The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-04-29
ny COUNCILMAN OLIVER r.
Elt1CkSON

ssseN sHt>VN
The Star OF March 20 contained a
timely editorial with tho headline.
what About tho akasitg' This cd
itoriai scts forth CORRECTLY the big
talking points for the skasit First.
4 plant could be- developed nj 0orE.
creek 10 deliver power as cheaply as
one on the Stiilaguamisii. half tho dis
lance from Seattle. and having q rail.
road to tho power house ana dam
ate. second. q plant to develop ss.-
600 kilowatts could be built nt Gorge
creek for ss.oooOoo. exclusive OF the
sub-station In city. estimated 1t
esoo.oco. Third. by building an i'm
pounding dam at Ruby. develop
ment OF 100000 horsepower WAS pos
sihle at n total cost of $50. 900. 900.
Recent developments prompt mo 10
recall this editorial. and say some-
thing IN defense OF ccunciinen who.
like The star. have aid. "we must
know exactly where va are headed
tor.
After making q trip 10 the Skasit
last year. some members Of the coun
Ell including nysclfs were skepiical
Of the engineers estimates. ana felt
thRt development OF this project
might BE- exceedingly expensive. Tho
mayor and the rtty engineer were
determined 70 plunge hcadlong into
the skaGit Appropriations we're de-
fnhnded 10 build camps. transpotia.
ton facilities, sawr1iiIs and other Inn
pfovensents before we had permit
from the govrnment 10 build any
plant Whatsoever.
Majorlty Refused
A majority Of the council refused
10 BE- stsmpcded. We took the po-
alton that Il q plant to develop $4,000
ktlowatts could be built NJ Gorge
crock for $1,000 900. We were for II.
because that cost would enable us 10
ell current NJ . reasonable price.
This was on tho assumption that .
ioc~tion would be found where tho
dam could b. built on bedrock. We
aid not want tho trouble experienced
~ Eiwha. where q dam was built on
gravel. and the river flowed under
tho dam. instead % thru the water
wheels In the power hous. Then.
too. We were not urrnindnn Of the
Ease with which water flows thru
sand and krasel AZ the Cedar river
dam.
We also took the stand that. after
: location for the dam had been
found. plans and Specifications for
the complete plant and transmission
iin~s should be prepared. and the
board Of public works ask for bids.
when bids wcrc 70 we would know
whether the plant could hs built
within tho estimates. unsii then We
could not. with good grace. ask the
oovesnment for = permit.
I think these we're the sentim~ II
OF = majority u the city council
when the ordinance for financing
this psojsct was passed. And sub.
nit To Tho Btaf and tts readers
whether this was not . wise and fair
stand to take. On this basis we have
appropriated over 100000 TO drill
and survey the Gorge creek site. The
bond ordinance wc passed specifics
Gorge creek. and no other site. Yet
the mayer and city engineer asked
the council to appropriate vast sums
TOR exploring other sites on the
skAgit before we had been advised
whether . dam could b. built At
Gorge creek or not. Tho first re-
quest was for t2<0. 900. Tho council
refused 10 make any appropriation
except for Gorge creek. and has boon
roundiy abused for Il.
No Financial Report
Now we are again confronted with
a demand from Engineer Dimock to
make appropriations for extensive
improvements and Preparations that
viii commit M 10 this project or en-.
tail great loss. And that in the face
OF a letter from federal officials
which says that not even a tempo
rary permit will be- granted for the
Gorge creek development until com.
picts plans and specifications have
been submitted and approved by the
government. And. further than
that. we must prove that II can bo
successfully financed
Please note that az yet wc have
had no final report on the drilling
ana surveying for location OF dam
At Gorge creek. Apparently Mr.
DItnock aims 10 break this news TO
" gently. FOR In what purports TO
b. a report on skasit development
Nv Engineers ~. G. Henry, consult.