The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1907-06-15

with Characteristic energy and b.
came such q forte in municipal 81
fairs that h Naa custom efoand
the city haii Is advice pefaons has
ina business 81 Any kind with the
city 80 talk With Parry
Especially VAS he credited ~ith
exercising . dominating tntluenee
ever the eaIef executive
The years % the Phcira' aamta
tsfFaflon developed mAnY reFsrans
for the fiufleiKh Hant Grant iiesl
bfou finE Mr Hunt. the magnetic
eemenfinK poWet ~ the orEaulsa
fluu. met with = financial disaster
and irft the rouufrg 90 rereup hls
fortunes. transferring the posiln
taineeurer % Msaara. Grant iieti
hruu and ufheru Mt GRAFT sailed
Ga September. 1855 Cor San Ffaa.
cisco On the steamship fyanhee.
which vas lost AZ sea and Mf tieli
bfun was one morning fuand dead
ia hlA bath tmh. wntes cifrum
stances ~hich hiutsd ~ suicide. 10
1895 The Northern Pacific railroad
sent into bankruptcy aud NJ uaf
Ielgh was appointed orc 90 It's re
esiveFn Thus. IN the coarse Of
few months the ouo~ lnviaclbie ~
Iiticai combine iost most u iis lead
era
hat Parry remained
a financial osnius.
During this period Of financisl
and political disaster there sfals
"a dramatically 70 the center q the
Seattle Etasr that daring. financial
buccaaeef and fsneiful word paint
ing promoter. Edward Hammond
Ammiaown NJ Ammidown had
been a Preach silk merchant. later
engaging in business IN New York
whore he veAt bankrupt lie 4
Hally. came 20 WsAhEnEfon ander
tho assumed name Of Edvard Er4in
mond lie located and acquired val
liable mineral properties In the
Monte Criato district. fceoaped his
fortune. went haes to New Yofk.
redecmed his outstanding uhiiRh
iiona. and retained AGAIN % s.
attic under his real name
In 1859 20. through the efforts ~
Mayor Robert Moran. the city had
procured from HnnKette Williams
plans for q Cedar river aravitY
water system. but political oppost
ton and financial roYernos delay
"a the requirement ~ the property
Having had bis attaniion called
10 the opportunity. Mt Ammldawn
set about 10 acquire Cedar rtyef
water az private property. intend
lng TO use u ~ a means 81 com
polling perpetual tribute from the
city.
In pursuance of this plan. Mr.
Ammidown sent I. A. Noble %
the city engineers office. where.
with the aequieAcenoo Of friend
" administration. he was permit
ted 10 copy All the notes. maps and
plans Of tho Williams report. q re-
port which had cost the city some
$50 .0aa
With these ~ a working basis.
he set about 70 secure the proper
ties AZ swan Lake and on Cedar
rivor. necessary 90 the execution of
the plan. and did secure properties
Tor which the city was afterwards
fNfNIaAifN W HAN hhsHt NHAM'ttAA*
ton some $4,000
a zig Loot Scheme.
Taking those plans with him. Mr.
Ammid0wn made visit 10 New
York. returning after an absence
Of six months to unfold a dream Of
financial and commercial exploita.
tlon for Seattle. which made the
citizens At up and take notice. lie
announced. through friendly
press. 10 an aatonishcd public, how
he had formulated financial plans
for the development Of tho Cedar
river water and power scheme, the
erection OF a great steel plant. and
tho establishment of steamship
lines running to all parts OF the
world
There was but ono thing for the
city 10 do IN order To secure this
stream OF wealth. trade. commerce,
Industry aud general welfare. Il
was 10 enter into contract with
Mr.. Ammidown and his associates
for a supply Of water from Cedar
river The price 10 bs paid, as
subsequently calculated by city
I Engineer Thompson, who opposed
the scheme. ranged from $4,000 to
100000 year for the first IA
Years. Had the plan been adopted
the promoters would now be taxing
tho city some 100000 pee annum
for water from a corporation own.
cd plant
Under the municipal system the
cost IL leaH thRB $50 1000.
city Engineer Thompson and his
assistant. George +. COtterlll, fol.
lowing a decision Of tho supreme
court, had worked oVt In detail an
ordinance for the water system,
which was afterwards financed and
constructed. This ordinance was
one night submitted 10 and passed
I BIZ the city council.
70 IN