The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1924-02-07
-The nIstOry Of the sI,agIt-

ings OF tho light plant by tho sale
OF utility bonds IN an indefinite
amount II NO load tho light plant
down with a burden OF fixed
charges FOR interest. bond redemp-
ton. etc. Il will not only mako u
hard 20. but possibly prevent reducing
rates. and Il might swamp tho light
plant. which would be blow "a
public ownership II ~
feel that We can set along with
say. $4,000 lSilowatts. we should &c,
auiro and develop ono Of tho small
sites which arc within Sc or a
miles OF Seattle and which our en-.
ginecFs say viii develop $4,000 kilo-
watts This could All he
done within tho 100000 utility
bond issue"
ERICKSON FAVORED
TWO OTHER SITES
Councilman Oliver r. Erickson
was inclined 60 favor either the
stillaguamlsh or tho Lake C,ishman
sita which II now being developed
by the city OF Tacoma
II the skagit site was 20 bo 50.
lected. Mr.. Erickson emphatieaiiy
demanded the preparation OF com
pleta plans and specifications and
call for bids Tor tho completed
plant from responsible contractors
who would ha,reauired 90 furnish
bonds for tho completion OF tbs
plant within the time and az the
price stipulated in tho contract
Considerable discussion took place
as TO whether the city could build
tho plant on tho skagit for $4,000.
600. Mr.. Erickson repeatedly and
earnestly expressing his doubt on
that point. and Mr. Dimoek with
equal earnestnees contendlnE thai
Il could be built within his estimate
OF sb.19g.0o0.
Finally. On tho assurance OF Mr.
Dimock and Mr.. Ross that the sun
Of ss.0o0.00o would be sufficient
Mr.. Erickson introduced an ordi.
nance authorizing tho construction
OF a $1,000 kilowatt plant nj Gorge
Creek and providing for a sub,
station within tho city 20 cost M
additional 100000. Tho ordinanee
authorized bond issue OF $500.
600. and was approved May 81. 1918
Mayor Hanson. Corporation Coun-
sci Hugh NJ. Caldwell and Council
men c. b. Fitzgerald and r. IT.
Thomson went 10 Washington. D.
C., where they obtained sanction
for tho bond issue from tho capital
issues committee. and later OBJ
tanned permission from tho govern
ment 10 build the plant and use
tho water within tho forest reserve
During the summer OF 1913 and
spring OF 1919 the city council APP
propriated $4,000 for preparatory
surveys and boringA
KENNY AND UIIDEN
REPORT o. KS VENTURE
Meanwhile. Mcssrs. u. @ Kenny
and c. r. rhden had been en-
ploycd 70 make n report on the
feasibility and cost OF the project.
Their report. dated May 10. 1912
gave It ~ their opinion that a
plant could DO constructed at tho
Gorge Creek sito for $500. 900, TO
include a concrete dam IS feet
high. tunnel two and one-duarter
miles long. two units OF $500
horsepower each (totai $4,000 horse
power) and a wood pole transmits
sion line.
They estimated the cost, ~ a
steel tower transmission line were
substituted. NJ ss.To0.0oo. II pro
parafory work was promptly start
cd. they said tho plant could be
completed by the fan of 1899. Mr.
Uhden was employed in September.
1919. TO take charge OF tho work.
and tho city council promptly APP
propriatcd an additional $4,000 for
preparatory work.
Mr.. .Cottcrill had died in May OF
1919. but Mr.. Erickson had been
persistent in demanding tho prep
aration and adoption OF n complete
plan for the project and tho calling
for bids on such plan before start
Ing actual work on tho plant. On
April 20. 1919. at tho invitation Of
Tho Star. he wrote statement,
which was published in its columns.
wherein nc laid;
After making trip 10 the
skngit last year. some members OF
the council. including myself. were
skeptical Of the engineers csti.
mates. and felt thai development OF
this project might be exceedingly