The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1876-11-29
County and City Official Press.
Wednesday, November 90.
HARBOR IMPROVEMENT
AND DRAINAGE.

The establishment Of dire: commu-
nicatton between the waters 81 Lake
Washington and the Sound by way If
Lake Union. is project that has been
mooted for the past two years, II vas
first proposed 10 carry out the project
by means of bitches across the por-
tage between Lakes Washington aud
Union and from the latter into Salmon
Bay. The cost II this Undertaking VAS
estimated al about sij, 900 It. object
was the drainage Of large tracts Of
swampy lands contiguous to the lakes
tha, would he effected, and the partial
protection Of White River valley from
the destructive floods that regularly
sweep over II, usually several times
during the Winter. Its warrant vas
the fact established by survey that the
mid Summer level of the large lake is
seven feet higher than that Of the lit
tie Que, and the latter again eleven
feet higher still than the waters Of the
Sound at average high tide In times
81 food the enormous overflow Of Lake
Washington through Black River to-
ge,her with the torrents Of Cedar aud
White rivers gorging in the junction
where the Duwamish Is formed
causes a serious inundation of the low
lands Of the Mox Ia Push. and
tho greater part Of all the connecting
valleys. II the lakes were lowered So
that the iroshets of Cedar river, as also
much Of the surplus water of White
river. could pass of down tho lake. this
periodical Inconvenience would ~ least
be prevented. Besides. a. the greater
part of the ,urbld fool waters Of " bite
river break over tho banks aud find
their way down To tho foot of the lake
by the back slough, this improvement
would afford an exit for most Of the
trou hlesome sediment that is filling, up
the hsfbor
In 1871, Gen. Alexander. chief en-
g'neer Of the Typographical Depart
ment Of the Pacific military division,
came up from san Francisco Ia locate
government. navy yard within the fresh
waters on Lake Washington. and made
estimates for tho necessary ship canals
Here. however. the work rested. and
probably the whole matter has been
consigned 10 the tomb If the Capulets
TO slumbsr. nj least. until resurrected
by our Senatorial and Representative
delegation In Congress after Washing
ton Territory becomes State. Ger
tainly. tho extreme retrencbment
policy that has characterized the Re-
publican administration. intensified and
exaggerated by the Democrats since
their partial accession tn power affords
NO hope that anything more will ever
be done by the Government IN the
premises prior Ia radical change in
national policy. Heaven helps them
who help themselves Ii we wait for
some tanign Hercules To step down
from the Olympian heights Of power
10 put his shoulders under our mired
wheels. We may wait long. our local
enterprises must be showed ahead by
ourselves with an Independent vim
that takes no preliminary stock in out
eide help.
II there were broad ship canal into
the lakes, In event of = great commerce
harbor.ng here. a portion of the lake
shore would make = splendid addition
Ia our waterfront facilities. Yet
tbs diversion of the silt laden
Hood waters of the rivers. into the
lower end of the lake where they
would form flats capable of heing
dyked, or oo down into salmon Bay.
could DO no practical harm One thing
Is certain, that unless some steps are
taken for the regulation of these de-
posts. they will. at no very disau, day.
cause a serious whack 10 the c,,m-
mercisl value and commerce Of cur
barber