Ballard's $24,000 Debt Fight Turns on Water and Electric Plants

The election to bond the outstanding city debt of about $24,000 takes place in Ballard today. The city officials were busy yesterday getting everything in readiness for the election, and there was more than usual to be done, as this is the first election since the city was divided into three wards. City Clerk W. Emerson and City Attorney Edmund Peters were engaged in getting the forms of ballots, stamps and instructions for electors prepared, and the committee on public buildings and grounds was superintending the construction of booths and ballot boxes for the new polling places. Following is a list of polling places: First ward—the old house; Second ward—J. C. Young's old store building on Polk Street; Third ward—the Hobner building on Broadway, Second Avenue.

Last night a mass meeting was held in the Odd Fellows' hall to discuss the question, and all the speakers were in favor of the proposition. The election, however, is expected to be close, as it requires three-fifths of the total vote to carry. Much of the opposition is factional and arises from fights over the proposed purchase of the electric light plant and the purchase of the West Coast Improvement Company's water system. Some of the opposition is caused by ignorance, as, for instance, a number say they cannot trust the council to handle the money. As the council will have nothing to do with the money, which the treasurer alone will use to pay off outstanding warrants as soon as it is received, most of the opposition arising from this cause will be overcome by proper information.