The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-06
4 MEETING On WATER
The Advocates of Cedar River
Scheme Hear Speeches.
RESOLUTIONS FAvORING 1T.
Men who Want More City Debt Argue
Their Case 10 n Sympathetic
Audience at Arrnory.


But the friends OF the proposed ordinance
TO provide for the Cedar river supply
wanted 70 hear their leaders talk about
water. and they evidently did not mira
a little water on the outside, for they
turned out in goodiy mum bers and listen
ell for over two hours 10 the rossate-
hued prospects OF BENEFITS 10 be derived
by the city from the gravity system. Civ
en- by J. J. McGilvra. Hon. Orange Jacobs
j. g. Barnes and Richard Winsor.
on the platform. besides the speakers.
were z. W Craven. II. II Ames and
Alonzo Hull. ]. J McGilvra acting as
chairman. The tenor OF the speeches
made. and the feeling of most OF those
present. can be obtained from the follow
ing resolutions. which were adopted by
viva voce vote:
Whereas. on June g. 1888. the BUSH
ness portion OF the city OF Seattle was laid
in ashes. the property destroyed amount
ing to at least $4,000 600, as the direct
result OF insufficient water supply. and
whereas il was then determined by the
city 10 own and control its own water
system and 10 extend Il to Cedar river
as a source OF supply by gravity: and
whereas the city has proceeded 20
execute it's purpose CT owning
and controlling its own water
works as aforesaid by purchasing
the Spring Hill Water Company's plant
making additions thereto at the cost OF
s1,145, 567.04. including S35. 79l.12 in connec-
ton with the extension thereof 10 Cedar
river; and whereas the city is now in
nearly great danger from fire
it was in 1889 Cbeyond the
reach of the freboaO. having q
water storage capacity OF only 1000 90
gallons, and an average pumping capaci-
~ OF only s,0e0. 0O0 gallons in twenty-four
hours, as against the same storage capaci-
~ in 1889, and pumping capacity OF 3,000.-
600 gallons per day of twentyfour hours;
and whereas private corporation, the
Seattle Power Company, Is attempting 10
appropriate and divert the waters OF Ce-
dar river. and secure Swan lake as an i'm
pounding reservoir. with view TO fore
stall the city and make IL dependent for
water supply; and whereas our present
water system, even with the enor-
nous expense OF pumping from 300
to $50 perpendicular feet. is not
only self-sustainng. but sufficient
~ remunerative to bear the cost of
its own extension to Cedar river. as a
source OF supply by gravity. thus making
II still more remuneratiVe; therefore be
II resolved, by the citizens of Seattle in
mass meeting assembled: That it is not
only advisable from a financial stand
point. but in view of the threatened OBJ
struction TO the avowed plans and pur-
poses of the city of Seattle in the matter
OF this extension. ii is the duty of the city
OF Seattle 10 extend its water system to
Cedar river as a source of supply for all
purposes. as soon as possible, and by any
available means; and that the plan Of such
extension specified in ordinance No 1890
should be adopted by an affirmative vote"
Chairman McGilvra went into the his
tory OF the city from its beginning. so far
as Its water system is concerned aud
gave MS own demonstration, from his own
basis OF figuring. Of the need fer the
adoption OF the ordinance. The city had
resolved after the big fire to own and
control It's own water system, and to ex-
tend ii 10 the Cedar river as soon as pos
Slnle, and now. was the time to carry the
plan out He took occasion to say that
the Hell-knOwn engineer j. NJ Colman
was no authority on engineering. although
he IN ght be good machinist. The pro-
posed plan would certainly be profitable
because, with the present inadequate
pumping plant the department made
money, and if the system should be ex-
tended TO Cedar river and the gravity
system established, all the pumping ex-
pense would be saved. He referred fire.
quently 10 BeneZette Williams report and
said there was no reasonable man in the
city but who would say that If it was
within the city's power the gravity sys-
TEN should be secured The question TO
he determined by the voters was whether
the city should be dependent upon a prl-
vate corporation. or the CORPORATION should
be dependent upon the city. The cost
Of the system was not debt
against the city. 1t had been
charged that the consumers should not nav
for ii. Why should they not? They had
TO pay for their food and clothes.
Orange Jacobs was the next speaker. and
after a few remarks about calamity
howlers," he said he had come TO the
meeting 70 discuss two propositions. and
the people who had read his published let
ters on the subject would have a good
idea Of what he would say He had good
deal TO say about corporations having no
souls and seemed 70 have a deep preju-
dice against people who had money
He was followed ny J. g. Barnes. who
said that he arose with great d.ffidence to
speak after listening TO MS learned. elo-
quent and distinguished friends who had
preceded him However. he made a VERY
good speech, going more into details and
figures than MS colleagues. and he sad
his figures were correct because they had
been taken from the public records lie
had two charts hung on the wall back of
him, one Of which was labeled Taxation
view and the other Economic view"
which he used 10 Illustrate his statements
The first one had a taoIe OF figures mr.
porting TO give demonstration of the
possibilities OF the gravity system in the
way Of benefit 10 the city and the other
one was supposed 70 represent what Cedar
river would cost II purchased from the
Seattle Power Company. The audience
seemed 20 IKE MI Barnes speech. and he
was applau3ed literally.
The resolutions were then read and
adopted
Chairman McG.lvra then announced that
although he had no desire 10 keen the
people in the han longer than they want
el 70 stay. there was gentleman on the
/ platform who would make an address T
the audience cared 20 hear him The gen
;eman was Richard Winsor. and as soon
as his name was announced il could easily
Pc seen that he had "a great many friends
( among the audience for loud cries OF
/ -Winsor. W.aSor.' came from many
places Il was some time before quiet ves
restored. AMI soon as Mr. W.nso~ com
/ mcaee3 60 SPEAK he had his audience wstb
him Tbs corporations came in for a good
'ro2-t.uG. ana IN. speaker sad that
when a corporation Was trying Ga steal the
rEtts ~ the people IL was .ase az mill
lions for defense. Aut nor ou~e cent for
tr'Cate" The great natural rights of the
people should Pre- preserved from the con-
troll OF any private corporation.
Wc~; seattle Road Contract Let.
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