The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-10-31
Most Perfect Made.
% Years the Standard

these two that the convention OF atsot-
neys, witnesses, civil engineers and Office
boys with books had assembled.
The case was one of the biggest suits on
record In Cook county. 100000 OF special
assessment taxes being involved and
twenty square miles Of property, valued
from 500 foot to 5000 an acre, being
directly affected by the issue Of the pro-
ceedings. The proposed Seyenty-ninth
street sewer, against which the fight is
made. is to be sixteen miles long and is
designed to run west In Seventy-ninth
street from a point near the lake to San
CANON street. where 1t viii communicate
Stockyards slip of the South Branch at
Forty-second street.
To pay for this improvement property
owners in the territory between Sixty
eighth street and Eighty-third street have
been assessed. About one-haK of them
object to the assessment. The directors
sent the lo7 lawyers and their retinue into
court to fight to the last ditch.
Proceedings in the court began with
much ceremony. First the roll Of the
lawyers present was called The attor-
neys responded by answering either
separate or COMMITTEES" when their
names were called. This showed whether
the lawyers intended to act independently
or wished committee to act for them
The committee was appointed by fifty Of
the lawyers who thought to expedite mat
tiers and save themselves much unneces-
sary trouble by pooling their interests and
having committee manage the case be-
fore the court. The committee consists
of r. s. Thompson. Charles 8. Gilbert
p p. Hollett. W. A. Thorne and C. F.
Tolman.
At the beginning Of the case the court
decided to hear the committee first. The
latter demurred to Judge Carriers propo-
sition on the ground that it's clients had
gone down into their pockets TO procure
evidence. and, IL 1t were presented first
the outsiders would unfairly benefit there
by. IT was the opinion of the court that
much time would be saved II the commit
tee were heard first. as the possibilities
were that its members would cover all
the ground and bring out all the points
that the outside lawyers wish to present.
The committee secured ruling that the
outsiders should submit their own evil
denee as II the cases were entirely sepa-
rate ones. The latter, however, have the
privilege of going over to the combina-
ton, II they decide that II is to their in
teresfs to do so. In such case they will
DE expected to sustain their pro rata
snare OF the expense to which the clients
or the lawyers represented by the COM
mittee have been put in the collection Of
evidence.
The court ruled that the legal obiec-
tons would be heard first and then he
would go into the merits of the case at
large and hear the witnesses. The legal
wrangle probably will last until Thursday
and then. II the court sides with the city.
testimony will be ordered taken and a
jury will decide whether the assessments
are equitable or not.
One OF the main DIRECTORS to the pro-
posed new sewer Is Mrs. Hetty Green, who
says she is one of the fight till-I-die"
kind. She owns the old Gage farm of 900
acres, extending from Fifty-ninth to Six
ty-third streets, which is said to be worth
s2.ooo an acre. She also owns a forty-acre
cabbage patch near Sixty-ninth and Hal
sted streets worth $e0O0 On the first
piece OF property she is assessed $500 and
on the cabbage garden little less.
Ogden. Sheldon & Co. also are heavy
directors. They are taxed s. 000 on eighty
acres west of Western avenue. valued at
Sis, oOo
James Stinto. who owns the greater
part of old Mud lake and the surrounding
l6O acres OF land. south of Eighty-third
street and west of Stony Island avenue. Is
another objector. Old Mud lake is to be
dried up by the new sewer. The land will
be divided into city lots.
Moses Wentworth has eighty ceres near
the idhe ana seventy -n.nfn street. worth
s2oo.ooo. and he. too, has lawyers in court
to fight the assessment.
The directors deny the authority of the
city council to make the assessment. The
manner in which the law is being carried
out Is questioned and the authority of the
commissioners appointed to make the as
sessment is not admitted.
The assessment IS 81 cents a front foot.
or SIC lot. and the owner is allowed ten
years In which to make the payment.
One of the chief objections is aimed At
the big ditch. otherwise known as the
drainage canal The Seventy-ninth street
sewer is the first move of the city to-
wards utilizing the $2o.ooo.ooo canal Some
OF the Directing property owners declare
that the big ditch Is an engineering mon
strosity and consequently the proposed
sewer will be worthless.