The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-15

- scsteloay meeting OF tne Cnamper OF
commerce trustees, Jacob Furth, Thomas w.
Prosch. A NJ Brookes. Griffith Davies, Senator
W. K. Forrest Major James r. Hayden, Dr.. E. c.
kioourne, John Fl. McGraw, Colonel c. N.
sneafe, e. 4. Whittier aud Joshua NJ Wrestling
were present No decisive action was taken In
any matter. but numbzr OF interesting letters
ana reports were received, among them one
from Captain 7. W. symons in regard to the re-
iusai OF the war department. 70 co away with
oraworfegs over the east channel of the Du-
vanish river.
THE DUwAMIsH DRAwBRIDGE.
Some months ago the Northern Pacific and the
Puget sound Shore railroads received permits
SION from the secretary of war to cross the east
channel of the Duwamish below the city by
erecting bridge with draw of $50 feet The
railroads found later that TO build this draw
would necessitate raising the grade of the road
so that hauling cars in and out of the proposed
yards on the tide-iafs would be both difficult
ana expensive A petition was accordingly pre-
sented to the authorities asking that the road
DO allowed to cross without q draw this unused
channel OF the Duwamish. This petition was
backed by the Chamber of Commerce and the
citizens generally who Joined in memorials to the
war department urging the closing of the chan
mel The communications were transmitted
through Captain T. w. symons, of Portland.
the officer of the army engineering corps having
In charge the work on the Sound He was also
requested to use his influence to have the chan
mel closed.
At yesterdays meeting letter was read from
him saying that he had forwarded to Washing
ton City the memorials and petitions from &C.
attic, and had accompanied them with q letter
from himself, OF which the following Is a part:
The situation may be summarized as follows:
Seattle, the chief city OF Puget sound Is situated
on Elliot bay. The ground on which the city
is built is very billy. The upper part OF Elliot
bay, containing 1900 acres, is great tide fat.
The Duwamish river enters upon this tide fiat
coast survey chart of Elliot bay. This tide fat,
on account OF its local nature and the excessive
hfliiness of the uplsnds, is OF very great value
,Sr various urban purposes Il belongs as YET to
prior claims to portions of it, parties have taken
possession of large areas OF 1t, which
they have laid on into streets and
In some instances streets have been improved
across the fat. and buildings erected and street
railroad grants have been given, and their con-
These constructions have completely blocked
the entrance TO the eastern arm of the Duwam-
ish river from Elliot bay.
The tide lands and the marshy lands above
them are also extremely valuable for railroad
purposes, furnishing the best place near Seattle
where shipping and railroads can meet, and the
principal commercial operations connected with
transportation be conducted.
The use of these tide lands will be seriously
interfered with for steam railroad, street
railroad and other purposes If all the mouths OF
the Duwsmish are to be retained as navigable
channels, requiring to be crossed by draw
bridges This fact was recognized by the state
hsrbor line commission, who, in fixing the har-
Dor lines OF Seattle, laid out single waterway
across the tide fats for the Duwamish river,
which waterway connected with the western
mouth. The commission further desired to con-
order that this channel might be benefited to
the greatest extent possible by the tidal and
river currents
copy of the report OF the commission with
maps of Seattle, showing hsrbor lines adopted,
is herewith.
After q very careful consideration of the mat
interests OF the public, of commerce, OF the CITY
OF Seattle and OF the state of Wash ngton would
be benefited by confning the Duwamish waters
TO one channel way across the fats, and the
closing up and Abandonment ss navigs Bile chan
neis of all the other Duwamish mouths.
This would accomplish two very desirable
ends. 1t would, by combining the tidal currents
to one channel, cause them TO scour out and
maintain deeper channel and entrance to the
Duwamish river than they can possibly do II
weakened by division as at present, and 1t
would do away with the very serious obstruc-
tons TO the construction and operation of rail
roads, street car lines, and the growth and de-
velopment OF the city generally.
course from parties having interests on this
eastern arm, or, rather, ON little slough
from the eastern arm. A sawmill is located
upon THIS slough, as SHOWN In REQ upon the blue
print submitted The owner. Mr.. Newell, OF
this mill has been and is opposed to the closing
OF this slough.
/ understand that he had petitioned to the
secretary of war against the closing of the Du-
vanish arm, in which his mill is located Aside
from this opposition, / know OF no other to the
wishes OF the railroad company and Chamber of
Commerce being granted.
This seems % be case in which small. pri-
vase interests stand in the way of great public
ones If it were not for the private interests
tod sx-41 rN,s 49, q NJ
/ should unhesitatingly recommend that
the request of the railroad and Chamber
OF Commerce be granted and recommend il
ANYWAY, unless there are insurmountable legal
objections to so doing, as the interests to be
interfered with are so small and the interference
SO slight. and the public good to be accomplished
so great.
Captain symons inclosed the reply from
Washington denying the request. Brigadier-
General Thomas Lincoln Casey, chief OF the
enginsers, after SUMMARIZING the petitions for
closing the channel. refers to the brief of the
Newell mill people in opposition, and closes by
saying:
This branch of the river being a navigable
water OF the United States, there is no law en-
powering the secretary OF war to declare il 9TH
erwiSe, or to authorize its being closed to navf.
CATION. II is, therefore, recommended that the
request OF the railroad company be denied.
This recommendation b. General Casey is ap-
proved BY L. F. Grant, acting secretary of war
Secretary J. W. Dodge was requested to ex-
press 10 Captain Symons the thanks of the
chamber for his efforts in behalf of the city
LUMBER FREIGHT RATES.
letter was read from r. w Duraut in regard
10 rates on lumber and shingles shipped TO East
ern points. Accompanying a clipping from
the PosT- lNTELLIGES of July /, stating the
depressed condition OF the lumber market The
letter follows:
Herewith find clipping from PosT-IyrEL-
LIGESCER in regard 10 the lumber industry OF
this sound country, with particular reference to
the foreign demand.
IL is unfortunate that this city and other
points do not have an Eastern demand for the
lumber and shingles of this country. II the
Northern Pacific and Union Pacific railroads
would make a low rate of freight, no doubt
Eastern dealers would order very largely from
the dealers on this Sound.
Even a, present freight rates q good many
cedar shingles, because of their excellent
quality, have been sent 10 Denver and other
Eastern markets, and as Tar East. believe, as
Ohio. Are not the two railroads named above
obliged 20 haul back East more than one half
their cars empty, except, perhaps, during the
fall Of the year and portion of the winter
Does it cost much more TO haul full cars than
empty Cannot the railroads named afford
and can they not be prevailed upon
TO make such low rate on lumber and SHINGLES,
from this sound country. as would no; only be OF
great ADVANTAGE To themselves but the immense
lumber interests OF Puget Sound.
Perhaps the Seattle Chamber OF Commerce has
already called the attention OF the above roads
u this important matter, but IL not, l believe
that strong effort in the direction of low rate
Chamber OF Commerce and bo-rd of Trade OF
this city, would DC of greater Importance to the
best interests Of Seattle than anything else that
could be done.
The matter was referred 20 the committee on
transportation.