The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-10
STATE RIVER IMPROVEMENTS.
$4,000 Wanted for Nooksack, Skagit
and SnOh Ohomish-Estimates

WASHINGTON CITY, Oct. 9-[Special LThe
engineer officers will ask congress to appropriate
$4,000 for the improvement OF the Nooksack.
Skagit and Snohomish rivers during the newt
fiscal year. This is much larger amount than
has ever been allowed for this purpose. the last
appropriation having been but $4,000 The
following statement in regard to these rivers
will be submitted by the chief of engineers for
the information and guidance OF congress:
The Nooksack river drains a magnificent
valley. Ii is like the other streams fringei
with heavy timber aud brush, and suhiect. IN
sudden heavy freshets that wash the hanks
letting in trees and roots that lodge at different
points and cause shoaiiDg or bar formation
During times of high water navigation ia com.
paratively easy, but at low stages quite difs-
cult and dangerous. The area OF cultivated
land is yearly increasing, and the country re-
ceiving its full share of immigration Its soil
is exceedingly productive, so much SO an 10
cause favorable remark.
one of the principal difficulties to the nsvi
CATION of this river is at its mouth, where ALI
the drift nearly all of it, seems to cclleet and
remain: the shoal water on the tide flats the
prevailing winds during the winter months.
and the location OF the outlet, all tend To ure-
vent the mass of drift from going TO sea. as il
does from the mouths of other rivers. This
could, no doubt, be remedied by closing nm ono
of the two outlets and improving the other
The current OF the river could be depeuded
upon TO aid the improvement.
The Skagit river is the largest and most i'm
portant stream in the state. 1t is navigable. ex-
cept at low stages of water. a distance OF l1o
miles The country on each side is of EXCEL
lent soil and very productive. Large areas of il
are now under cultivation, and the acreage ia
being increased every year. The logging in
dustry is a vast and important one. The towns
and country In general are improving and I'LL
ing up rapidly. Land values have increased
fully so per cent during the past six or eight
months
Improvement of this stream would greatly in
crease its importance as a nsvigable river
Large and valuable deposits OF iron and coal,
fire clay and other minerals are being deyeI-
oped, and will no doubt in the future seek an
outlet by the river as well as by rail-
The Snohomisb river is navigabe at all sea
sons of the year far up as Snohomish CITY,
fourteen miles.) and most of the year for thirty
or forty miles further, including its tributaries
IL is subject 10 periodical freshets, which over
fow the banks in places and erode them under
mining and letting into the stream many large
trees, stumps and brush, some OF which lodge
and remain a nuisance 10 navigation until they
are removed. They also cause bars to form
The valley or bottom land on either side Of the
stream rich and very productive 1t is gradually
being cleared OF and brought into q state of pro-
ductiyeness Large areas have been cleared aud
settled Tor many years. The tide lands about
the streams mouth are being rapidly reclaimed