Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-08-04
WATER PROBLEM
IS DISCUSSED.
Representatives Of Cities
Meet Saturday to Consider
Wynooche Project
Commissioner Ogden, Of Ho-
quiam, Says Project Would
Pay Itself Out

At the conference held Saturday by
representatives of Aberdeen, Ho-
quiam, Montesano and Elma, the pro-
posed water district was discussed.
The bounds of the proposed water
shed on the upper Wynooche were
talked over, the idea being to secure
the shed in the National Monument
where the water is said to be even
better and more abundant than below
and where there will be no private
ownership to purchase.
Engineer E. G. Hunt estimated the
cost of survey of the project and all
preliminary work at about $4,000. The
attorneys were asked to prepare petit
tions for the formation of the water
district and have them at another
meeting, to be held next Saturday
morning in the Aberdeen city hall.
w. B. Ogden, commissioner of fl
nance, Hoquiam, who has fathered
this project and given it much con-
sideration, was in the city yesterday
and gave out the following interview:
Lying a few miles north of Grays
Harbor, are the beautiful Olympics
capped with perpetual snow, coun-
try specked with Glacier formation,
natures fountain of as pure water as
can be found on the face of the earth.
This land, set apart by Uncle Sam,
to be reserved for future generations
to profit thereby Located in the
southern part of this reserve or Monu-
ment, the Wynooche river rises amid
the snow and ice, courses on its way
to Grays Harbor, through narrow can
yons, waiting for the people of Grays
Harbor to harness and use. The
broad full watershed Of the Wynooche
headwaters are now waiting to be
taken as a gift from Uncle Sam. The
people of Grays Harbor have heard
the call and are answering. The ci-
ties of Hoquiam, Aberdeen, Monte
sano, Cosmopolis and far off Elma are
anxious to get in the water wagon.
Let us get away from the near water
sheds that sooner or later will be-
come unsanitary, and reach out for
protected areas now policed by the
forest ranger. Financially the scheme
is certain to succeed. The present
income of the several cities and COM
panies will pay interest and provide
a sinking fund for redemption of any
bonds issued by the water district
formed by boundaries including the
cities named.
"a rough analysis taken from re-
ports of the Public Service Commits
sion estimating the receipts and ex-
penditures covering the plan to be
$125, 900 per year, which will meet the
interest coupons and retire in time,
bonds on $1,5OO,OOO.00 if so much is
expended in the construction of the
system.
aside from a speculative view of
the situation, let us look to the crying
need of our harbor. 1t is well known
that in time of drouth, the danger of
the present conditions. Water sheds
near cities are liable to be contami-
mated, are difficult to guard and are
constantly menaced by hunters, picnic
parties, berry pickers, etc. Medical
authorities warn US Of such dangers.
One infectious germ loosened on a
watershed will multiply by millions
daily. Centralia has it's lesson and
the harbor should profit by it. Our
cities are growing and in the near
future will wonder why We are short
of water. Aberdeen today, after a
month without rain, is badly in need
of more water. Our industries never
want to close down on account of
shortage of water.
Then again we look forward to a
power supply in the same Olympic
Monument, that will supply cheap pow.
er for our lesser industries to come
This power Is also ours and Uncle
Sam says come and get it. comply
with my rules and I am with you
This power alone from a financial
view is worth four or five million dol.
lars to Grays Harbor.
Let US make every effort to reach
out and get this fruit while 1t is ripe,
or shall we wait until private inter
ests gobble 1t up.