The Ellensburg Dawn

TO THE VOTERS OF ELLENSBURG

The article published in the Record dated August 28th, and signed by Mr. J. D. Mathews will undoubtedly receive consideration. Does not the intelligent voters of our city but that they may not be thought easily misled or fooled by the cunning of the garbled way the irritated councilmen, desire to remind the voters and citizens of this city that we are still governed by the legally constituted officials as provided by law consisting of the Mayor and seven Councilmen, whose duty it is to proceed along the lines laid with the one principal in mind, viz: The greatest good for the greatest number of our citizens. Now, Mr. Mathews would have you believe that Mr. G. N. Miller is the whole city government. Do you believe it? If you do, you will know that you have a sure remedy at the coming November election when it is your duty to elect a mayor and four councilmen. But Mr Mathews is presuming on your intelligence and knowledge of city government when he flaunts the name of G. N. Miller or any other city employee in your face. If G. N Miller is doing things that are not right and is not accomplishing that which is for the best interests of the city, place the blame on the council, on the undersigned, where it belongs, not on G. N. Miller, or any other employee of the city that is controlled by our authority.

The amount that Mr. J. D. Mathews, or The Ellensburg Water Supply company, has invested in its water system or will invest is a matter for them to look after. This present Council was not elected to look after their interests any more than it is their duty to look after the interest of the poor unfortunate individual who has to use their water of the kind they furnish, when it pleases them to furnish it, and at the rates they choose to charge for it, in sufficient quantities or none at all. pure water or the dregs of contamination. It is the duty of this Council to protect the interests of all alike without fear or prejudice toward any.

Mr. Mathews says "We claim that our new system will deliver water of unquestioned purity, and in sufficient quantities for a city twice or three times the size of Ellensburg. and of the highest efficiency for fire defense."

We wish to ask Mr. Mathews how much more water he or the Ellensburg Water Supply Company owns today than they have owned during the past twenty-five years, and we wish to ask the voter how much water they have received during the past twenty-five years for domestic purposes. irrigation, and fire defense. We also ask Mr. Mathews how the Ellensburg Water Supply Company intends to correct any of their past delinquencies in the face of the State's Supreme Court report unofficially. viz:

Olympia, Aug. 19, In a decision, which it is said will destroy plans for the irrigation of a large quantity of land in the Palouse River Valley and near Washtucna. the State Supreme Court today handed down an important ruling with respect to the water rights. The Palouse Irrigation & Power Co.. planned to erect a dam across the mouth of Rock Lake to provide a storage reservoir of 6,500 acres to hold back water to use during the summer months, to irrigate its holdings. Mr. InStill and others brought action to enjoin the construction of the dam. Still claimed that annually the flood waters of the creek would submerge about 100 acres of his farm, renewing the soil with rich silt and that the dam would prevent that flood and do him damage. The lower court granted him the injunction, and the Supreme Court sustains that decision in its decision.

The Supreme Court lays down this ruling:

"A riparian owner has the right to the natural flow of the waters in their natural and accustomed channels. without diminution or alteration, subject only to the same right and use in every other riparian owner. Water may not be gathered into reservoirs for the future use, when it may best suit the convenience and use of one riparian owner, and thus deprive other riparian owners of their use and service of the stream in its natural condition, unless such right is exercised under a valid prior appropriation. This court has always recognized the doctrine of prior appropriation of water on public lands. as superior to all other claims, while it has also recognized the common law right of the riparian owner against all but bona fide prior appropriations."

Mr. Mathews says, "If your proposed new plant is constructed it means that one or the other of these plants must sooner or later only have an 'old junk' value. Our money is invested and we can not take it away and save ourselves from loss, even if we wished to do so."

This is your business, Mr. Mathews, but you should have been attending to this for the past twenty-five years. Our DUTY, the Council, is to see that the citizens of this city enjoy and have pure and wholesome water for their family, water to flush our sewers and streets, water in sufficient quantities and under pressure for fire defense, water for irrigation that the poor man may have a lawn and garden as well as others, at reasonable cost. Every man can not afford to pay $75.00 and $100.00 per lot for irrigation alone or sink a deep well at a cost of $300.00 to $500.00 equipped for this necessity.

The Council does not expect the Ellensburg Water Supply Company to lie down without a tremendous struggle. They have had a good thing for the past twenty-five years. It is worth fighting for, and the citizens of Ellensburg have paid the freight, but if this Council is right in their endeavors to save the Citizens what they are paying for this water, we have confidence in their intelligence and desire to protect themselves and their rights to do the proper thing when they vote September 5th.

Mr. Mathews says "City Engineer Miller is the main source of information from the side of the City." informed, and does not know what he is talking about when he says so. We say that Mr. Mathews has been mis-

"Facts and Figures" by the Special Water Committee and the Council and we would respectfully ask Mr. Mathews if he think he is correct in the statement last referred to.

Mr. Mathews says Mr. Miller demands 5 per cent commission as his pay as engineer of its construction. - amounting to $7500 for a few months work for people that he ought not to the proposition. ment of any kind has been made this work, either on a salary or commission basis, and inform the people Unless until early The Council will next that spring.

