pinch, can,
the board of public works asserts, fur
nish 100000 gallons a day. Some people
have an objection 10. gulch water as the
youths OF the southend have a playful
habit OF going in swimming in the streams
II summer. However, the board says
there will be no more bathing there. Then
the Northern Pacific railroad supply at
q rl
and secured 10 the extent of from 700 900
to 10000 gallons daily. The company
has agreed TO allow the use OF the water.
which is pronounced remarkably fine, to
the extent named. This water comes
from wells sunk in the prairie soil To a
depth of only IS feet There, however.
Is found an abundant flow OF pure water
direct from the mountains. easily passing
through the course gravel and forming
almost subterranean river The full
capacity of the Northern Pacific wells
has never been tested. John NJ. Fuller,
late member of the board of public
works has long been an advocate of the
city sinking wells like these on the
prairies. and using the water for at least
a portion of the city's supply. If the
present wells prove all they are cracked
up TO be this may be done.
The taking of water from the car
shops wells began at 5 p. m. In the
meantime, there Is to be. despite all these
arrangements, a decidedly lively hustle
on the part of the board of public works
this summer for water. Notices will be
published in the daily papers tomorrow
morning instructing consumers of water
TO be more economical than ever. The
board announces emphatically that there
need be no fear of water famine, and
says II Is In a position to supply the city
tomorrow and from then on with water
for all needs.
The way the water came TO be shut off
is this: When the city bought the plant
from the Tacoma Light and Water Com
pany Ii bought IL with the understand
ing and agreement that the purchase In
cluded water rights to Glover and Span
away creeks, as well as to Thomas and
Patterson springs. After the sale and
only some months ago. Robert p. Rigney.
a riparian owner on the creeks. brought
suit to recover for the use of the water.
As a result the city called upon the
Light and Water Company to make good
the agreement as to rights to the waters
of the creeks. The company agreed
to do this and brought suit In
the name of the city to con-
denim for public use the waters named.
A special jury was empaneled. examined
the land which Mr. Rigney claimed would
be damaged by the taking of the water.
and heard testimony A verdict was
brought in finding that the damages
would he s14,250. or this, $3.50 was for
land described in the city's petition to
condemn. and the other $1,000 for addi-
tional land. The $3.50 was paid over by
the light and water company In the name
OF the city. but the Judgment for tho adj
ditionai 5000 was appealed to the SUI
preme court. The city continued to take
water from the creeks and hence the In
Junction suit. March the injunction
was issued, but until the decision In to-
days contempt case had not been obeyed.
What are you going to do about it2'
was asked City Attorney Wickershaui
this afternoon.
What are we going to do about 1t?
Why, we will give the Tacoma Light &
Water company notice to protect the city
and recover possession OF the water at
once" said he, ION failure to do which
the city Will formally abandon the Glover
creek works. f1ume and all. and bring
suits against the company for damages
in the full amount thereof. We viii also
sue on the bond OF $1,000 given By Wright
and Taylor and wife guaranteeing the
title"
Formal official notice, signed by Mayor
/ Orr to this effect was sent to the Tacoma
Light & Water company and Theodore
Hosmer. president. this afternoon.