The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1918-05-13
power FIGHT IS
JUST BEGINNING,
SAYS HANSON
Flags Opponents Of Skagit
and Pleads for Co.
operation
WANTS "ElECTRlC CITY"
Mayor Hanson sent to the city

Mayor Hanson sent tn the city
<Ecuncl for It's consideration
lsnday afternoon an appeal to
weigh with the utmost care it,
decision with regard TO the
Shagit power site. lie set forth
In sIcdge-hsmmer style the cvi'
dcnce In favor Of the site. and
smashed nj the men he says are
talking against h in the interest
Of the private owners OF other
sites for sale to the city, or for
stone W ebster interests.
His appeal followed a statement
rsvcn out by Councilman Cottersh In
behalf OF himself and Counctlmcn
Bolton and Hesketh. unfavoraoie TO
immediate development Of the Skagi,
river site.
The fight for real development OF
our light and power Is just begin
ming" said Mayor Hanson Monday.
cit viii be- hard. long struggle.
While the mayor was preparing
his appeal 20 the council. Corpora
ton Counsel Caldwell went over the
city'S application for right 70 develop
the upper Skagit with city Engineer
psnock aud Light Superintendent
Ross. preparatory 70 fiing Il with
the government. This step was BE-
Ing taken 10 protect the city. as Us
rrvatIon rights expire May Is.
bnise OF the use of the lower or
first development OF the river was
secured by Corporation Counsel Cald-
we'll last January
Council was scheduled TO consider
~ skagit river site late Monday.
A.>uments for delay were expected.
Mayor Hanson pointed out Seattle
must compete with Tacoma and
Portland ON power rates. or lose In
dustries.
Tlsys Opponents
In his appeal 10 the counciYMayor
Hanson said.
so far as know. ali engineers
and experts who are employed by
the city for expert advice. say the
Skagft il the largest. best. safest and
cheapest water power offered the
city Of Seattle
The men who have tried TO dis
credit the Skagit power site from
it's inception. are attorneys acting as
statesmen. the real estate profiteers
and the paid engineers OF otner
mower sites, who desire TO sell their
particular site to the city OF Seattle.
and last. but not least. the STONE
Webster interests. who do not want
US 10 secure any power site. but u
we have TO have one. their desire ~
for us 10 pay some private profiteer
a million or 80 dollars for his rights
-ecure the poorest and most ex-
pensive and smallest power site avail-
able. in order that they may con
,inue TO dominate the electric power
and light field in Seattle.
Says Cost Low
"Obiection 20 the size OF the skaEit
proiect has been made, but the oo
sectors have carefully refrained from
s,stlng that only one unit will be
buiIt under any circumstances at THIS
time. and that the cost OF that unit
according 10 the figures OF the men
who are paid by the city. and not by
private water power profteers' -
less than Of any plant OF similar
orse-power: and that the cost VIII De
known before a dollar Is spent. and
no contract will be let IL the cost Is
too high.
securing Skagit river for Seattle
free Is such an unheard-of thinesthat
no wonder many gasp and groan at
the spectacle. Beginning the deVet
opment Of a real power site whicn
will supply our needs means the end
OF the domination OF the stone Web
(Continued on page 81