The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-28
SEATTLE, THURSDAY. NOV. 90.
A FEW PLAIN WORDS.

The water controversy has been befog-
ged by tho introduction OF collateral is
sues. A simple outline OF the matter may
not come amiss.
About FIVE years ago Benezotte VIII
Jams advised the city to construct the
Cedar river system at a cost OF about ST.
$4,000. because the pumping system was
more expensive. Tha people OF Seattle
very generally objected TO mourning tina
enormous debt until they were In a bet
ter position 10 meet it. IL was. therefore.
decided to buy new pumps. Two Worth
ington pumps were purchased. increasing
the capacity To 100000 gallons a day. and
later a Holly pump OF 100000 gallons ca
pacity was added at a cost OF ssG.500. af-
fording a.Ge,0oo q day; and these are stiIl
Ia operation.
Owing 10 hard times. however. not
withstandlng the great extension Of sup
ply pipes. the revenue from the service
has fallen Off. -Four years ago. namely
in 1891. the monthly receipts were ST.
40. now they average a little over 5000 a
month. This falling of OF s2,4s9 a month
- fsE 80 hsAf t0ts " WI 8Es A4Ahtt
any difference in the debt We then incur
red OF 81. o5o.0oo. or OF tie interest. amount
ing TO So 500 a year.
Benezette Williams chief reasons for
preferr.ag the Cedar river plan were that
IN i've years from that time the city would
have a population OF 10000. which has not
been realized. and that the cost OF pump
a. q Aa4 nk# .-aff~wz ur..Hs - 49, "a
. day, or 1854 a month. AS a matter OF
fact. the city Is giving all the water needed
Tor &2.Oo a month for cost OF operating.
The city has "A working capacity OF 5000. %
co gallons a day. bat the consumption is
only 100000 gallons.
IL Is now proposed by the city council
20 add to the indebtedness Of the city by
sl.25o.oo for the construction 81 the Cedar
river system. The constitution provides
thai cities shall not incur more Indebted
ness than s per cent u The assessed prop
cry valuation for water purposes. We
have reached our limit ana can issue no
more bonds. but II Is proposed 20 xet around
this by issuing warrants 30 the amount O.,
si.SacA % IS redeemed by rcserv.ug -
- &httHr "a h88 H-N||aata AtAFaisA AaA1 AkhAE
- per cent Ter operating expenses.
THIS. however. leaves TIE interest on the
present teat. Il ts now being paid out of
tho proceeds 81 the water service. but Il
they are diverted. Il IS provided by ord
nance that a levy - ss mills shall be made
% meet the interest. Therefore, however
tho figures may DC twisted. the interes,
must - raised hy additional taxation.
The city alone already owes S.a0.esa Ne
sides which IL IS responsible for about 81
PER cent % the county dees. the school
debt. unpaid warrants ana street gradc
assessments. all II which falls upon the
people ia oae shape or other. making over
100000 wa.eh ths people must inevitably
pay. ana begin 10 pay very soon.
The amogaJ - be raised BY taxes mex,
year 90. ln the county d KOS alone. fcs
state. county sn3 seAoel purposes. slice
az; G2r city purposes. $Gt.266 or A ,otal o..
sL1S69sS Tbs IS an snormous sum q be
drawn cat OF Tire people. ans they may
Veil hesitate % Vst u25a themselves IL
additional burden of st.e 80
However plausible may - the reasons
Tor mourning tie new debt. circulated ~
great expense ey CERTAIN people whose pro-
found interest an re people has never
taken an upselssh ferm. sna whose mot
i,os have not always been free from sls.
rtcicn q personal ambition. the 6e-t VIII
nevertheless BE a deb; fer which tacrc Is
$40 excuse 70 puc.-c necessity ana, once ia-
carre3. from which there can - No escape.