The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1919-02-14
ANOTHER BILL AGAINST
CITY'S WATER SYSTEM
Icicle Ditch Co., Wants Payment For
Half the Cost of Building Dam
Council Hesitates About Payment

-OOunCn heSlIaLeS ABOUT fdymenl
Whether or not the city benefited
to the amount of $3.50, an amount
claimed by the Icicle Ditch Co., as
the city's share of the expense in
building a dam on the Icicle river
was the chief topic of discussion at the
council meeting Tuesday evening.
Representatives of the ditch company,
Mr.. Rumley, Tom Parish and VIM.
Titus, were present and stated that
their company had fulfilled its part of
the contract and that they expected
the city to shareequally in the expense
as had been agreed upon. A lengthy
discussion followed and the following
facts came to light.
Last November the old council real
izing the need of better intake for
the city water system to insure
steady flow during the low water
period made a proposition to the Icicle
Ditch Co. to jointly build dam and
share equally in the costs, as both
parties would be benefited by the
same. After looking the situation
over the mayor and council came to
the conclusion that the dam would
have to be built to raise the water
at least four feet higher than the
present low water mark. Represen-
tatives of the ditch company, it seems,
claimed that the raising of the water
three feet would suit their purposes,
however, it was generally understood
by the councilmen that they would
have no objection to the four foot
level as they repeatedly said they did
not care to go into the proposition
unless the water was raised four feet
at least.
Accordingly Mayor Irwin gave
Water Commissioner Guest instruc-
tions to look after the city's interests
and to proceed with the work.
Several of the councilmen at the
time spoke of a written contract be-
tween the ditch company and the city
but one was never prepared and the
work commenced. When the dam was
about half completed Mr.. Guest
learned from the ditch company's rep
resentative, Mr.. Abling, that it was
not his intention to build the dam to
a height to raise the water over three
feet, as it would result in an injury
to the ditch company. 1t being MIR.
Guests understanding that the water
must be raised four feet he reported
the matter to Mayor Irwin and was
told to take no further part in the
building of the dam as it did not meet
with the requirements. The matter
was dismissed and might never have
been thought of again had it not been
for the bill of the ditch company,
which represents half the cost of the
improvement.
Members of the old council who
were present Tuesday evening stated
that it was clearly understood at the
beginning that the water was to be
raised four feet and that the dam
would be of practically no value If
this was not accomplished. Represen-
tatives of the ditch company, however,
have a different understanding, and
insist upon payment.
AS the matter now stands the water
has been raised but little over one
foot, and according to ex-councilman
DAILY $500 to $1,000 must still be spent
to obtain a proper intake for the water
system. What action the council will
take in this latest bill against the
water system remains to be seen.
Several thousand dollars have been
spent in intakes and relaying pipes
in the same vicinity in the past three
years and as yet nothing lasting or
substantial has been built. Most of
the money spent has been practically
wasted we are told on good authority.
We are bound to come to the conclu-
sion that this is a result of poor man
agement coming as a result of not
enough interest being taken in the
city's affairs.
Our water system now represents
an investment of practically 100000
over twice the contract price, and has
never yet been satisfactory.
Municipal ownership in Leaven-
worth has not been a success.
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS ARE
I0YAT,