By this time we hope to have conclusive evidence that we have an abundance of pure, soft water for domestic use, fire protection and irrigation purposes. is satisfied with what may be convinced by we have at the present time, that the most skeptical further tests to be made during the Fall and early

In other words, while the Council were moralizing happy both in quantity and purity than is possible to ever have from the Naches This means that it remains for the Council and Mayor who shall be elected at the coming November election to install the system and direct the spending of the money that Mr. Mathews seems to be worrying so much about.

Mr. Mathews says that there Mr. Mathews says "Mr. Miller went to Seattle and made arrangements Maews has been other so many misstatements to cause us to reach the conviction that Mr. Mathews has been drinking


too much Naches water, that colored drinking water does hundreds of atoms not causes him to give jail or G N Miller On the drawings cut off election statement I am for from the facts) that it must be a col-

taminated polluted drinking. Me Mathews gas them more when I will I it irrios Mr " wille will the spelling or greater of the people money on the water plant, Ohd Cl,ono on the electric plant " The spelling of the Otooan We had provided complaints, The Slo,onn is may being expended under the directions of the Electric Light Committee, of the Council Mr Miller Is not a member of this Committee and knows but little of it working The committee had directed from lines for them and furnish other necessary information of an engineering nature make true drawings and do trivial detail concerning not Mr Miller has probably used ten days of his time this year helping to gather this sum one, The an the balance the Electric Light committee Is responsible for all no one else.

if there is any question in the mind of any voter concerning the prudent spending of this $50,000 you are earnestly requested to visit the plant and ditch that is being enlarged, the entire work being done by the day labor plan - nothing contractors -and any suggestion that can be made that may result In improved methods for the City's benefit. the Electric Light com- mittee will appreciate the suggestion and be governed by its merits

Mr. Mathews certainly has drank a "Lightning Bug" in his Naches draught that produced this brilliant thought. Another germ causes Mr. Mathews to write H (meaning Mr. Miller) obtains a vaudeville expert opinion from one Ralston, formerly City Engi- neer of Spokane." In fairness to the voter we feel this should be ex- plained.

The Special Water Committee desiring a reliable and unprejudiced examination of Mr. Miller's findings and plans for the proposed water system endeavored to secure the services of the most competent hydraulic engineer of standing and repute that would critically go into every detail and approve or disapprove of the same and whose judgment would assist in floating our water bonds if his reports were favorable and without the knowledge of either Mr. Miller or the Ellensburg Water Supply Company the Committee endeavored to secure the services of Engineer Thomson of the city of Seattle. Mr. Thomson could not come but recommended Mr. Ralston as one thoroughly reliable and competent to render this service and other Investigation satisfied the Committee of the wisdom of Mr. Thom- son's recommendation. and Mr. Ralston's services were secured and Mr. Miller knew nothing of Mr. Ralston's coming twenty-four hours before Mr. Ralston arrived, which thoroughly proves that Mr. Mathews mind was affected when he expected. in placing this misstatement before the intelligent voter, that they would be fooled in this silly manner. Bad water again Mr Mathews If any voter questions this statement address Mr Thomson of Seattle But here we have at least discovered a correct statement by Mr Mathews who writes The City now is paying our Company for 10 hydrants at the rate of $50.00 per month per hydrant. aggregating $6000 per annum.' That is correct Mr, Mathews, Some friend has evidently sneaked a 'can

CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE

Some Facts Relative to the Light and Power Plant.

Persons opposing the new City water works system repre- sent that the Electric Light department of the city is a failure, that it should be disposed of and that the City is not benefitted by owning it. Do not be misled. Consult the facts and figures. Get them from the official records and the agents you have se- lected to guard your interests and labor for your welfare.

The facts are these: The rates for electric lighting in the city of Ellensburg are from 2 to 8 1/10 cents per kilowatt hour. Please remember this. Owned by the City, and controlled by City. In addition we have free lighting of our streets and pub- lic buildings worth $5,750 per annum that would have to be paid for by direct taxation that would increase our general taxes 3 1/3 mills, if this service were furnished by the private corpo- ration.

North Yakima rates have been from 8 to 15c per kilowatt hour, until the city threatened to install a municipal lighting plant. when the rate was reduced to 12c per kilowatt hour, or 50 per cent more than the Ellensburg people are paying. besides it is costing the people of North Yakima $11,690 per annum for street and public lighting that must be provided for from gener- al taxation.

Please inform yourself what the people of Toppenish, Pros- ser, Pasco and the cities of Northern Idaho and Western Mon- tana, are paying the private corporations who control the cost of electric service that you may better appreciate what the city service means to you from the standpoint of rates alone.

Some will argue that your municipal lighting plant is run- ning behind. This is NOT SO. It is true that,our indebtedness account of our electric light plant is $110,000 or will be when our extensions, additions and betterments are completed, but is there a voter in our city who would sell our Light and Power plant for $500,000? And why are we owing the $110,000? For the following reasons:

1.--The city lines have been extended and rebuilt to meet the growing demands of the city.

2.--The generator capacity at the plant has been increased from 500 horsepower to 1,000 horse power.

