The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-06

annually threatened by the Stuck river
foods. aided by adventurous spirits from
Tacoma. some OF whom looked upon the
affair as an unique Fourth OF July ceie-
brafion. Looked at in that light. the
event was a brilliant success. Fully a
ton. and In all probability a great deal
more. OF the explosive was used. and each
OF the thunderous reports marked the
disappearance OF $40 or more In smoke.
Hours after tho dynamiters had hur-
ried stealthily from the spot the poison
Gus gases OF the explosion hung low over
the scene and filled the lonely valley as
with autumn mists. and both rivers ran
black with floating debris.
Trouble Not Yet Endea.
But the incident is not yet closed. The
farmers of the White river valley are
thoroughly angered at the attempted de-
struction of the barrier which they be-
lieve Providence threw down before the
foods that yearly threatened their finan-
ciai ruin. and their suiien ire threatens
momentarily TO blaze forth In action that
may abruptly and forever put an end to a
long standing quarrel between them and
their brethren OF the Stuck.
One Of the strangest freaks of natures
constructive hand is to blame for the
quarrel, Thousands of years ago. when
she mapped out the topography Of the
Puget sound country. nature perpetrated
q geographical natural Joke, and the con-
sequences are stu far from an end
II II one of the cardinal principles 81
all well regulated rivers that their wat
ers. once united shall never again be
parted. but TO the rule that the lesser
stream shall contribute to the greater
White river Is an exception. Fed by the
eternal SHOWS of Mt. Rainier the stream
sweeps turbuiently along toward the sea
until IL reaches a point not more than
twenty miles from tide water and there
Its waters divide and go TO form two
separate and distinct water courses One
OF these. now by far the larger DIVORCES
10 the west. and under the name of Stuck
river pours its waters into the Puyallup
and thence into Commencement bay, upon
which is bull; the city of Tacoma
The smaller stream, continuing 20 bear
the name OF White river yeers AWAY 10
the east. unites with Green river near
the present town of Auburn and later
with Black river, 20 form tho D,rwsuIsh
which flows into Elliot bay Just south
Of Seattle. Thus the White river follows
two water courses 10 the sea
In the nature OF things it's waters are
not now. and never have been, In the
memory 81 the oldest settler equally
divided at the point of divergence Some
times the Stuck has been the larger
strssns. and ST other times the smaller
followed ore chsnns. floods In the lower
valleys 81 that channel have resulted
When the country came 90 be settled the
distribution OF the water between the two
streams became bone Of contention
The White river farmers insisted shat
the stuck river farmers should bear the
erunt Of tha foods. aad vice versa Fate
OF a higher power seemed tn side with IN.
White river sgriculfurtsts. for year hv
year Stuck river grew larger ana White
river less.
JeaIousy Plays . Part.
TIE rs:ara, jealousy hetween TWO xrea,
cosssst3es became factor In the DISPUTE
fnr the boundary tine between King and
Pierce counties runs between Tire two rsy-
erS. fhs White being In King county ara
TIE Stuck In Pierce The Pierce county
farmers Gsssssrssed that King county keep
her water At home. and when the fexDaeRu
Aogsss che LIE aceNedsAS khnm tnnH] ~