The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-13
THEY WANT NO DITCH
Several Directors Come For
ward From Squak Valley.
A PIucKY WOMAN RAncHER.
Settlers Tell the Commissioners the
Ditch Would Do Harm and One
OF Them Attacks Kelsey.

The temperature aro9nf the county
commissioners Office yesterday afternoon
about o'clock was pretty near - degrees
IN the shade. and al on account OF that
STuak slough ditch. IL Is long time
since the county commissioners had the
duty % listening 10 a few hot remarks
from a judicial standpoint and they all
leaned back Ia their chairs and entered
fully into the spirit OF the argument
a few days ago the commissioners de-
cided 70 give DIRECTORS an opportunity 10
appear yesterday morning. but owing 10
the work Of the board of equalization the
hearing was continued until afternoon
We viii now take Up the petition for
the Squak slough ditch" said Dir Gasch.
AZ 2 O'Clock. after calling for order. Il
understand there are several PARTIES here
who object, and | will say further that
! have letter here from Ira Wooain on
the same subject. Mr.. Kelsey. one OF the
petitioners for the ditch, is here, so he
VIII proceed
The DIRECTORS all came forward and
lined UP ia front of the long bench be-
hind which the commissioners sit. Mr..
Kelsey was also there. Andrew Lund was
the first objector 10 speak. and as he had
been talking for about a half hour to
Mr.. Kelsey. he was well warmed up TO
the subject. Mr.. Lund is large man
without hair on top Of his mead. AS ne
got ready for business he turned his old
fashioned spectacies up on top Of his era
MUM and then said:
II object 10 this ditch In every way.
shape or manner. The slough is all right
as IL is. IL is navigable now and know
there are people In the valley who signed
that petition who are now sorry. They
signed owing 10 false representation"
Just as Mr.. Lund closed and took a
long breath. the next man in line COM
menced his speech like this: 81 object"
when Commissioner Gasch yelled ont:
Hold on there minute. / want 10
know who you are and what light you
have 10 appear in this matter"
My name is Tosh." was the answer;
John Tosh, and I own 30 acres of lard.
but only the sell of the sci. sec Il. tip -.
5 is connected with this proposed dis
trict. | want 10 say" and mere he
leaned over and looked down al the COM
missioners and incidentally SHE'D glance
at Mr. Kelsey-sfhat il yer dredge that
slough out one year, IL will be as bad the
next year. If there is goin to be ditch
! want 10 be insured against damages to
my land"
''The law provides for such eases" put
in Mr.. Kelsey, with smile.
well. ] hope So" retorted Mr.. Tosh.
with great emphasis.
Who is the next man in line" said
Mr. Gasch. az he pointed TO some one
who had forgotten 10 remove his hat on
account of the highly interesting proceed
ings. The man started 10 answer. but
Mr.. Tosh took the floor and introduced
him as one who had come out OF sym
pathy 10 say something against the ditch.
long argunhent followed, during which
Il was discovered that the individual had
no interest in the proposed district, but
was a taxpayer up in Squak ~2lley. The
commissioners ruled him out but Mr..
rgtN ~traI tas lie fritz Nod
much right 10 speak as men. not owners
in the district. had a right to put their
names on the petition. Mr.. Kelsey OBJ
iected 10 this remark, but Commissioner
Gasch called for peace and said Next
objeetor."
II was Mrs. Caroline Matilda Peterson.
who deserves the honor and respect of
every man. woman and child living in
King county She has q ranch on the
slough. and when her husband died long
time ago she put on mans clothes and
went TO work clearing up the land. The
slough runs close TO her best meadow,
and according to the proposed route viii
cut directly across the meadow. She was
greatly worked up over the matter and by
the look in her eye. II was plain she had
something 10 say.
II don't want that ditch at ALL" she
said. cit win cut my meadow. where /
pasture my cows. right in two. It's the
land by which / make my living and that
OF my children by selling butter and milk.
and I don't propose to see the work of
lifetime spoiled
Unexpectedly she Gained down and Mr.
Gasch commenced 10 read a letter from
Ira woodin. in which he said ne had
talked with the majority OF people at the
south end of the proposed district and
learned they were against II. He also
added that Thomas Sanders said his
name was used without authority
why. his name is on the petition and
bond" interjected Mr.. Kelsey. and he
pat his signature down I'm my presence
1T looks that way" replied Gasch. az
ter consulting the documents
II wouldn't give snap for your word"
said Lund 20 Kelsey.
81 have no reply TO make 20 you" re-
torted Kelsey
well. you're the one who is putting US
TO all this trouble" snapped back Lund
and 7 know what you want You are
trying 70 get a job as ditching commits
sioner "
Yves. YOU want to cut my land IN two
added Mrs. Peterson.
NO don't want 70 ne commissioner
unless II is absolutely necessary said
KELSEY
Hold on there" nut in Mr. G;asch. ~
am going 20 read the law on this ditch
business and 7 want you all 20 listen"
Both ears are open.' replied Lund. with
the first smile OF the afternoon. ard Mr..
GaSch went on After he finished II was
decided 10 adjourn until Thursday after
noon. when more people can object If they
SO desire.