The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-01-17
The DAILY INTELLICEWER.
Wednesday, January IL

TIE SOAK SLoCGH--We i...rn f,ou
Mr.. Jensen, the proprietor Of the LITTLE
propeller Minnie May, tia. movemeY,
j. on foot, headed by Messrs. McRed
mond and Pickering. for the improve
ment Of Squak Slough. Some week.
ago, Mr. Jensen conceived thc idea o,
putting bis little steamer on the route
between squak Lake and the Lake
Washington landing OF TIN. side. be.
lisving that the project would be a feas.
ibie one. Accordingly hc started or;
on an experimental trip up that hereto
fore.unnavigated channel. az least. uu-
navigA.ed by steam. He proceeded ~
the slough distance Of some six miles
encountering no difficulty excepting ,ha
brush which grows along the bank,
and projects over the channel A. he
went on the difficulties from this
source became so great that at the
point indicated above, he founil is ne
cessary to abandon the idea Of going
further with the steamer IL then
embarked III small boat, and com
pleted his trip 10 the head Of Squak
Lake; making a. examination IF the
channel as he went along H reports
tbs. the idea Of navigating the slough
and lake with a small steam craft is en-
tirely feasible. and that the only OBJ
struction is that caused by the brush A.:
aud this is only Of trivial Importance.
as it can be easily removed Daring
his tour of stigation he visited
all the settlers along the slough ana IN
the vicinity Of the lake. over sixty IN
number, and presented to them the al.
vautages that would accrue to their To-
cality if the slough could he rendered
navigable, and urged that they t. ke
some immediate action in the matter
He found them all in favor If the pro-
ject. especially Messrs McRedmond
and Pickering. who went TO work at
once to devise some means for speedy
improvement. He says that the object
sought can te easily secured by co op-
erative effort, and ny little labor on
the part of the farmers. who by a
few days work each could remove
all distractions This once accom-
plished. then the country adjacent
to the slough and lake will rapidly
grow into importance. Then a cheap
aud expeditions means of transportation
will be placed not only within the reach
of the farmers of that immediate vicini-
ty, but of the Snoqualmie as we'll The
trade of this latter section, our inform
ant thinks, will, as soon as IA regular
steamboat route Is established on the
slough, find its way to this city through
that channel. In that event. the land
ing on this side of Lake Washington
wall become an important depot for a
large amount of farm produce which
will be freighted into this city over the
stage road. Our informant states
that there is an extensive area Of some
of tho most productive farming land IN
this Territory lying along the slough,
and in the vicinity Of the lake. The
soil is Of the richest alluvial is covered
with vine maple aud alder, and easily
cleared. The land when cleared /.
easily worked. and capable Of produc-
ing the finest crops for years without sid
from any fertilizers II will produce
almost anything. being equally we'll
adapted to the cultivation of grain,
fruit, vegetables or hops Aud best of
all. there is a large amount of this ex-
cellent land still belonging to the pub
lie domain and subject to homestead
or -emption. Aside from its
advantages as al agricultural section,
II promises speedily tn come into notice
ass timber country. as some of the
finest timber in the Territory covers the
hills and high lands back of the rich
fertile bottoms. This section is directly
tributary to our city, and We hope soon
to see the tide of immigration setting
in that direction