The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-23
THE POWER COMPANY,s PRoPo-
SITIoNS.

Seattle, Nov. -, 1855
To the Editor: The ingenuity and ver-
satil;ty OF the city engineer in his COM
parasive statement OF the cost OF the water
by our proposition. and by either the pres
ent system Or new gravity system built
upon increased taxation. reminds me OF
q story told OF celebrated attorney: This
attorney appeared in court 20 argue an
important case. and. forgetting on which
side OF the case he was engaged proceeded
10 make powerful argument against his
own client The unfortunate client was
disrnayed. but by pulling vigorously at TIE
attorneys coat and whispering in his ear
succeeded in showing him his mistake
Thereupon the attorney. turning gTavely
TO the court. proceeded as follows: May
it please your honor. in the remarks which
have just made to the court have set
forth 10 the best OF my ability the argu-
ment of my adversary. and X your honor
please I VII now point out the fallacy Of
that argument."' He then presented his
clients case with such ingenuity that the
court w4s in doubt where the truth lay
and rendered decision in which neither
SIDE had any advantage.
Last spring the city engineer. az the re
quest OF the advisory board, prepared a
statement TO be sent out TO secure pro-
posals for constructing a gravity system.
In this statement II is set forth that the
city would pay 500 per day, or cents per
thousand gallons for 5000 oco gallons per
day; $500 per day for 100000. and $3.50 for
100000 per day, and so on.
II would seem that his client has pulled
him down, and he proceeds 10 argue the
other side OF the case.
He shows now that the cost to the city
by pumping VIII be 2.7s cents per thou
sand gallons for $500 900 gallons, or $3.50 50
per day, and by the gravity system 26s
cents per thousand gallons, or
sl3l-oo per day, and so on. Our highest
offer for same quantity was go cents per
thousand gallons.
No one can question the skill and IN
genuity with which the city engineer has
presented both sides Of his clients case,
and IL can readily be imagined that the
court (the citizens of Seattle) viii be in
some doubt on which side the truth Is
1t would be a waste of time to criticise
in detail the figures given by the city en-
gfneer in his present statement. Life IS
too short; the average citizen is too
busy to examine such complicated calcu-
lations- We call attention only to one or
two points. Mr.. Thomson estimates the
annual cost OF maintenance at 81 500, and
quotes Benszet:e Williams for these fig
ures. We estimated it at about $1,000
The average citizen can form a general
opinion as 10 these estimates by consider
ing that the gravity supply lines include
about twenty-five miles of conduits
through a rough country. two or three
dams, several gate houses and one or more
reservoirs, all of which require guarding
or watching at all points, besides repairs.
Whether $3.50 or $4,000 is the correct es-
innate We leave IL to others to say. Blu.
however this may be, We propose to
charge, in any offers we make. the actual
cost of maintenance, whatever it is. We
also call attention TO the evident improh-
ability OF the city being able to furnish
water by gravity as cheaply or as quickly
" n hyy fnt 9TH sar
prises with the gravity system, which
share the cost Of construction and thus
reduce the cost OF the gravity system.
To prove our good faith we have already
offered to submit our plans and estimates
to a board OF competent engineers for
comparison with any other plans, and
make any notifications which shall be
equitable. The matter is one that
cannot be fairly discussed in the
newspapers. 1t involves too many
technical questions and calculations which
few persons except experienced engineers
can understand.
To show the intent Of our propositions
and our confidence in our ability TO furnish
water more cheaply than il is now sup
piled from Lake Washington, or can be
supplied under the city's plans for gray
ity system, we are ready 10 enter into
stipulations 10 supply water from Cedar
river at lower price for the same guam
tlty than 1t is pumped from the lake or
can be brought into the city by the citys
plans. f. II. AMMIDOWN,
President Seattle Power Company.