The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-25
FOR NORTHC CANAL
Commissioners May Levy a
Special Tax Today.
BALLARD PEOPLE AROUSED.
Petitions Numerously Signed and
Mass Meeting Declares Loudly
for the Work.
BALLARD PEOPLE AROUSED.

The county commissioners will today be
asked 70 levy a tax TO defray the expenses
necessary IN the condemnation proceed
,ngs to secure the right-of-way TOT the
government or North canal The SUD-
committee on law and legislation, whlcn
is composed Of Thomas Burke, Hon Roger
:. Greene and K. %. Graves, viii, WIN the
exception of E. o. Graves, who is out OF
The CITY call on the commissioners al ID
O o'clock this mornig. together with otheF
citizens who are taking an interest III the
canal
N Is estimated that about 500, 900 will he
required for the securing Of the risnt-of-
way so that clear title can be gwen 10
the general government. and a levy OF one
half of a mill Will probably he made for
this purpose. This money can be obtained
by the bonding system, il Thought pest
so that the people would not be called up
on for an immediate tax. Since the news
was received that the secretary OF war
had approved the surveys OF the govern
ment engineers. the several canal commit
tees have been at work. but the condem-
nation proceedings will not begin until
the department at Washington city mas
been heard from by mail.
The first appropriation made by the gov
eminent for the North canal was SzJ,oVo. o.
which $500 was expended in the surveys
etc There IL SO. 600 of the fund LETT to De
n. a
gress will he asked for another appropf1a-
ton of several hundred thousand dollars,
so that when the work is once started
there may be enough money on hand 10
keep IL going.
Petitions were being circulated IN the
city yesterday, and were being freely
signed. calling upon the county commis-
sioners TO proceed with the work OF con-
demnation, and will probably be present.
he
Ballard Takes Action.
A. Ballard last night a mass meeting
was held in independence hall. on Ballard
avenue. for the purpose of taking some
action concerning the construction OF the
canal with the particular object IN view
of inducing the county commissioners 10
levy the half mill tax to pay for condem-
nation proceedings. Mayor Dow preslded
and made a speech IN which he referred
TO the great benefits which would result
from the digging of the canal. He ad-
vised every man. woman and child to APP
pear before the county commissioners and
urge them TO make the levy. John heane
also made a speech. in which he told how
the people of Seattle had overcome almost
insurmountable obstacles in their pro-
gress He also urged the people of
Ballard to go in body before the COM
missioners and present their petition The
other speakers were j. Conway, W. n.
Vernon. Edmund Peters, Thomas Winsor
and Thomas Haulston
The Old Battle Cry Revived.
The speakers were unanimous in urging
the county commissioners to make the
levy. and nearly all expressed a fear that
"A counter effort would be made by those
Interested in the South Seattle canal and
tide flats to prevent the granting OF the
petition. References We're also made to
the apparent lack of interest manifested
by the daily papers of Seattle IN the North
canal. Dig the ditch" was referred to as
the shbboleth that carried the Republican
party 70 victory at the last election. and
the speakers asked why there was so
much popular enthusiasm then and so
much coldness now. when the canal was
so much nearer the realization.
A Committee Appointed.
After the speeches. which were spirit
cd. enthusiastic and loudly applauded. the
following committee was appointed 10
wait upon the county commissioners to-
day. for the purpose of presenting the pc
tition and urging them TO accede to the
request: Mayor Matthew Dow, ex-May )r
r. +. Pretty. Councilman j. y. Donoghue.
George G.. Startup. Seth Chandler. John
Keane, F. VI. DeMoss. w, NJ. Curtiss. w
ii. Vernon and Edmund Peters. About 300
more names were added 10 the petition at
the meeting.
After the meeting John Keane said that
the lack of interest in the North canal
was not so great as il looked. as there
was strong current in favor Of the canal
that would make itself known at the
proper time.