The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-02-09
GR|FF|THS CHALLENGES
ER|CKSON'S DAM RECORD

Taking for his topic the
Cedar river dam. which has
/ been receiving 80 much atten-
tlon during the campaign, Aus
tin Z. crifflths. candidate for
mayor, submits the following
for tho Open Forum OF The
Star.
Editor The Star; have read
Mr.. Erickson's letter In your paper
and heard his recent talk 20 tho
Democratic club on who located
/ the dam"
Quito true, the site was selected
IN 1910. and for that Mayor Glll IA
mainly responsible. Even before
this warning had been given by
Professors iandes and Roberts,
Hut the question now IN: Who
ventured nearly 5000, 600 OF pub
Tic money after repeated warnings
upon a reservoir that will not hold
waterf
was In tho council whom the
dam was ordered built and am
blamed by citizens who DO not
know that differed with Mr..
Erickson on that point and voted
against running into wide open
switch.
For that reason I ought 10 set
forth tho salient facts. show the
ruddIe and puddle policy thus far
followed.
Real Enemies Of M. o.
Those Of us who want success
rul municipal ownership. who want
cheap utilities. ought 10 be- the
first 10 desire the truth. FOR
PUBLIC MONEY WASTED
MAKES THE UTILITY DEARER
AND LESS SUCCESSFUL.
WASTE MUST nE PAID ny
UTILITY USERS OR ny TAXES.
ON THE CONTRARY. RED RAD
fCAf.s SEE ONLY THE MIRAGE
AND NO BOG. They condemn any
man OF sense and courage who ad.
yises caution.
These persons arc unconsciousiy
the worst enemies Of public owner
ship IN both city and state.
They forget that n wc make
many mistakes. or II our municipal
enterprises are not profitable. tho
legislature may. 10 use Mr.. kriek.
sons threat Ia another way. give
as "the AK
The legislature has power 10 for.
bid US 10 own or operate any public
utility.
Believes In Home Rule
Because ! believe In home rule ]
arm opposed 90 subsection Ia local
affairs TO tho legislature. be.
iieva we should be left TO mind our
own business and 20 profit By our
Own mistakes. But in the past the
legislature has taken powers from
us. and may do 90 again.
In another letter to your paper !
would like 10 show how this city
adopted public ownership and cheap
utilities "a fixed policy long be-
fore Mr.. Erickson came herc.
This policy started In buying out
private water companies and the
use OF Cedar lake and ffvcr.
This lake Ia made by an earth
dam NJ It's western end.
The present river runs westerly
many miies 10 Renton. Formerly
the river. soon after leaving the
lake. ben, northcriy and ran into
the south fork OF the snoquaimie.
How the Wster Runs
A glacier showed moraina OF
sand. gravel and bouldrrs across
tho bend. This forced tho lake
water 10 make a new channel west.
eriy. as II now goes. except the
water that has since scepcd thru or
under tho north bank northeriy past
the village OF Cedar Falls into sno.
quAimis valley. and thence TO Ev.
oretf.
Four milcs below tho lake. ut our
power station. the volume OF water
Is much less than the volume which
leaves the lake. This difference ea-
capes thru the north bank. The
south bank OF tho river for several
miles IL a mountain 81 solid rock.
The north bank for two miles or
more IL flat. and forms the edge OF
the slope or drop off 10 tho Suo.
quaImie.
Tho slope begins close 20 the
bank. About two miles or iess
from the lake a low spur OF rocks
crosses tho river bed. forming n
gorge. and ending 100 feet or moro
north OF the bank. near tho edge
OF the drop off. This Is called
Camp ?.
This Ia where the masonry dam
was ordered built early I'm 1912.
Along IN 1908. a little way from
the lake outlet. crib dam was
made for light and power purposes.
This is called Camp I.
A very short distance from Camp
I there appears natural site for a
dam.
Tho crib and masonry dams are
two miles or less apart. Between
them the south bank is a mountain
and the north bank generally a low
lying. slipping sand and gravel bar.
Three Questions
In 1910. 10 enlarge our light and
power plant the people voted
81 400 900 In 20.year bonds, 10 build
a higher and permanent masonry
dam.
The purpose was not dam TO
look at and pay Interest on, but to
hold water.
The site chosen was on the rocky
spur. at Camp 2. Before the coun.
ell ordered the money spent. three
main questions arose on account OF
various warnings that the permn.
nent dam should not be so far
down tho river. namely: Whether
the rocky spur would afford safe
anchorage for a concrete dam;
whether the north bank would hold
water after the dam was made:
and whether a slte nearer the lake
and free from both dangers was not
better.
The chief and most obvious OBJ
lection was based on the porous
character Of almost two miles
the I.Tlf