The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-04-19
crLsissrfox OF An OLD FIGHT.
usw Rtvni Power Companies Have
Contested Every Advantage.

uew Ksvaf Power Ceapont<s Have
Contested Every Advantage.
The crisis IN the aght over the Cedar
ysyer contract wrought hy ths coUn<.i In
IN passage 0s the EassseEnas resolution.
= virtually the eainsnatsoE nj a sonx
Agst 10 ahsch two g-xaEtbc electrical cum
p0siss are the pgfncspsi aetass, viz the
General Electric Company and sha West
fnxaasse Electric Company. THIS fight
hAx 10 origin, II II said in fh~ refusal Of
n. II. Baker. father of Charles III. Baker,
ed also president q the snogusimse Fails
Psxer Company 10 award the contract
fsr The electrical and other machinery for
sAe power plant 0s the company 20 the
Gensrsi Electric Company According TO
essnuson report. and the story seeus 70 be
vel authenticated. Mr.. Baksr entered into
"a ngsmsnt with the WESTINGHOUSE
people whereby the latter were 10 supply
Ill the electrical machinery needed for the
eonstractaon of the plant.
history Of the present eena.ct wnufG
cate from iaa inception 81 the Cedar river
Ecnsr scheme AID the subsequent opera
sssns Of TIE Anmldown company and she
esee,Ian Of Decembes IL. issE, In which the
people OF Seattle resolved to so 10 Cedar
river aiasi. cosdsnn4ng the property Of sae
Annisio~n company. provide for ssrma-
Hsnt source o. supply from that stream.
Il Is not necessary. however 10 review
q this time the events that led up 20 the
election OK December a. isss, further than
to say shas the city obtained from the
Ainsaidown company the rights Possessed
b. tbs latter in the vicinity of Rock creek
sar trif'a less than tiagsn by conaemna-
Ton ard purchase.
AZ soon az the city ~aS IN possession OF
TIE property at the intake All G,Hrora's
bridge the Annidosn company moved
fsrther ap the streams aud obtained. by
earehssss. considerable tract of ground
surrounding Cedar lake, which IL distant
fifteen miles from the intake u the city
on Cedar river. a. nsw contemplated.
Iaess rights obtained a; Cedar lake by
Mr.. Afnmidown wsFs soaa 10 the Washing
Ton Power Transmission Company, oTxars-
zesi through In. efforts 81 Is T. Mitchell
and W. J. Gramss. and Incorporated IN
New Jersey win. q capital STOCK OF 81
1a.8
Haker Wages Hss War.
/; ia common gnzssp At the city ball
and om the streets that Mr. Bskera COM
sAny began waxiRx bitter warkar. against
the Washington Power Transmission Com
pany AZ soon as the enserpfke os The las-
ter company assumed tangible form No
one will assert, possibly, thar shers IL any
community Of interest between the com
pany financed by Mr. Baker and that
which was organised by Mr. Mitchell.
Mr.. Baker was confronted with The fac:
that by the time he could be in position
TO supply the people Of Seattle with siee-
tr.e power a Formidable rival. with power
generated above tins faiLs OF Cedar river.
would be tn she aela. equipped With large
capital and machinery aud Prepared to
divide the business With hlm both In Seat
Tie and Tacoma.
That II was not = one~sidei war is
Illustrated by the fact that IN Tacoma
Mr. Bakers company had considerable
trouble in obtaining franchise from The
city ecuncll. which was said y: that tim.
% ~ Influenced by Mr.. Mitchell or his
agents. Nj. Mitchell vas IN New York
ii the time tho Raksr franchise WAS frst
up before tha city council and dlzela.ms
having anything 80 do wita tae opposition.
NJ Bakers efforts Mere directed; n ~
claimed, 10 preventing HIS opponent freu
getting a faoihcid on Cedar river or
helaing permanent rights AZ Cedar lake.
t. this end the city authorities are sn.
Termed Mr.. Baker sought tie advice OF
his eAier engineer. + r Johnston, Of Chi
cage, The latter 10 turn consulted IL II
stated with John Erickson. city engineer
es Chicago. Mr.. Erickson was assistant
fe Benese,ta Williams. who planned ten
Pears ago the Cedar river water supply
system Tor the city ot Seattle Mr.. Ertek-
soa. II 81 stated. was asked y Nj Johns
ses' Il. IL, ais opinion. she city - Seattle
soa'd uo2 30 Ear better to go - cedar
lake for source ~ seaply than TO tap
Cesar river q, Ca1ora's Ssias, lie is
fsp0rtei 20 have unhssiistsnwiv given g,
as ais oRiaieu TIA; she caty would IRE
ussS&a'y eyr ia net tapping Cedar river
a any point aSiow tlae lake, Mr. Eries-
81 and NJ. Johnston are cia<a friends,
NJ. II kssRs professional opsntea was
aEs, aeeossl.ag 70 TIC eigy Officials, Ia,
ssahdA seq ecr vigorous campaign wAged
g ar Baksf "a encompass sae defeat 81
sas Washington Power Transmission Gem
ssns, whsca was soliciting contra II fsr
ssstisse pcwtr sratess Mr. Bakers agents
: ut Egieksae. 4, wig ~ Fsfnefnbsso&, Ap-
Fssfed ia Seattle - he sans as5e "a.
- 1ehasaa ctslef euSsaeer ~ the Baker
sea'9a5S. arrived oa tAe seene- Prominent
.s9R'e y ae 'r7sc.sa Sc tee san,e train with
asEks-a ANA NJ, Johnston have sn-
nv sao c.,y eTse as thsf they SAW
80 tos> 3er tho greater part 80 ;Ne
es' tF'4e 7asse9Esss - Mr.. Ksrtck#ea
se fee,t3Nf.f stated. aeeoeilax 10 ls,foF-
~a$s9a gttt- sEs cry smte{atx ma sn~
se@Sa tc admitted feas he bad
VIZ f$S~ afd Ar rahts an8 Mr. john