The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-05-01

JaAge NeGalvrn's views - to the
Proper Course - Pursne.
Seattle. April =. isaa.
10 the Editor:
..Let Hercules himself do what he may.
The cat win NEW and dog win have his
day
Some ten years since. Seattle. the youn9
Hercules OF the Northwest. resolved to ex-
tend its water system TO Cedar river as .
source Of supply BY gravity. Ever since.
ting and yowling. and the corpor-
ate dogs have been snarling and
bowling at the heels Of the municipal
corporation, with q view 10 laying IL I'M
der tribute and fastening upon the spells
thus obtained These cats and dogs have
had their day. and II Is high time that
Hercules should eonfiHe or destroy the
varminfs.
The resolve to extend our water system
to Cedar river necessarily involved tlso
purpose OF controlling the source OF sup
ply. as an indispensable requisite to insure
the necessary quantity and quality. Al
soon as this purpose was declared, and
before any plan Of extension had been
adopted, a corporation known ~ the Sc
attic Power Company purchased the lands
at the outlet Of Cedar lake. the source Of
supply. ~ well as ut the place OF the pro.
posed temporary intake OF the city on the
impound the waters at Cedar lake. con-
struct pipe lire to the city and supply II
and the citizens thereof with water at
stated price.
This offer was emphatically rejected at
the election Of December TO- 1856. and by
the adoption OF the revised charter in
1855 the city council was prohibited from
entering into any contract or agreement
whatever with any person, company or
corporation for Its water supply" etc.
The city afterward condemned the lands
Of this Seattle Power Company at said
intake and also condemned or purchased
ali the other lands required for Its pine
line and other purposes between that point
ana the city including the lands about
Swan lake. The Seattle Power Company
or tts successor, however, still owns and
controls the said lands at the outlet Of
Cedar lake and other lands on Cedar river
above said intake and propose, by dam.
TO impound tho waters Of Cedar river in
CEDAR lake. and then use such waters for
manufacturing purposes or any purpose
they may choose
There is but one proper course to be pur-
sued by the city to obviate this threatened
appropriation and consequent nuisance
and that is to extend the system 10 and
including Cedar lake and its tributaries.
purchase or condemn the required lands
Tor that purpose. and procure nom the
united states government a reservation Of
the watershed Of the source of supply
This Is an easy. safe and effectuaI remedy
In fact. 1t is more. IT is matter of i'm
perative necessity.
More than that. 1t should be done now
without waiting for the report of any eng,-
heeF or further advice from any source
whatever. 1t does not require the reporr
OF an engineer to advise the people thar
they should have the best water and the
best supply of water obtainahie II does
not require the advice Of any engineer to
determine that the intake should be above
the junction OF small streams now settled
upon, or liable 10 be In the future
l have the utmost confidence in Tho
ahsiity and integrity of our city engineer
and president OF the board of public
works but In a plain. common sense prep
ositon Ike this any report a, all is =
waste OF time and energy. When 1t comes
10 construction. then an engineers serv-
ice Is required. but l repeat. ii is not nee
essary TO determine that we will have an
ample supply OF the best water obtain
able.
When the city council Is formula ting
the plan of further extension Of our wa
Ter system TO Cedar lake would suggest
now under contract. and that H. that the
forty-two inch pipe tine from the intake
10 swan lake and that portion of the line
from the intake 10 ths high service res
crNoir between the Il connecting with
swan lake and the leading from Swan
lake. be dispensed with, and "A pipe line
from the T 90 the pipe leading through
the tunnel be constructed. This win save
TIE construction OF about nine miles OF
useless pipe at a cost or not less than
x2ouoo Swan lake by the present plan
having been practically abandoned as an
fmpoundlng reservoir.
Ihese changes in the pipe line now I'M
der contract can be made under the pro-
visions OF the 18th paragraph OF the gem
eral clauses CT the contract; and even
II 1t were otherwise the measure OF dam
ages would be the margin Of profit only
This $i1S.uo thus saved, or its equivalent
could be used to pay for lands about
Ssasr lake. or 10 extend the pipe line
OF both. make this suggestion the more
freely because I ,hlnk the city engineer
and the entire city government are now
satisfied that Swan lake In too low a.
q source Of supply. it's use involves the
waste Of IS 0da.e0 gallons per day in or.
der TO insure anything approaching rea-
sonahse purity, and also because, as be-
fore stated. the present plan is a prac.
teal abandonment Of that lake.
II - no purpose of mine 10 trespass upon
the prerogatiyes OF any branch OF the
city government. or indulge in any cap
tions criticism, l believe the city govern.
men.- as whole. is able ard consesen-
uous: bat this question of water supply
is asae In which the mass OF the. p4o,i.
are not only vitality interested, but they
have right 70 be consulted aud in fac,
to make the final decision.
/ believe 1 am safe In saying that the
people are fully advised upon this sub
seet. and that al least aine~ten.hs of them
a~e in favor Of the further extension of
the system OF cur wafar supply IN Cedar
lake and its tributaries, and having IL