Seattle's 1895 Warning: Secure Cedar River Water Before Private Speculators Do

The report of the water department indicates an average consumption of nearly 5,000,000 gallons per day for the entire year of 1894. The maximum consumption per day during the irrigation season in July and August was about 7,500,000 gallons. The capacity of the entire pumping plant at the Lake Washington station is about 10,000,000 gallons per day, half of which is represented by the Holly pump, the remainder by one Dow and two Worthingtons. If the Holly pump were to break down the remaining pumps might be forced sufficiently to meet ordinary demands, but would be utterly inadequate to supply the summer requirements. While the pumps have been maintained and are in fair condition it must not be forgotten that the Dow pump has been in constant use for ten years, the Worthingtons for four years and the Holly for two and one-half years. Additions to the pumping plant have been strongly urged by the superintendents in their annual reports for the past two years, but have not been provided. Fortunately for the water department, there has been a most thorough shutting off of waste water, which, aided by hard times, has served to decrease rather than increase the daily demands on the pumps. Then, too, the hope and expectation of early construction of the gravity system from Cedar river has served to prevent expenditure on new pumps which would not then be required.

Unless we are prepared to take the position that there will be a further decrease in the consumption of water during 1895 compared to 1894 and 1893, there is no escaping the conclusion that the efficiency of the system and a proper reserve protection demands a new pump of at least 6,500,000 gallons daily capacity, unless there be some prospect of an early commencement of work on the Cedar river gravity system. It would be economy to secure a pump of even larger capacity than that named.

The first step is being taken toward the construction of the Lake Washington canal by way of Salmon bay and Lake Union into Lake Washington. The enterprise has commended itself to national legislation, and the government is committed to the project by an appropriation, which, though small, is a pledge of assured completion in due course of time. There is also a proposition looking towards the cutting of another canal from the Sound to the lake through the southern portion of the city. The advancement of either or both of these enterprises means prosperity and progress to our city, but at the same time the early pollution and abandonment of Lake Washington as a source of water supply. Centering around these great public improvements we already see indications of manufactories to be established, railroad business and common facilities to be increased, residence and suburban districts to be developed; our people are looking forward with reason and with confidence to an era of renewed activity. If this confidence is shared by the municipal authorities then it is none too soon to take steps toward the securing of a new water supply to replace that which our very progress will serve to pollute. The depressing period of 1893 has preserved our water supply in its purity; a progressive period will just as surely contaminate it. Therefore planning for the Seattle of the twentieth century—but ten years hence—unless our faith be false and our confidence but pure imagining, must plan for a city with a lake front as well as a sound front. Lake Washington is large enough and deep enough to furnish commercial facilities for a metropolis, but it is not large enough to supply pure drinking water at the same time.

At the least calculation, it would require two years' work to bring the Cedar river water into the city ready for use. It will be remembered that while the plans and surveys for the gravity system were made four years ago by Benezette Williams, no rights were secured nor was any land acquired in the vicinity of the proposed dam on Cedar river or around Swan lake. It is current report that efforts have been made to secure these by outside parties. In the furtherance of a power plant, to which the water power proposition would be a valuable adjunct for speculative purposes.

The cost of construction of the Cedar river gravity system, as estimated by Benezette Williams on the basis of the ruling prices of labor and materials in 1892, includes the dam at Cedar river, the aqueduct to Swan lake, the arrangement of Swan lake as a reservoir, the pipe line from Swan lake to the city, and the construction of a high reservoir of 10,000,000 gallons capacity at City park, together with the necessary distributing system. The revision of these estimates on a basis of present prices for labor and materials would place the cost of the Cedar river gravity system complete, with high service reservoirs of 10,000,000 gallons capacity in City park, and low service reservoir of 20,000,000 gallons capacity in the South school section, all connected to the existing distributing system, at $1,150,000.

Allowing that the necessary water rights and dam site on Cedar river, rights-of-way between Cedar river and Swan lake, land around Swan lake, rights-of-way from Swan lake to the city and the required low service reservoir site in the school section, can be secured for less than $100,000, we can estimate the total cost to the city of the gravity system complete at $1,250,000.

Allowing for the reduction of water rates and the same number of consumers as in 1894, receipts of the system for 1895 cannot fall short of $140,000, and will probably be largely in excess of that sum. The cost of operation of the gravity system, as indicated by the expense accounts for 1894, making full allowance for keeping up a pumping service for the Queen Anne high service and for a small district above the level of efficient service from the City park reservoir, would be $16,500 per annum. This estimate of expenses provides also for the maintenance of a pumping reserve at the present Washington station for emergency purposes, in case of accident to the pipe line from Swan lake.

The gravity system is economical for the present, indispensable for the future. I have made this showing somewhat in detail at this time for the reason that it seems to me imperative that some immediate steps be taken to secure to the city the ownership of the controlling features of the plan. If this is neglected then it is inevitable that private parties should purchase and develop that which the city has failed to acquire.

The municipal water system has already proved the wisdom of public ownership, both from the popular and financial standpoint. There is danger within the next ten years our city may be the possessor of a million-dollar water system without a supply, for a contaminated supply is dangerous to all. The monopoly enjoyed by a water company operating within and subject to the city regulations would be less arrogant in comparison to that of a company owning the supply and exacting its own terms for delivery into the city distributing system at the city limits.

I am aware that the limit of the city's authority to provide for water purposes has been nearly, if not entirely, reached, and we cannot hope to commence the actual construction of the gravity system until, by reason of natural development or other causes, further capacity is reached. However, in view of the emergency of the situation as it presents itself to me, I trust I may be pardoned for making suggestions, which might be considered after my term of office as water commissioner. Return of the amount paid out in 1890 for the fire boat, payment in cash for water furnished to other city departments, and the sale or exchange of the surplus real estate held by the city, would provide a fund amply sufficient to acquire all the controlling features of the Cedar river gravity system during the coming year. A continuance of similar methods during coming years, supplemented by surplus revenues from the existing system, would slowly but surely construct the plant. If, however, the controlling feature of the plan were acquired at once, the city would be in a position to rent the water franchise at nominal rates to private parties or corporations having means to construct the plant, making such conditions and reservations as should insure equitable rates for the water supplied and the eventual purchase of the plant by the city. Owning the supply, the impounding reservoir at Swan lake and the city distributing system, the city could safely defer the construction or acquirement of the pipe lines, and at the same time would be in a position to contract for such amount of daily supply at specific rates as would warrant private parties to invest the means sufficient to complete the plant.

In conclusion let me urge this matter with more than perfunctory notice or commendation usual in consideration of this subject. I firmly believe that the city is face to face with an emergency in the water problem of the present and future. We are at a 'dividing of the ways' where we can take a course which will perpetuate the control and prestige gained by the purchase of the Spring Hill plant in 1890, or by keeping in the present 'rut,' can forever lose all then and since gained at the expenditure of a million or more dollars. I urge this matter upon the attention of your honorable board in order that through you it may be brought more forcibly to the attention of the honorable mayor and city council, and that some plan, either along the line of suggestions herein made, or by some better method, be adopted to accomplish the desired end.