The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-04

4 tEHE EET%. ana A3& ! 4kSA4A 49, 90 -r
water question.
then stated that I was not sufficiently
advised as 20 what I should do, or advise
others 70 do. upon the question. hut would
give my views 70 the public at some later
date. after I had carefully studied the
propositions.
Since that rr. have given 70 the cub
feet some considerable attention. and am
now convinced after having heard both
sides OF the ea@ discussed. and after hay-
ing read the arguments OF those who IA
vor the passs ye OF the city ordinance
and the constr uctioa OF the Cedar river
water plan az this time and the burdening
OF this city with the necessary expense OF
the same. which all have acknowledge
10 be 81. 20. 80. warrants 10 be issued bear
ing interest az 5 per cent. on the said
amount. which will make an annual
charge against the property OF the tax
payers OF the city % Seattle amounting 70
s62ae-I am unalferably opposed 10 this
Increased burden upon the taxpayers OF
this city At this time. for the following
reasons:
First-The city OF Seattle draws its wa
ter supply from L. Washington. which
f. about twenty-eigt 1gles long by three
10 FIVE vide. with an average depth OF
over 100 feet. That lake has for its sup
ply the mountain streams pouring their
water into y. one at either end II also
has an outlet by way OF Lake Union. Ere
Uf8bt anu EA&tAfl INTO fhEEA StttiAs w
constantly keeps a current In the lake, and
the water Il always fresh and pure. Few
cities I'm America are favored with such
a source of supply and such pure water.
Seeond-Our present pumping facilities
are capable Of supplying 100000 gallons
daily: oar consumption is not now more
than 5,e0.e0 gallons daily. Even If the
growth OF this city for the next five years
Is double what II has been for the past
five years during my residence herel, we
will. at the expiration Of that time have A
surplus capacity Of more than 2.010. 600 gall
Ions daily over our consumption. our
present water plant IS the pride Of this
city. and Is about the only thing we now
have that pays expenses and leaves a
profit.
BY comparison OF the water rates in
this city with those OF other cities OF like
and greater population west of the Miss
issippi, ] find that our water rates are as
low as any. and IL is a fact that the water
department OF this city now makes an
annual profit OF about So. 600. II is also a
fact. which in this local matter tax
PAYERS cannot. and VOTERS ought not to
ignore. disguise or deceive themselves, that
our city finances are now in such a condi-
ton that the present administration ia
compelled TO use whether rightfully and
legally or not) the surplus revenues from
the water department TO pay the ordinary
running expenses of the city.
Third-The bonded and floating debt of
this city Of 5000 people today. together
with the school bonds, is more than $500
00e. And | ind from the county auditors
report 0ateiy issued). on page "A. that the
liabilities OF King county are $780,, $3.50,
two-thirds OF which are a charge against
the city. and on the same page the follow
ing note:
"It is impossible 10 give the exact
amount OF delinquent taxes which IL paid
would accrue to the county proper. The
amount Of state. county. city and district
taxes delinquent amounts approximately
10 Sa00.00, or which 1t is estimated that
S31o. 90 Is due TO the county"
This leaves approximately 100000 more
OF delinquent taxes owing and unpaid by
the people OF the city of Seattle on July
1. 1895. at the end Of the fiscal year.
The tax rate for the present year. 1895.
recently levied by the city council on an
assessed valuation OF s30.00.00 for the
city. is % mills. which amounts TO $s90. e0a.
This Is almost due. or Will be due January
/. 1895.
am informed by the county treasurer's
office that not more than one-haff of the
taxes for 1894 are paid. and the remaining
one-half Is now al this date delinquent.
with a penalty OF ? per cent. added. and
drawing Il per cent. interest. In addition
10 the above I find there is over $780, 600
OF street grade assessments now due. and
there is a floating debt Of about $4,000. and
our city treasury is practically empty. or
at least is in such a deplorable condition
that. as | have before stated. the admins
trs,ion is compelled 10 take the surplus
from the water department to pay the
expenses Of the city.
The above amounts consisting of as fol-
lows:
Cltv's bonded 81. 5o. 200
CIty's school bonds ........-....... 1.0o0.00O
King c%ounty's liabilities. S502. s59.S2.
two-thirds of which Is a charge
against CITY Xs EsR
Two-thlrds OF cocoon delinquent
taxes 10000
Taxes for year 1895. now almost
due 9ao.oon
Street and grade assessments. 100000
Floating debt 5000
Total So 100. goo
or very nearly ,7.ooo.ooo in round mum
bcrs.
This Is surely A sufficient liability or
debt for 5000 people, and ought not 10 be
Increased.
let Us see what this stupendous sum
OF aebt means when reduced "a it's actual
| operation. Here Is 4 debt IN round numbers
| Of s. 90. oAo. 70 be paid nv l2e0 taxpayers;
| s.. 1900 divided by 1900 taxpayers gives
an average Indebtedness of S5SS.22 Nearly
! one-halt Of this Indebtedness is now, or
very soon VIII be. drawing Z per cent
Interest. TIE bonded rart Of II IS much
Iess-less than : per cent. However, IL
win average for the whole amount I Per
con. annually. which Is sia0. coo. This.
divided bv the I2.0o taxpayers. gives an
average annual tax for payment or inter-
| est alone the sum ~ s30S8 for every one
! Of the f2.Nn taxpayers.
Th4s proposed additional burden. n the
voters vote Yes" means the addition 81
| st.259eA 70 the S~s.eNaooa. or a total debt
81 x.c50.nN or an Increase - the sverase
Per taxpayer debt Of sfn4 Is. or a total
| average debt oer taxpayer Of sfST 46,
Tho annual saftrest ON the S.S50.HN IS
s.. go. this. divf1eS by the 1880 taxpay-
erS. means IN Increase in "one jump"
81 SEso per taxpayer for payment Of in
tcrest alone.
Now. ask the taxpayers. each owner
/ ~ his lttie home II he feels that his
/ earnings. or his business. wJtl Justify
him in adding thls Increased burden - his
already too heavy burden IF taxation
Tor sawcth 'nr ne does not need and can
| easily do Without
And 7 also ask our city fathers, the city
/ council. u van feel that Won have any
ought ~ he caruszRUt -. - burden this
far A luxury that the PEOPLE IN NOT need
as common sense bus ness men would Won
- So were In the same financial distress
you have Increased the tax rate i'm ore
wear from * mills ~ q mills. or an i'm
crease Of rs peg cent. and the tsxrss ors
TOW saw. stsp. Ia not put aid tleua1 un-
necessary burdens IN t7enn- This beng
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