The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-19
RIVERS AND HARBORS
Washington Gets Very Little in
Pending Bill.
DEMANDS OF THE SENATORS.
Survey OF Port Angeles Townsite-Rail-
Fish Hatchery ON the Columbia.

WASHINGTON AI1Ys july l6-I0e cues
ton of efficient river and harbor improve
ments in Washington is, as is well known,
one of paramount importance. the neces-
sity for such work being so great that the
legislature made it the subject of special
petitions to congress. With the view of
advancing these projects. the Washington
senators, Messrs. Allen and Squire, sub
mitted to the committee on commerce ten
amendments intended to be attached to
the river and harbor bill, the
total expenditure authorized therein
being $556,O0O. But single one
of these propositions, however, has been
the subject of specific appropriation, but
this one was dealt with literally, as one
half of the total estimate at 9,OOO was
provided, the usual custom being not to
allow more than third of the engineers
estimate. This was in the case of the reach
of the Columbia river extending from
the head of Rock Island rapids to the foot
of Priests rapids, an improvement which
will need total expenditure OF $138, 900.
In the case of the other projects sug-
gested by the senators, the committee on
commerce pursued the usual course and
directed the engineers to make the neces-
sary examinations and surveys to prepare
plans and estimates for the improvements
desired.
According to the propositions submitted
by Senators Squire and Allen, there are
thirteen distinct river and harbor improve
ments within the limits OF the state which
are required by commercial and navigation
interests. the most of which are engineer
ing projects of such magnitude as to re-
quire large annual appropriations. As it
will be but little time before these works
will be commenced, as congressional APP
preparations will follow the engineers sur
veys, it is worth while to give brief notice
of them, even at the expense of repetition
IN some instances.
Wahkiakum county has four rivers
which require Improvement, the cost of
which would be $4,000. They are Gray's
Deep, Crooked and Skamakawa rivers-a
A similar amount is needed for straight
ening and deepening and widening De-
schutes channel, Olympia harbor, to deep
water IN Budd's inlet.
A like sum is required for beginning the
improvement of the Nooksack river, and
widening to navigable status for large
tonnage river boats the channel of the
river above Lynden. A board of engineers
has already passed upon this project.
Fifty thousand dollars is also the amount
fixed upon for the purpose of cleaning out
the logs, boulders ands other impediments
to navigation in three rivers-the Nasal,
Willapa and North.
For beginning the dredging of Swinom-
ish channel at least $1O0, 900 is the estimate.
The Columbia river, in addition to the
sections already provided for. has two
places where work is needed and is urged.
The first is for the purpose of improving
the river at the Little DalIes. in Stevens
county, by cleaning out boulders and re-
moving other impediments. which involves
an outlay of $50, 900, but only the smaller
appropriation of 5000 is desired for the re-
moval of the sand bar between the mouth
of the Willamette river and the city of
Vancouver.
Lastly, an allowance of $4,000 is asked
for to clear out the Palouse river in Whit
man county SO as to put it in navigable con-
dition. Against this last project, however,
the engineers have already made an adj
verse report, and the committee on COM
merce refused to make any recommends
ton in connection with it, at least until the
commercial necessities are stated to be
more important than at present.
These constitute all of the projects for
which the Washington senators have been
working, and in which the first stems
toward the successful prosecution of the
enterprises have been made, excepting, of
course, those rivers and harbors for which
appropriations have already been provided.
The sundry civil bill as passed by the
House contains an appropriation of S. 600
for the survey of land for townsite pur.
poses at Port Angeles, but this sum
is not sufficient to cover al, the ex-
penses to effect the object in view. Com
missioner Croft, of the land Office. saws
that another 5000 must be provided to
pay for the appraisement of the lets and
blocks within this townsite reservation af-
ter the survey is made.
Representative Wilson secured speedy
action in the House committee on Indian
affairs on the bill recently passed by the
Senate granting to the Northern Pacific and
Yakima Irrigation Company a right
of-way through the Yakima Indian
reservation. The company propose to
build canal, and the right-of-way is to be
seventy-fve feet in width on each side of
its central line. In order to insure faith
full work by the company it is prohibited
from assigning or mortgaging this right-of-
way for any purpose whatever until the
canal shall be completed, and the franchise
shall be void unless the canal is constructed
within two years.
Senator Allen is endeavoring to have an
appropriation of 81 500 made to establish
salmon hatchery in the state upon the
Columbia river or some of its tributaries.
This sum would be sufficient for the estab-
lishp,arft of tho station h,riidipUe on arI