The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-02
RIVER AND HARBoR BILL.
improvements in Which People Of Was
ington Are Interested.


WASHINGTON CITY, July 1.-The committee
On commerce of the Senate have prepared a
lengthy report in explanation of the river and
harbor bill. Following are the references to i'm
prorements in which the people of Washington
are directly interested. leaving out as unneces-
nry at this time the explanations OF the charac-
ter Of the works now in course OF construction:
The canal at Cascades is vital point to the
commercial prosperity of an immense section
Of country in the Pacific Northwest. The Col
umbis river drains an area of about 250,OO0
square miles With the distractions TO naviga-
tion 1t the Cascades aud The Dalles removed
this mighty river win afford a sea outlet to q
vast stretch of magnificent grain producing
country which is being rapidly developed and
ID capable OF supporting great population.
The Columbia river is the second largest and
most important in the United States; its CON-
merce is rapidly increasing. and the country
tributary to 1t is being developed with marvel
lous rapidity.
THE proposed Improvements on the upper
river would benefit thousands of square miles
Of choice timber. agricultural and grazing
lands, including the splendid valleys of the
Kittitas and the upper Yakima, and the mag.
nihcent country bordering upon and tributary
to the 0kinakane.
THE commercial development resulting from
the improvement OF the Cowlitz river has been
large in comparison with the amount expended
The waters of the Skagit, StIllaguamish
Nooksack. Snohomish and Snoqualmie rivers all
rise on the western slope of the Cascade range
and empty into Puget sound. The aggregate
navigable length of the rivers is about $50
miles.
The principal industries are logging and farm
ing. Various agricultural products are con-
Veyed by river steamers 20 towns on Puget
sound. The rapid increase in population in the
region drained by these rivers, and the steadily
growing commerce present increasing demands
Tor Clearing them of distractions"
While the Representatives OF every locality are
struggling to increase their eholdings" in the
nser and harbor bill the more thoughtful and
thoroughly informed men in congress are in
dread OF presidential veto as the fate of the
measure. particularly If by reason of the great
pressure for increased allowances it grows to I'M
que proportions. President Harrison il is well
Known, was never much of q river aud harbor
man even when in the Senate, as ne comes from
ss'aie practically without either rivers an har-
ooH II may not seem exact craftsmanship. but
MIS- a TACT that the strongest opponents of this
ciass oil appropriations come from those sections
.nicn have no coast cities or inland waterways
AN exception should be made, however, of the
representatives from the far West as they have
eNisioi'ou iptTal spirit In voting Tor Gp-
poprauons IN the expenditure OF which their
immediate constituents had no benefit. But, as
sz'ed, leading Republican senators have been
gwen 70 understand that the president does not
want 10 go TO the country with a record in riyer
saa naroor legislation surprising that of the
vSseisnd administration, when the limit was
.eout 100000. 1t is believed, however, that
shin these bounds, his signature will not be
stnneio from the bill. OF course the fate of the
isnding measure is a matter of some moment
70 tne people of Washington as there are several
soou sized items included therein for improve
ments in the Northwest.