3.--The waterwheel capacity has been increased at the plant from 660 horsepower to 1,660 horsepower.

4.--The plant has been supplied with an auxiliary steam power of 250 horsepower to protect us against repairs or acci- dents to the water power that will guarantee service during these emergencies, giving us practically a double power unit.

5. -The power ditch is being enlarged to increase its capac- ity from 700 to 2,000 horsepower.

6.-The city street lighting has been increased during the past two years from 25 arc lamps to 61 arc lamps 13 tung- stens and the installation of the cluster light system, all of which will be paid for with the $50,000 indebtedness.

Who that read this article and have condemned the Electric Light department have ever so much as visited the plant and accessories to get an idea of what it means to you? Have you ever compared the cost of your service with other cities being served with privately owned Electric Light and Power plants? Those who have not done so, we appeal to you to do so at once and before you condemn one of your best friends.

TO THE VOTERS OF ELLENSBURG

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

of Jerry Van Buren's bed down to the fee or so resulting in you to be as clear and rational as before you became manager for the Ellensburg Water Supply Company.

But now, Mr. Voter, you have a thing come during the night time and more time to think of something else than fire ing.

Don't you believe that 200 fire hydrants would afford you better sleep Fire, Fire, during the day time? Don't you believe the man with his humble dwelling on Twelfth, Chestnut, Manitoba streets, or across the tracks, needs fire protection as much as the owner of the Brick block at the corner of Fourth and Pearl streets? Surely so. We have 210 blocks, approximately, in the corporate limits, so it is plain to realize that one hydrant with each improved block would necessitate approximately 200 hydrants.

Will you have them?

That the Ellensburg Water Supply Company will charge you $600 per month or $7,200 per year for, put that down for the Municipal Plant.

We need Water, and plenty of it, for flushing sewers, washing streets, etc. a little cleaner city. and a reasonable quantity of water to keep it so. will save doctor and drug bills. By the way,

did you know that very few of the doctors were opposed to the Municipal system? But that is their business, and yours too voters, will this water, including parks, public places, etc. will be worth $1500 per annum to the City, which we can credit the Municipal Plant with. Now. Voters.

in all candor don't you think the Insurance Companies would do handsomely for us with fire hydrants in every improved block? Surely they would. Say credit the Municipal Water System with $3000 saved on account of less insurance paid and without further enumeration our Municipal Water Supply has made $12,000 per annum for us. With this reasoning should there be any forebodings in answering the question, "Will it pay?' Will we be able to pay for Electric Power. if. in the judgment of your Council it is found necessary and prudent to do so?

Mr. Mathews, in almost his last spasm calls your attention to how Mr. Miller is going to "Bind" you to the bond buyer and how the Municipal Water System is to be operated and maintained at a loss. just to "spite." The former point of course. is an all important one, a copy of the ordinance is in print for distribution and we hope the Voter will demand like a good Missourian, the papers in the case. Read the ordinance governing the sale of bonds, study carefully its provisions, do it yourself, don't accept its interpretations by the "Hired Man" of any combination or corporation, use your own thinker, and vote your own conclusion. and should any question present itself to you that you do not thoroughly understand demand an explanation from the City clerk who is custodian of all records dig into every detail yourself, the citizens have never had bigger "game to hunt for". And "just for spite" is a handsome tribute to pa for the care and trouble your representatives, the Council have exercised to gather all the facts and put them in concrete form to be considered and acted on by yourselves, September 5th, but this is only human and easily forgotten Mr. Mathews writes: "Our company offered to dispose of its plant at a valuation to be fixed in the manner provided in the ordinance giving us our franchise. The city ignored our offer."

"If the City really wants to try the experiment of the municipal ownership of its water system, it can now do so with hope of success in dealing fairly with our company."

This is also correct. But in dealing fairly with our company the Council feels that it is their duty to also deal fairly with all the people of Ellensburg alike, the rich and the poor, the one who has water to sell and the one who has it to buy, and when the Council can find that the Ellensburg Water Supply Company has anything the people can use that can only be secured for anything like a reasonable price and a reasonable guarantee that they can deliver the goods a patriotic, fair Council may be found to invoke any franchise provision that will result in the general welfare of the whole City.

Mr. Mathews must get over the thought that a Council not owned by the Ellensburg Water Supply Company. body and britches. Is no Council at all, there are others that they are supposed to represent. .

In conclusion Voters. G. N. Miller and J. D. Mathews are only incidents in this very, very important question.

The real question to be voted on September 5th is do you want good pure water and plenty of it, to be used by yourself, to be controlled by yourself, to control the purity of it yourself, or do you want the conditions to continue that have existed for the past twenty-five years? This is the question you should endeavor to settle September 5th.

Your obedient servants for better Water and plenty of It.,

SAMUEL KREIDEL, Chairman Special Water Committee.

C. H. STEWART. Chairman Health and Judiciary Committee.

PETER GARVEY, Chairman Fire and Water Committee

GEO. MICHELS. Chairman Imp. Committee.

CHAS. H. FLUMMERFELT. Chairman Electric Light Com.

W. J. PAYNE. Chairman Finance Committee.

Ellensburg. August 31, 1911.