The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-08-27
I've QUESTIONS
WHO SECURED SKAGTT
FOR SEATTLE?
nv EDWIN >. nRowx

In 1917 Seattle acquired the most
valuable asset fwithout expcEHe)
Possessed BY any city Ia the world.
Il IS stated by some that the stone.
10 revert back to the government
because they did not want a. The
face II. Stone Wobster's permit had
not expired whom Mr.. J. ID. Ross
flied on the skaEit but because Of
work. and after hearing In wash
ington. their permit was cancelled;
and one was Issued TO the city OF
Seattle over their protest and not
withstandinE their offer TO pay
$4,000 20 the government for q
years extension OF their permit
There are six men who denerve
special credit for Seattle acquiring
the Saagit. three OF whom ] shall
not mention at this time. as the dis
was first made known In 1914. but
In 1917 Mr. ,. -. Ross. superintend-
ent Of our city light plant, knowing
the great value Of kkagit TO this
city. conferred with the late Mayor
that Mr. Ross file on this most won
derfni natural resource for Seattle.
A. q later date Mayor GIL author
lxed Mr.. Ross and our present mayor.
eounseij. 70 proceed 20 Washington
10 press the citys claim 10 sknRit.
which was granted after a he airing
as above mentioned.
High. on q monument in this city
scfnc day should stand the Statue
Of six Men tthree Of whom shall
not mention at this time. as they do
not hold public office, and ] hav.
not tho permission 70 mention the VI
names). but Hiram G. GIN with his
Hug. ii. caldwell. over the heads of
these six men should be inscribed.
The Fathers OF Skagit." while the
background should be a miniature
One day late in the fall Of 1917. I
called Mayor Giii on the phone and
asked him n could see him. as |
wanted TO talk to him about the
Skagit. He said. Yes. you old Social
ist- come on over. I want 10 talk TO
the entire transaction 20 me. Doe
said Mr.. Gill. this man Ross. Hugh
Caldwell. Oliver r. Erickson and w.
y. Lane are valuable men 20 this
city. may not be with you very
man. and the bosses viii try 10 get
rid OF Ross and these boys b. cause
they can't control them. II that out
TT ever goes after Ross you viii
know that u Is not Ro.s they care
Plant and the skagit they are after.
The rascais offered me first $4,000
and then $4,000 to resign. and
wanted TO give me legal job. but
said no. Now. Doe" said Mr: GIL.
II have told you about the Skaglt.
and now ] want 10 know " you will
go with me ON the buying OF the
street railway from stone Webster,
can buy that street railway outfit
for SIX million dollars, but II IL In
had condition. and ! don't think II
is worth more than five million. be-
cause we Will have TO spend about
two millions in repairs and replace
mentr. I have asked Hughy tmean-
ina Hugh ~. Caldwell. then corpora
ton counseD TO prepare an ordin-
ance providing fund to pay a COM
mission 10 ascertain the value OF the
properties. and when we get that
the company Will be glad TO cell:
they arc not anxious TO have the
real value OF their Seattle properties
known. In fact. u that company had
10 live up To Its franchise and pay
dividends on It's stock. they would
go into rcceivership. or course. Doc.
we ought to pay what the thing IN
worth, but no more. I would like TO
have you with me, you old fool We
have always cen personal friends.
but you have fought me In politics.
and some OF the time. Doc. you were
/ assured Mayor Gin that 7 would
be with him on the purchase OF the
car lines undcr the conditions re-
lated. He then said, doc. ono thing
i, want al Of son boys .,,v who =, =, are 90, on
I am gone Is To get b~hind Ross. be-
cause any man who tries to do any
thing for the people is going to have
that crowd 20 fight"
Mayors Gilrs voice and manner
was serious--yes, almost sad. lie
had been offered a bride to betray
his trust and sell the people out.
He realized that those who could
not buy him would seek his destruc-
ton. and that the whipper- snapper
type of politician who had fawned
ut his feet when he was in power.
had forHaken him or would do no
when they heard their masters
voice. when shook Hi Giii's hand
at the end OF that hours visit. ! had
learned who the real Hi Gill was
and knew the influence that had for
years endeavored to create an en-
vIronment that would destroy all
WHOM ,rnn they e ,,d no, control NJ ,, n,
GIN was in 1918. after Ola Hanson
had been elected some little time.
The ex-mayor said, well. Doc, they
are going TO sell the street cars to
Did you notice that tho ordinance
that was introduced on February 8
TO have n commission ascertain the
value OF the street car properties
has been ditched? They viii never
buying. They got the man they
wanted when you made them pres
ent OF Ole. but some day the story
Will be told"
Tworoger, the oracle OF Councilman
Cecil II. Fitzgerald. published a let-
ter In The Star. Next week | will
answer the oracle and tell how to
make Stone Webster pay back ten
million overcharge on our street
railway system.