The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-27
A GUARANTEE
sEArTLE. WEDNESDAY. OCT. 81



THE CEDAR RIVER SYSTEM.
The very decided expression Of opin-
Son by the people Of Seattle on the sub
feet Of the Cedar river water system
leaves no room for hesitation on the
part OF the city council as 10 its duty
In the premises. The preliminary pro-
ceedingg have been tedious, and the in
ferests OF the city required that they
should be done thoroughly and at the
same time disereetiy. One very i'm
portant obstacle in the way has been
the want of money. Taxes have been
paid In slowly, and the officials have
had to exercise extreme caution in so
dividing up the revenue that no imme-
date and necessary expense should be
nnproyided for.
The great danger seems to be passing
away. The general prosperity would
almost have sufficed TO effect an inn
provement, but the exceptional adyan-
tages which are assured to Seattle make
II certainty not only that past delln-
quent taxes Will be paid In, but that
the property valuation will be in
creased by the building of new houses
aud that hereafter the taxes will be
paid with normal regularity.
The causes which are to contribute 10
that greater revenue will at the same
s4r,4n s.au fnr an tprraaaaa uunrts+ ~
water. The pumps al Lake Washing
ton have been subjected 70 great
strain. which has been sustained for
over four years, and the time liz rapid
~ approaching when the Cedar river
system must be resorted 10. or a great
outlay made for increased pumping ia
cilities.
Ii Ii over seven years since the city
authorized an Issue OF bonds 10 the
amount of sS45. 900 for the purchase OF
the Spring Hill water works In 1892
second issue Of bonds for the pur-
pose of extending the system was au-
thorized to the amount Of sos. 600, so
that the cost up to the present time
has been only a little over 81 1850 600.
That is the actual amount of the bonds
but several thousand dollars worth OF
work has been done from the current
account. Estimating the average re-
ceipts roughly At sll. 600 per month
the city Is earning per cent. on the
investment. wi b vast amount OF ter
ritory covered by mains not now yield
ing any revenue. on account OF their
passing through unimproyed land. The
iaterest is on a s per cent. basis. SO
that there Is a clear profit OF . per cent
per a4num on the capital invested
This is not sufficient TO provide against
the wear and tear and for redemption
fund; hut as the city grows, ulung IN
the open spaces. ana SO utilizing the
mains 70 their fun extent. an enotiaous
revenue will he derived
The consumers have benefited very
considerably by The improvement. In
1881 the price for an ordinary dwelling
was s-.s5. what is now no more than
$50 or si.2S, II Is quite unnecessary
70 dwell upon the greater comfort due
10 the decreased supply or TO the re-
daetion in insurance premiums due TO
the extension % tie system.
The Cedar river system has been
looked 10 As TIE ultimate source whence
THIS city viii eFaw its supply. So far
back as 1855 It was determined that the
city m0st eventually look to some such
plaa. The great Gre % 1882 made il
syieen, that The city could net wait for
a system which was 20 take Two or
three years BencEetto Williams. 4
Famous hydraulic engineer. was
brought 90 seattle ana De- declared ths
Cedar glyer system 70 BE hy far the
best This plan was submitted 10 ire
ely council November. 1889. has the
rah'sc demand WAS 50 great for lmme-
oaaEe relief taat il BECAME Imperative
that temporary measures should ne
ksven preoedence. AZ meeting Of the
council ee3d February "A. 1890. IL was
ene.dea 50 order lwo new pumps "a be
I'aced s. I.ake Washington ard if was
thea determined that wAlle the eost ~
tAis plat aAd the necessary mains
would absorb az ,be funds ob asaah'e
~stoin the constitutional restriction
The Cedar river system enust be ssl,
Hgssssss ,tr