The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-22

A Gigantic Hold-Up.

The investigation made by the Post
IItelligencer OF the facts relating to the
contract of the Seattle e. Lake WASH
ington Waterway Company brands 1t as
gigantic hold-up. No one who has read
the statements of the parties Interested
without prejudice can reach any other
conclusion. And in arriving at 1T the
statement of the company itself seems 10
us tos be more convincing, If possible,
than that OF the citizens Of Seattle who.
IN the interest of the city and its pro-
gress. are protesting against the extern
sion OF this contract. Whatever may be
thought of Its merits at the time when
It was concluded. It's renewal at this
date would be so Ubiquitous that we
cannot believe 1t will be permitted.
1t viii be observed that President
Semple, in his defence of the company.
had not word to say about the terms
of the contract He dwells upon fan
cied advantages to accrue from the
prosecution of the enterprise. He is ST.
lent about the charges that 1t imposes
upon a helpless public. The company is
to be paid l6 cents per cubic yard, with
an additional profit of Is per cent. And
its certificates bear per cent. interest
and run for ten years. We have before
us statements from reliable and expert
enced contractors which characterize
such an arrangement as rank steal"
a small contract for similar work in
Olympia harbor was executed for IA 3-4
cents per cubic yard. For Everett har-
Dor work, a large Job but one involving
great difficulty. the price was cents
per cubic yard. For easier work, with
less bulkheading. the Seattle & Lake
Washington company is authorized by
the state to levy on the property holder
for is cents and Is per cent, profit. 1t
Is nothing short of robbery and confis-
cation.
The petition which this company filed
with the state land commissioner is
monument of nsolence. matched only
by its denial OF any right on the part
OF property holders TO interfere. This
Is matter. Il says. between the state
on the one hand and the contractors on
with its title to most OF these lands: and
individual owners have the same right
of protest that they would IL the state
authorities proposed tn compel the paw
ing OF ScRttle's streets with silver. as
sesslng the cost upon property hold crs
The injustice OF 1t. the financial enor-
nifty, and above all the Injury that will
be done 10y imposing these enormous
charges. equal 10 or greater than the
actual selling price of the land In many
cases. upon lands that are needed for
the development Of the ctty's manufAc-
turing and railroad industries. give ev-
cry citizen a right 10 be heard.
The proposition of the company ia
virtually that 1t ought to have a per.
petugG Hen upon these tide lands until
such time as 81 suits It's convenience 70
MI them. that II should bc permitted %
wait untn they have acquired a mark, I
value equal 10 the enormous burden 81
Its swollen eXactions. that tt should
then $50 ahead and do such amount OF
work as Il plcases, and so prolong its
arrangement until, somewhere IN the
next century IL has collected the last
ssnny under its outrageous terms As
for the people, they have no rights at
nil that 1t is bound to consider. We sub
nit tina; these are only fair conclusions
90 be drawn from the petition Of he
company itself
This precious document states bald'y
that there never was any possibility Of
completing the work within six years as
promised originally 1t is not consid-
erred that the time allowed was a rea-
sonable one" But the company accept
I'd the time provision. Was its intent