The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-23
TOO BIG A BITE.

At the forthcoming election the question
is not whether the city shall construct the
Cedar river system or shall make con-
tract with the Seattle Power Company. II
Is simply whether the city shall or shall
not in is present condition. enter upon a
new debt OF 81 80 900. and add al the same
time 20 It's taxation.
II we did not own the pumping plant Il
would be wise 70 construct the Cedar river
system. but we have bought the plant, We
have incurred the debt. and we must pay it.
Five years ago. when this city was far
better of than now, II was thought best
not 10 delay longer because the need OF the
city was urgent, and the cost Of the grav-
ity system too great. Il was supposed then
that five years hence this population would
have grown so rapidly and its property
valuation have become 50 much greater.
that It could easily build the high gravity
system. We have been disappointed; the
five years have passed. our population is
not greater. our property valuation is over
sl0.0 5000 less and the demand for water
has not increased.
The argument OF the advocates of the
new debt is that in the next FIVE years
our deferred hopes viii be realized. But
suppose they are not; suppose that the
growth is gradual. but not fast enough TO
meet the new demands proposed to be made
upon US two years hence, what then? The
debt must be paid-not the ney debt. but
the present debt which. relying no longer
upon the revenue Of the water department.
must beyond doubt be met by taxation or
involve us in disastrous discredit.
The present water consumption Is $780,
900 gallons day. We have a 100000 gal
Ion Holly pump. two 100000 Worthing-
tons and Dow. But suppose altogether
they yield only 100000 gallons or 1000
60 gallons. We shall still. If pressed. have
a margin.
The possible even probable increase In
population must be considered. 1t may be-
come desirable to buy a new pump or to
make a contract with the company which
Is arranging TO supply the city with cheap
motive power. What will be the best plan
IL a mere matter OF calculation. What
the city needs is manufactures. With these
established. the development of the city
would be SO rapid that a million dollars
would be OF very little consequence. We
cannot have manufactures unless We can
have a low rate of taxation and cheap
power. because II we do not offer these in
ducements the manufactures Will go where
they can get them.
The main things for the city TO do just
now. therefore. are to keep out OF debt
and keep down the taxes. If the offers
Of the power company do no more. they
at least enable us to avoid those disad-
vantages. All the propositions submitted
by the city engineer do not avoid the two
great obstacles-more debt. higher taxa
ton. In any consideration OF the COM
plnys propositions. however. there should
be two conditions rigldly insisted upon
one is that the price for supply he less
than the city can give 1t for without go
ing into heavy debt. and the other that
the city's perpetual right to control Of the
supply should be preserved.
Then. II it comes 10 the worst and the
/ c'ty's liability 10 pay should not increase,
as we hoped five years ago and hope to-
day. we can be satisfied with the Lake
Washington supply and have no more
debts or taxes 10 pay than we have now
They are burdensome enough under pres
ent conditions. II a rather coarse express
sion may be pardoned, we have need TO
bo careful that we do not bite of more
than Wa can chew.