The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1918-05-21
MAYOR
C0TTERILL FOR
THE SKACIT SITE


highway engineer. former mayor OF
Seattle. today. In n letter 10 Mayor
Hanson. strongly indorsed the Skagit
river site for the development Of ad'
ditionai electric energy for Seattle.
In taking this position. he differs
from his brother. Councilman Roland
Cotierill who wrote thc report de-
claring the skagit site unfeasible.
II am glad 10 express my opinion
on the matter OF securing Increased
power for our municipal light and
power system" Cotterill wrote;
with some familiarity with the
progress. needs and Probabilities OF
tho Seattle situation, and. with gen
eral and detail information Of the
various watersheds within our pow.
or vicinity range. / am convinced
that Seattle should lose no time or
chance to secure development con.
troll Of the skagit river power re-
source.
Power resources have usefulness
and value. with consequent need and
Justification for development. only In
relation 10 the needs. present and
future. Of the population, industries.
transportation. etc. within the eco
monte delivery range OF any such
power resource.
THE Skagit river IN the largest
water power source In the Puget
sound or West Cascade vicinity It's
watershed, minimum flow and other
features controlling power resources.
being about double the next largest
possibility.
From considerable study OF gov
eminent Topographic maps. reports
OF stream measurements. watershed
areas. climatic conditions. etc. bear
ing upon all Cascade water power
resources. without personal examine
ton Of the Skagit power site vicinity.
but with information gained from
several reports OF competent exanin-
crs on the ground. cannot conceive
that any contingency warranting
preference OF other sites can possibly
arise. The fact OF doubled or treblcd
resources. as compared with any pos
Hlble single site competitor. combin-
ed with that Of no charge for the nat
ural resource available under federal
law In the national forest area. as
compared with a charge OF $4,000
to 81 900 geo TO acquire private-ow.n-
ed site. In addition 10 the develop
mcnt cost--all these would seem 10
make the Skagit site In a class by
itself. both as TO first cost for partial
development. and with increasing
economic advantage as development
progresses toward ultimate needs
and capacity.
II do not agree. however. that the
decision for the Skagit should stand
or fall upon this unit investment cost
OF first installation. bc9pusc IL de-
Ponds upon the first point OF the
argument outlined. viz. the assertion
that the future needs OF Seattle will
be met by $4,000 horse power add
ton to present facilities. To my
mind. there is no justification for
any such 'pcnt-up Utica idea to con-
tract our powers or power require
mcns.
Il regard II Just as reasonable to
expect that tho Seattle OF five to 10
years hence will need to develop an
other unit OF SO. 900 horse power. or
more. as that We now need the pres.
cnt additions. which all agree. only
differing as TO source OF supply. The
field OF cooking and heating by cleo
trio current has scarcely been enter
ed. because the economic comparison
with other fuel supply and cost has
not yet been demonstrated in favor
Of electric service. Tho possession
by Seattle OF such an ample power
resource as the Skagst. with all its
possibilities OF economic progressive
development. VIII have much to do
with bringing that fuel evolution for
the cleaner. cheaper and more con-
venlent service Of the people. And
there are other uses Of electric pow
er in the lap OF tomorrow. for which
the skagit-sea;tle union will pre-
pare and provide.
IF the skaxit power resource In
ever 20 be developed. IL win be for
Seattle ana vicinity needs. and by
the use OF the credit Of Seattle reve-
nues. directly or by franchise agency.
Under federal law. our city. as the
public agency OF the people and in.
dustries who must furnish the mar
ket for this resource. by whomsoever
developed. can secure II freely on
demonstration OF beneficial public
use The private corporation must
pay the government n lease rate per
horse power. and transfer that
charge. with its own profits added.
10 tho revenues which must be col.
lcctcd for so years from the consum-
ers. By uniting the largest Puget
sound vicinity power resource to the
largest tributary population needs.
thru public agency on an actual
development cost and operation
basis. federal. state and municipal
policy will unite TO work out the just
principle OF largest development OF
natural resources for the service OF
tributary population at lowest cost.
without tho Intervention OF private
profiteers.
The United States government
has providentially saved the great
Skagit river power resource for the
public use OF the tributary popula-
ton. of which Seattle represents
three-fourths. II Is now Seattle's OPP
portunity in her emergency hour
OF great power needs. 20 save the
present and protect the future by
embracing this strategic opportunity
offered by the federal policy. and
become the development trustee OF
the Skagit resource. for the service
of our community needs and with
readiness to serve the similar needs
OF other tributary communities. as
| fhcv may co-opernfo Vary tr,,i,-