The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-08


our most vital municipal necessity. II We
enter upon this road. the largest and sur
est source Of municipal income VIII be shut
Of from the public treasury.
The other road leads directly TO the i'm
mediate possession and utilization Of the
Cedar river supply with perpetual public
ownership and increasing income devoted
TO public purposes. Between these ways
your committee has no hes!tancy in choos-
ing. We believe the time and the oppor-
tunity has come when the city OF Seattle
is in a position to say hands off. The in
f habitants OF Seattle. now and 10 come,
g have a paramount claim upon the Cedar
/ river water supply not TO be subjected 10
+ those OF any private individuals or cor
+ porations.
/ "Actuated by this spirit. after careful
thought and the deliberation due a propo-
! sst!on Of such magnitude. your committee
respectfully recommends the adoption OF
the plan outlined in this report and the
passage OF the ordinance herewith submit
ted for the purpose OF putting IL into exc
cution."
Discu ssed I'm All Its Phases.
I When the reading Of the report was COM
pleted Compton sad:
Mr.. elise, it is reported that a certain
company has control of the rights OF the
power OF Cedar river. Is that SOP
Clise-I understand that such is a fact,
but il has not sufficient power TO injure the
city in it's condemnation proceedings We
can go right ahead, believe
james, do not think this council has
had as important a measure before ii in
years, and | think We should at this time
hear the views Of the members of both
houses on the question, and 10 get 1t be-
fore the house l move that the report or
the joint fire and water committee be APP
proved by the joint session.
Jordan thanked the committee for the
statistical and brainy work it had done,
but thought il was too late
Sweeney think the volume of the re-
port too great TO digest in one evening
We are bonded now and are we by our
bonds pledged to pay for our present IN
debtedness? Haven't we to provide sink
ing fund for the very bonds we now have
outstanding? Have the parties who have
taken the Snoqualmie water right the
same right as Mr.. Gilman. he having lost
his opportunity 10 utilize that power?
Jordan-We have no better authority
than the Post-Intelligencer. which
states that all Cedar river has
been taken possession of by
certain gentleman. IL that is true.
and believe il is. there are fifty men out
there at work. Then this literary contri-
button is all joke. If there is any way to
drive off these people. who are getting the
benefit of our expenditures. in having such
competent engineers as Benezette Williams
TO gather the information for us, Ii would
serve us right If we should lose ii, and the
people viii justly condemn us for it.
Miler-Is Il not fact that this COM
pany employed our best engineer. Mr..
Bouillon at a salary of $l2o month and
then raised him to $50.
Jordan-Mr. Bouillon had all the books
and data of the city in his possession. ana
this company intends 10 gain information
secured al the city's expense l know this
to be true, and so do many others.
faA ~ NOR 70
ports or lawyers opinions. i am willing
to adopt the report. but not an ordinance
10 carry ii out, because the securing of the
Cedar river water may cost more than es-
timated. Some statements might be mis-
leading. and it might not fit the size OF the
population.
Hurd-I believe that the council was neg
ligent in not going ahead more speedily,
but il seems TO me that II Is worth trying
for. Water can be brought TO the city
for all our departments and believe we
/ should make an endeavor to secure 1t, as
! understand the supreme court has de-
! cided the question of rights and made it
possible for the city TO go ahead with con-
( demnation proceedings.
He Moves TO 60 Ahead.
/ Jordan-I move that the board Of public
/ works 90 ahead and pre-empt the claim.
Noigt-If there is a claim TO be jumped |
I viii jump IL myself. Certain rights must
/ be secured 10 have a basis 10 work upon,
/ and I favor the report on that account
Chapman think we have been very
( much entertained by several reports. and
I ! believe we should thank the committee.
! There has been too much old-lady work
+ about this whole matter
! Lovcjoy-Tt seems TO me there is no al
tentative for the city. We must leave
the Lake Washington water sooner or lat
er and where else shall We 90 hut to Cedar
river ! am in favor Of adopting the re-
port forthwith.
+ james, wish 20 question the commit
tee as 10 how far il has gone into the mat
ter. Nothing will ever he done unless an
effort Is made. | hope no company will
ever furnish water for Seattle. Water
bonds are the best bonds evere issued u
is not fair for consumers 70 pay interest
on the old bonds and 20 paw on the new
ones. too The unimproyed property
should bear it's portions IL is made mere
available and more saleble. II we fud IL
impracticahlo before the ordinance goes
into effect We can amend it. but We should
go ahead and DO something.
sweeney Favor Delay.
Swcency-The report coming ~ as Il did
wcuia IKE 10 have 81 40 over one week.
So AS 20 give The members o Chauce %
ssudv it more Culfv Tho committee. is 10 ha
. congratulated on its report. but there arc
. several discrepancies which should he al
Z tered lu regard fe Nr Bnu{tlgu carry
( ing go Tho company the city's plans ! he
! lteTe Pc aid nothing unofficial rs thc
( plans or the ci.v are open 10 The public.
; and Be uaf believe Mr. paGItou whom
4 hare f1oon far long ,irra vouId do
/ ANYTHING that woal3 tu iu-e the city. For
/ the purpose - allowing the enters an
! opportunity t7 more .iiy study fhe GUes-
+ ton ] move thar action on the report be
) postponed fcr ONE week
+ CrIrhtcU-T@ look az 70 in a common
sense. business 90.