The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-20
4 DEBATE On WATER.
Chamber of Commerce Dis
cusses the Question.
THE POWER comPANY's OFFER.
strong Opposition to Increasing City
Debt-To Teach >hipbuiIding
The Fla Mill.

Az 4@tAthfA VI AE42 EIOAbet4 6AATdA140AA
Of the water works came before the
Chamber OF Commerce yesterday after
noon az the regular meeting Of the trus-
tees, and though no more deHnite action
was taken than to refer the whole subject
10 a committee for investigation. there
was considerable discussion as 70 the
merits and bearing Of the proposition sub
mitted by the Seattle Power Company.
President Graves. in submitting the mo-
ton 10 refer. stated that he had purpoSeiy
allowed the discussion to take "A wide
ranCe. knowing that most OF the members
of the committee on city and county at
fairs. which would he charged with the
investigation. were present
The following member were present:
+. O.. Graves, j. r. Metcaife. 6. z. Adair,
j.. r. Fox. J. r.. Powles. Jacob Furth. A.
=. stewart, J. j. NcGIlvra, ". f. Boone,
c. J. Smith. 4. Knox, W. NJ. Calhoun. ..
II. Crane. 4. Hun. \. w. Young, John
Schram. II. g. Bend, Joseph shipper, L.
J. Colman and Tracy II. Robertson Pres
ident Graves briefly stated the importance
OF the general subject Of a water system.
and Of the immediate necessity of consid-
eTing the extension whereby II Is proposed
to obtain a supply from Cedar river. Aft
or some informal discussion 1t was moved
that the whole matter he referred 10 the
committee on city and county affairs.
with Instructions to render a full report
not later than next Tuesday.
The somewhat heated discussion which
oilowed was not upon. the adoption OF the
motion at all, but upon the question as 10
whether the city ought to issue the pro-
posed warrants or accept the proposition
OF the Seattle Power Company. The d.
vergence from the question really before
the chamber was brought about by a
statement from j. j. McGilvra that. IN ms
judgment. the body ought TO conane itself
TO the original proposition, and not COM
Flft ffEg1f IN any EvgrinR MAN or DF0nOSA-
ton. In resp0nse 10 Jacob turth, VINO
was opposed to the city burdening itself
with an additional debt of a million and a
quarter. Mr.. McCilvra asked whether the
debt would really be a debt; would 1t not
really be paid out of the earnings OF the
water SYSTEM
Mr.. Furth: Il fear not: a similar asser-
ton was made with reference TO the eN-
pense OF street grading. We were told
that the property owners. not the city,
would have 10 bear that expense.
Would Iniure h City's Credit.
Hon. II. q. Bond opposed the issue or
the warrants for an entirely different rea-
son. saying that n such plan would
bring the city into an attitude of practlcal
~repudiation. by dealing unfairly with us
creditors. to whom the funds which would
thus be appropriated have already been
pledged. Such a step, he contended. would
infure the Eastern credit of the city. a
possibility which he thought the commit
tee ought to consider carefully.
Mr. NcGiyra argued that IL is a matter
of necessity for the city to make THIS adj
ditional outlay. My first Impressions
he said, "concurred with the views eA-
messed bv Judge Bond. But a careful
study of this very complicated question:
has convinced me of the contrary. Inc
city should obtain possession OF the de-
sired source of water supply, and II should
l. ~ - apea because other DAtNttS are
now endeavoring 10 get control. The city
sbould pe, possession of the land about
swan lake for a reservoir ana OF the e
dar river supply. There IS plenty OF water
in Cedar river for the city ana the po"S.
comnauv. The question is simply, should
the city own and control, making the
power company dependent, or vice versa
| saw. by all means, the city.
Mr. Bond: The control sought ny the
mower company is not prospective. mat
rornnanv is already Incorporated ana
,asted with all the rights for when IL Is
1870 II the city wishes 10 secure a
,ransfar of these rights it can do 1t as
easily hereafter as now IN
NJ McGilvra: IF the company VIII
make a proposition 10y which the cry
shall own the necessary lana ana GohtIoI
the river and lake supply, all Weii' hut
this IL has not done. II necessary inc
city should condemn the lands
HrDngnt Back 10 INC itAi"
/, ranlv r. Mr.. McGilvra's statement
that the company had mace no Pl3po9,.,y,
looking 70 absolute ownership ana coh1io'
- ~ city. Maurice McMicken read one
~ the paragraphs ~ the proposition OF the
comnanv. as follows: Upon one year 5
notice. the city may purchase from tle
Saattla Power Company all al It's rights
and property pertaining 10 the water sup
plv system. 10 he conveyed 70 lhe ely
free from incumhrance, and including;
.Efrs+-Al dams. dam sites, lands. right
of-wav. water rights and other property
pertaining 10 the city water supp4y sys-
tenn. % .ha
c,rnary * REQUIRED to construct the same.
~Tbird-Tho pipe line from Cedar river
- swan lake. and from Swan lake to the
city reservoir.
.~Fourth-Tbe perpetual right or storage
an Cedar lake and swan lake.
.tFIfth-The perpetual right 10 50 much
~ .ba water flowing in Cedar river as may
NOW or at any time hereafter b. required
hv the c.tv tor It's own use or that or the
inhabitants thereof, reservlng 70 the COM
parry only the excess u water heEohd sucn
re1ulremeats OF the city as hereinafter set
THE preference right % the city to a
{ sufirleut aow 81 water fer its purpose 70
I 10 ar all times automatically and absolutely
secured"
He explained that The company's con-
auf. could he placed AZ a higher level than
the citv's pipe. 50 that IL would be- impos-
/ s5hla for .he company - Interfere with
( the eifv supply, and that that was what
was meant by the expression "aniomati-
/ calIr secured"
The motion vas then pat and unanimous
! lv carried. Nth the understanding that +
/ ina committee shall be able - make q re-
pore before Tuesday. r shall AT once notify
tha president. Who shall call a special meet