The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-12
SAY THERE WAS No SECRECY.
Councilmen Deny Ammidown's state
mont Ahont Gealnr River Mater.


Chairmeu elise and Hurd. OF the fire
and water committees Of the two houses
OF the city council. emphatically deny
T. ii. Ammidown's statement that any
secret meetings Of their committees
have been held in the furtherance Of
the plan for the city's control Of Cedar
river water FOR municipal purposes. Mr..
elise said yesterday. and was seconded
by Mr.. Hurd
''ln July there was a meeting OF the
Joint FIRE and water committees and the
joint finance committee. with other
members OF the council. at which meet
ing Mr.. AmmidOwn and r. II. OsgoOd
were present. At that time there was
general discussion upon the lines laid
out by the city engineers report. and we
asked these gentlemen what they could
do towards furnishing the city with wa
ter In accordance with that report. They
said they could not make any estimates
without knowing just exactly what the
city wanted. They wanted the city to
call for bids. and then they would sub
NIT their own proposals.
I'm March the city council appropri-
ated S9e) for the city engineer 10 go ahead
and make surveys and estimates so as
to carry out the recommendations that
he had previously outlined in his annual
report. and this was absolutely public
property at all times. There was nothing
secret about st. the council can not APP
prOpriate $500 IN Il secret manner. That
plan was prepared at that time in that
way simply because the council knew no
other way by which the city could &C
quire the Cedar river water and we did
not know of any other way until the
Spokane case was decided by the su-
preme court on Aug. IS. The arguments
advanced by the city engineer, why Ii
would be good thing for the contract
-
a good thing for the city. Because, If
delivering 5,OO000o gallons would pay
per cent. upon the investment, and de-
iivcriug 100000 gallons would pay
per cent, and 100000 gallons 10 per
cent, and II the city engineer could de-
liver 10000 gallons and only have ii
cost per cent. IL is good thing on its
face.
"An editorial in this mornings Post
Intelligencer says: If we give up the
present system we must continue TO pay
$50 interest. az well as the principal
debt of 81 o50 90 for the pumping plant
Resides that, we must pay $4,000 for
hydrants which we do not now pay, and
must give up the $4,000 surplus
Now, the 81 0SO.00a is not only for the
pumping plant, but for the entire distribu-
ting system. and the pumping plant is only
"A very small portion. In this sum Is also
included the fireboat. The ordinance pass
cd provides that the city shall receive free
water. so sr would not he necessary 10 pay
Ss7 40 for hydrants unless we obtained the
water from the Seattle Power Company.
II We obtain our supply from the Seattle
Power Company a meter viii be placed
on The pipe where Il enters the city. and the
city will have to pay so much per gallon
FOR every gallon that enters. whether used
for fire purposes. domestic use, irriga-
ton. or for flushing the sewers.
'The same paper also contains the state
ment that Detroit. by putting in It's own
light plant. decreased the cost per lamp
so- II this city had It's own plant. il
could put in an electric light plant for
which the power would cost it nothing,
as IL would have from 100000 to ao.oeo 90
gallons of surplus water each day which
could be used for generating power 70 light
the city. The city could then have an arc
light on every corner. and 1t would be
lighted as no other city IN the world IS
lighted and at less cost"
At the meeting Of the aldermen last
night Sween ey wanted some Information
about the article in Sundays Post-lntclh-
a,cuCer concerning the SECRET meetings Of
tho FIRE and water committee. He had
never heard ~ any such meetings At his
suggestion a resolution was adopted asking
fhe citv engineer and the fire and water
committee to report the facts in conucc-
zion with the Post-Inteulgencer state
mont I'm regard @ meetings n the fire and
water committee I'm connection with the
Cedar rlyrr proposition. published on sun
atv. November %. and n full report Is re-
Qucs,ed as 90 ,he statement issued by the
r.tV giving figures which We're supposed
~ ha supplied % investors and contractors.
8n1 amy r-her facts or matters that they
.-tro - report I'm connection with the sub
'e-t 'hc committee 50 report az the next
meeting ~ the council"