The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-30
JUNE Is, 1900.
Cedar River Water to He Turned on
nj That Time

Unless ali plans and provisions for Cedar
river water misearry. the stream Of pure
drinking water that Is 10 be the permanent
basis OF supply for the metropolitan and
growing city or Seattle viii he turned on
by June IT, 1850. That is 10 say. the main
or conduit is 10 be completed by that date
The contract; bids for which are to be
opened on April u. stipglales this. and Gals
for forfeiture OF $50 day for each day
after that time. II is not expected that the
reservoirs will be completed until the fol-
City Engineer Thomson will start ont at
10 O'Clock this morning, parity fer gem
erai survey OF the new supply and partly
to provide for the additional survey called
for by the resolution adopted at the recent
meeting of the city oouncii. He win be
accompanied by some Of the prospective
bidders on the general contract. who wish
TO look over the ground, He Will also take
with him a man 10 do the necessary survey
work for the impounding at Swan lake.
Corporation Counsel Humphrey does not
relish the responsibility laid at his door as
to the contemplated change in Cedar river
water plans. He has taken the position al
along that the voice OF the people. as ex-
pressed at the ballot box. was his only
guide. He said yesterday:
1T Is we'll known that at the time the
vote was being taken In the city council
BY which the new ordinance in relation 10
the Cedar river water system was adopted,
when the roll call reached DIR. Crichton, he
arose and explained his vote, saying that
he voted for the ordinance although he
regretted that the pan OF the work In
iarion to the amount Of water had been
changed, ! then asked TO make a state
ment TO the council and the roll call was
suspended 10 permit me TO do So i then
informed them that the plan OF the work
had not been changed In any manner what
ever and never would BE- with my consent.
No one was more surprised than / To find
the change had been made. | had no
knowledge Of that fact until two days ago,
when the city engineer informed me that
part OF the plan. as Originally adopted by
the people had been left out OF the pres
plans and specifications on file with the sec
rotary of the board Of pubic works and
submitted 10 intending bidders
Il Immediately Informed him that the
specifications would have TO be changed 10
conform 10 the original plans and that the
board would have To readvertise for bids.
II am not called upon 20 pass upon the
wisdom or the original plans. That ques-
ton has long since been decided by one
tribunal having the authority 1t was
adopted by the people and they alone can
change ii. The system must be con-
struet@d according In their plans or not at
all. Whether 1t viii be waste OF the PEG.
pies money do not know. II IL Ia the PEG
pie alone are responsible and no officer of
the city. whatever he may think, has any
right TO change IL. IL this change from the
original plans ha,i not been discovered the
whole work would have been indefinitely de
tayed and any contract entered into for its
construction would have been Illegal
II am bound to presume thai the peeps
know what they want and | intend to do
all possible 10 assist them 70 get it,