Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-07-04
UTILIZATION - TEE SEATTEg
Lake..


fBsadstreet'sl
PORTLAND (Ore.). June Black Of
6sastie there are, practically speaking.
sssxhaustibls quantities of coal and
timber, and 10 the lakes around the city
nakurs has provided magnificent water
vays 70 aid in the development Of these
resources. Seattle itself IL situated on |
ne east side Of Elliott Bay, al inlet on |
he eastern shore of Pnest Sound One
and q quarter miles n~rth of Seattle lies
Lake Usion two and quarter miles
saet If the city is Lake Washington.
and four miles east Of that lies Lake
Hamnmish. Lake Union's longest dis
sAncs ss east and vest, and that of Lake
WASHINGTON north AID south, willie the
two lakes taken tooether may 10 repre-
ssnted by T. the horizontal being
Lake Washington. They are. however,
separated by distance OF 1850 feet at
the point where the two parts OF the L
are Joined. The outlet OF Lake Union
h q small stresm one mile long, which
sHpties into Salmon Bay, another In
5sk ~ Puget Sound. This lake Ia one
and half miles long and three quar-
ssrs Of mile vide. and its surface "a
sieht fest above hieh-wst marx On
Illicit Bay. Lake Warrington " -
uiles long. from two 10 i've miles vide.
and It's surface is eighsesn feet above
high. vater mark on Elliott Bay. lts
Susist, Black River. emptios into whit.
River at point eight miles south OF
Seattle. The junction of these two nv
era forms the Dawanish River. whicn
su,.,ies into Eliiots Bay. sauami.h
Like II three miles ioaR and one mile
vidp. It's waters are carried into Like
Washington by the Samamish River,
which 10 four miles long.
Bv widening and deeping the outlet
~ Lake Union. and the cutting OF
ssprl between lakes Union and wash
tnuton. vessels of 1000 tons burden may
enter from Puget Sonnd into tbess two
lskes. and by clearing the obstructions
FROM Samamish river ordinary river
heats may enter int S.mamish lake.
Tho accomplishment Of these improve
mepts il entirely prsesicable. and the
project Of opening these various water
vAys 70 commence has long been the
snbjecs of discussion among local basi-
cess men. and has also been examined
tntc. and the feasibility thereof report
"a favorably thereon. by Breves Briea-
aisr General b. 8. Alexander. U. >. A..
On b~h,lf OF the War Department, and
- engineers representing Henry. Val
1nra and his Improvements companies.
Two years ago company was organ
ised under the corporate name OF The
Washington Improvements Company
somp0sed OF many Of the wealthsess AZ
veil as the most entsrprising citizens
az Seattle. The express object Of the
corporation was, and In, 10 open th-se
lakes to counmerce, and to be Reimbursed
therefor by tolls, ~ we'll as by procur-
inc she title by act Of Congress 70 .oer-
eain lands, nos under water, bat which
would be reclaimed by the cutting Of
the canal mentioned. and the conse-
Nnsnt lo~ering of the surface OF Lake
Washington. A bill II nov pending be
fore Congress which has been favorably
rspovfed upon by the Senate COMMITTEES
on Commerce. By this bill u 10 In
tendod to grant this company these
lands now sabmefavd In consideration
Of the csmpany making improvements
20 the extent that vessel Of 1000 tons
burden may enter into Lake Washing
son from the sound. The company has
already completed the intended deep
inc and widening Of the outlet 70 Lake
Union from Salmon bay 81 within fifty
; feat OF this lake. This fifty feet will be
i~ft uncom lsted until the canal is cut.
Upop the canal Improvement II has
urads SNAIL excavation only. The
probable cost OF these works In vari-
easily estimated Mt $500, to 500, 900.
The latter estimate ID considered the
very outside limit.
The advantages to DO derived from
She opening of these waterways are
considerable. both 10 the company re-
fsrred to m well AZ TO Seattle. For in.
stance, along Cedar river. which
empties into Black river. AID which,
ppon oomrletion OF these improve.
Wents, would DO turned into Lake
Rshinpton, there In estimated ~ be
1000. 000,000 feet Of marketable lam.
Der. worth 10 the company IN tolls, say
70 cents per 1000, or 100000. This
amount would 90 Tar towards paying for
the entire improvements contess plated,
and this l,000, 000,000 feet wsnld be
worth manufac urei into lumber NJ
present rates, $40 par 1000, or $1,000
900. This Ia only one itsm. But when
ase horne In mind the vast anbroken
eoreets Contiguous % all thsae Lab u, and
che coal fields dependiag for Develop
mept upon the opening Of these natural
vat. fways, the results are not easily Is.
tims.sed.
Tour correspondent D. reliably inform
"a that one Of these coal fields near
eemarrish lake, has airendy been bond
81 by Eastern capitalists. Who are de-
pending upon the making Of the im-
psovements for the development of
sAer mines and the marketing Of their
coal. The construction Of RAILROADS In
eAis rugged section Of country for the
Dupose Of opening mp these particular
eoai Relds would be folly st present, be-
eeuse II would b necessary 70 build
9round Al three Of the lakes through o
Ssnss jungle and over : badly broken
uurface.
Finally. by tbs construction of the
works indicated inducsments would be
S6ervd 70 capital 10 develop coal mines
and "a erect and operate eawmills, sash
and door and furniture factories upon
ebeee lakes. Deep water vessels could
enter thees land Looked harbors, where
Ne anohoraee b said 70 be excsllent,
and csuld there load and depart wiz
eNrRoes FOR all parts Of The world.
while thus loading, the fresh waters Of
- lakes would most likely remove the
oaFnnrles which cling 90 ships daring
eeean voyages. thus removing the need
~ putting the vess 10 upon the Ways at
Nseat expense and loss Of time. sooner
- later the improvements herein out
tined will be made, and for Seattle, 10
nay be added. the sooner the better.
11aineea men there are alive 10 the fact
snAt the interests Of their own city can
net In any way be better OF more surely
advanced than by enoourNoino the oueu.
no 81 these lakes at The earliest pos
vehte moment 10 the commerce Of the
vueid.
~xe CuECKER. NO wAsuEE..
Say, you yaller skinned Chinee, I