The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-05-18


lake to the city's intake, az well Is 1ayloI
creek and the whole tributary water sneo.
are TO be owned or controlled by the ctty
OF Seattle for all future time. TINS ID the
determination Of the Republican majority
of the city council. In this matter Mayor
Humes has taken position IN harmony
with the views Of the council.
The question Of possible pollution 0. tne
waters OF Cedar lake. which 10 to form
mart of the city's water supply on the
completion Of the Cedar river water sys-
tenn. was settled for all time when the
councilmsn with City Engineer Thomson,
visited the lake and investigated the con-
ditions surrounding that famed BODY OF
water. From human settlements there
seems to be no possible danger OF poiiu-
ton, because the country - rough and
forbidding and not inviting to the nome
builder and the settler.
The next question was whether or not
the proposed erection by the Washington
Power Transmission Company OF q sixty
foot dam at the outlet Of the lake and
the use Of the water for generating cleo
trio power would deprive the city OF the
free control of its water supply, or
whether the erection OF such plant. with
the necessary dwellings for employees. ETC..
might not destroy the purity Of the water.
This question IL to be solved by the city
council in this way: Steps are TO be taken
to secure to the city the control Of the
lands adjacent tc the lake. a. well - the
water rights appertainlnk thereto. the
intention being to place ~ city ~ Abttk
lutte and permanent c9uttei Of th4 waters
of the lake and rivef and the shutting
property. M - rs
In addition the city has Ia ressrvs !
most powerful agency In settling this
question forever. 1t Is nothing more or
less than the power Of denying the apph-
cation for a franchise made BY Stone 4
Webster. Jacob Furth and J. d. Lowman.
in behalf of the consolidated street rail-
ways Of the city.
CITY CAN DICTATE.
To make the city's position well under
stood in this regard, II Il only necessary
to recall the fact that the people who are
back Of the Washington Power Trans
mission Company are identical with those
who figure most prominently in the or
ganization OF the Consolidated Street Rail-
way Company. The city In in q position
to dictate terms to Messrs. Mitchell.
Grambs, Stone and Webster. because 1t
has not yet granted a franchise to the
consolidated company.
BY this time Ii has become pretty well
understood that the scheme for consolida-
ton OF the six principal street car lines
Is a first cousin to the enterprise for the
generation of electric power by the use
OF the water at Cedar lake. Kidder, Pea
body Il Co. and Lee. Higginson & Co., OF
Boston, two OF the richest banks In New
England, are financing both enterprises.
Mr.. s. H. Mitchell, who IL an accomplished
and shrewd street railway organizer. Is
here working hand In glove with c. A.
Stone and l.. j. Webster. the experts en-
ployed by the banks named to report upon
the consolidated scheme as 10 its advan-
tages as an investment. These gentlemen
are also handling the Washington Power
Transmission Company proposition. and
the connection between the two enterprises
il thus made complete.
Il can be definitely predicted that the
Republican majority OF the council will
take such steps ~ will secure for all time
the perpetual enjoyment Of the waters OF
Cedar lake and Cedar river and the con-
troll OF the adjacent watershed for the
benefit Of all the people Of Seattle. The
purpose OF the Republican members Is
well stated by Councilman James, chair.
mar OF the corporations committee.
through whose hands the application OF
the consolidation managers for forty
year franchise must pass. Mr.. James said
yesterday:
IT have always believed that the city
should and must control at Cedar lake and
at every vital point In the supply system
fer the city waterworks- While I am con-
WINGED tina, the talk OF pollution that has
been advanced has been mere nonsense
yet I am more firmly than ever satisfied
that the city should amply protect itself
by securing control OF Cedar lake and the
watershed tributary. so that for all time
the cisy's source Of supply VIII remain
immaculate and free from all possibility
OF interruption.
CITY SHOULD CONTROL.
a, this time the city is taking such
STEPS as ara necessary TO bring this about.
I DO not look for any CONFLICT with anyone.
The city IL not desrcus OF preventing the
accomplishment Of any legitimate electric
power enterprise so long IL does not
interfere With the c.iy's aims ard pur-
poses A. the same time. we propose 20
secure the absolute and perpetual control
Of the situation Al Cedar lake.
The question OF tire franchlser Oh.
that's another matter We have not yet
learned what the consolidated company
will ask for. II is time enough 10 talk
about that when We get to IL
Councilman Rude Was ssks.! for a state
rnens concerning the asiffuse % the city
council In the matter o. controlling Cedar
lake. and the possibility 81 inseYferenr.
by the Washington Power Transmission
Company with The plans Of the cary. He
SAID
Il don's know what The power company
proposes 20 do I; has no very valuable
rights taas have ever heard OF. R~rars.
lees 90 ;ss undertakings. believe the cry
xhosss4 get control u Cedar lake. Tsyfor
creek. which furnishes e pr cent Of the
Supply ~ Cedar river. and the sr.sutsrr
watershed This viii - 6sne by sAe CITY