The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1876-07-17

AuioHb ouI ttife pun ai'SeS
lately received, appeared the follow
- r..,. S,~ass;n.,ai -~re.-.
The committee agreed to Mitch.
ellis amendments increasing the ap-
preparation for a canal and locks at
the Cascades Of the Columbia river
from fifty to a hundred thousand
dollars, and increasing the items for
the Upper Willamette from fifteen
to twenty five thousand, aud for the
Lower Willamette and Columbia
rivers from fifteen to thirty thousand
dollars"
We don't like TO enact the role Of
a grumbler, further than we can
help; but it does look little sug-
gestive that the above handsome
figures, for the most part doubled
over first estimates, are all appropri-
atoms for improvements TO naviga-
ton iii the Democratic State ef Ore
gon, while there has never been an
appropriation Of Il single dollar for
like purposes i'll the Territory Of
Washington, unless on the Columbia
river, where it would flow TO Oregon.
IL it could be said with truth that
that there is no need of such appro-
preparations in our Territory, it
would not matter; but, though it
must be admitted that our Sound
navigation, in the main, is naturally
far superior to the best that art and
money can mako for our neighbor
State, yet our interior rivers, on this
side the Cascades. are many of them
greatly in need Of some improvements
in the way of clearing out of their
channels, which q comparatively
small expenditure could permanently
effect. and great Obstacles in the way
Of the development of our Territory
removed. For example, Congress
has been repeatedly menlorialized for
ar appropriation Of few thousand
dollars to remove the jams near the
mouth of the Skaget river, which
have for many years almost CON-
pletely closed against settlement that
largest and richest valley in the
Territory, this side the mountains.
Another important channel especi-
ally entitled to Government atten.
ton is the Swinomish Slough, or
South channel Of the Skaget, which
is thus expatiated upon by the editor
Of the Snohomish Star:
This slough connects the waters
at the mouth of Skagct River with
Padilla Bay, passing between Fidal.
go Island and the main Swinomish
Flats. The slough is some eight
miles long, affords the main channel
OF communication along the east
side Of the Sound from Seattle TO
Bellingham Bay. on account Of the
dangers oftentimes attending pas.
sage through Deception Pass. The
channel of the slough is very crook.
ed, shifting, shallow and winding.
At several places are bars nearly OBJ
structing navigation. yet these obsta-
eles can be removed at small expense
it it were not from the continuous
shifting of the channal. This re-
quires that the channel he staked
out anew every little while. The
owners of the steamer Libby have so
far been public spirited enough to do
this at their own expense. Yet this
being public navigable channel
used by all trading there. traffic
worth nearly half million dollars
being compelled to pass one way or
another through this slough this
year, IT is not right to expect one
company to do all this work alone.
Many channels of one-fourth the
commercial Importance, often have
thousands of dollars annually spent
upon them by the Government,
White here there is nothing done.
These facts only emphasize the
necessity that is upon us, TO emulate
s the example of Colorado and New
Mexico, and press for admission into
the Union as a State. Heaven
helps those who help themselves"