The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-08
THE BIG SHIP CANAL.
The Chamber of Commerce Dis
cusSes the Undertaking.
PERMANENT COMMITTEE NAMED.
Anticipation Of Congregational Action
sion-Ths Dslinquens Members.

At the monthly meeting OF the Chamber Of
commerce Last night President Jacob Furth ap-
| pointed ID. II. Gilman, Dr.. A. p. Nitten, C T.
Conover, George H. Hebron and C. d. 6tinson
permanent committee on the Lake Washing
ton canal
Mr.. Furth said that the matter OF the canal
should come up for immediate discussion, in
| order that the members OF the committee might
receive suggestions to the best mode OF pro-
cedure. In the spring corps Of the army en-
| gineers had visited the city In order to look
| over the ground This committee would, in .
lew days, report to congress on the cost OF the
work The feasibility OF the project was
already established beyond . doubt, and the
| only question was one Of cost. What the report
| would be, no one knew, but the citizens should
be in position to act a. soon a. the report il
made.
Z. o. Graves declared that the usual course in
| such enterprises was for the board of engineers
TO report first on the feas bility, desirability
| and necessity OF the canal and then on the cost
| In this case, however, congress had assumed
that the canal was feasible. and the question Of
| cost was the only one remaining. Accordingly
Seattle should use its efforts to influence con-
| gress directly by the senators and representa-
nves in congress.
John Z. Aver asked whether IL would be best
TO have congress do the work In ten years or q
| private company In three years Perhaps the
be easier and more profitable for Seattle to inter.
| est private capital
Mr.. Furth asked how a private company
| could go to work to get franchise.
J. A. Gould stated that he understood that pri-
| vate company had already obtained franchise,
secured land and built . small canal through
| to Lake Union from Lake Washington This
company would probably have the preference.
Mr.. Gould believed that private parties were
now figuring on the work, and he supposed that
sufficient subsidies could be raised to induce
this company TO undertake the enterprise. He
had been told that the government had rather
small ideas and would not build canal large
enough to admit the passage even OF the
Olvmpian.
Joshua N. Wrestling thought that congress
had now started out on the path to build the
canal and if congress would do the work there
was no necessity for private interference. The
best plan would be to wait until 1t was seen
what congress would do.
DR.. Samuel W. Ramsey thought that nothing
| could be accomplished here to any advantage
until the report OF the army engineers Oh the
| cost made.
| Mr. Aver expressed aconviction that If Seattle
! waited for congress the first spade would not be
struck until the summer OF 1895, and the diff
| Guilty OF inducing congress to act was 80 great
| that the delay might be even longer.
Finally it was suggested that the secretary
| secure as soon as possible copy OF the report
OF the engineers. AQSu IIEt0eT 6CtlOu WOulQ
/ be taken.
James Leddy and Thomas ". Prosch, the COM
miitee on the Seattle & Montana excursion, pre-
sented the following report, which was unani-
1 mously adopted:
The celebration of the completion and open.
| ing to traffic of the Puget sound section of the
| Great Northern railway, from Seattle IA miles
| to Fraser river, in British Columbia, November
| n and IS, was yeritable jubilee from beginning
to end. The weather was propitious and all the
| COuQltiOuc fayOrabIa. The arraugemeQtN of tha
| company were ample and perfect, and included
service first class and unexcsptionable in
every particular. The roadbed is firm and sub
| staptial, and the long train rolled over is
| smoothly and delightfully."-. No other rail route
| in the state Is to DO compared with this for
beauty, grandeur and variety OF scenery, while
| no other read of equal length has commercial
and agricultural opportunities approaching
| those here found.
On the occasion referred to about 400 people
went from Seattle, who. on the way, were Joined
by 200 more at Marysville, Mount Vernon, Fair.
demonstrations were made at all places along
the iiiie the people of which no less pleased
| at the coming among them OF the Great
city. We wen, into New Westminster 600
| strong, led by our band and welcomed by the
municipal authorities and Board of Trade
| There and subsequently at Fairhaven, public
I meetings were held at which enthusiastic and
| happy speeches were made both by residents and
members of our own party, the common senti.
| ments being OF satisfaction at the accom- plish-
| ment OF 30 great and promising work, and of
! desire for closer commercial and social rela-
| tions, accompanied on the one side by nssur-
ances of personal welcome ana on the other OF
| the utmost good feeling Your committee 10
| convinced that lasting benefits will result from
| this excursion, and that in giving 1t under The
| auspices of the chamber the company is en-
titled to an Official acknowledgement on our
| part
| The committee had cause for regret at the I'M
| avoidable absence of one of its members, the
/ Hon. J. X. Lewis, Who projected the celebration
| aud who entered heartily into Its spirit, and
| frny WI mi pnticInHtaH IN
easion. but who was called East a few days prior
| to its contamination. The preamble and reso-
| lutions following are presented:
| WHEREAS, The actual entry OF the Great
| Northern railway into Seattle and the state of
| Washington Is a fact accomplished and,
! WHEREAS. Great good must result to our city
and state therefrom, opening this road viii
| new resources and channels OF trade, and fur
Their freeing the people from the baneful effects
| WHEREAS. The Great Northern company has
| already evinced q regard for popular rights and
somewhat novel as well as most delightful, and
| that win cause IL To be welcomed as q friend In
every community in which it finds location;
| and,
| WHEREAS. The late excursion from Seattle
! through Snohomish, skagit and Whatcom
counties into British Columbia was happy H.
| lustration OF the feelings and methods of the
! great corporation that has so recently come
| among us; therefore, be II
| Resolved, that the Seattle Chamber OF Com
| merce TeJoices most thoroughly in the building
| OF the Great Northern Railway into and through
| our state. and il looks upon this as event,
| a contamination OF hopes. second TO nothing in
| Washiugtou's past history; and be IL further
| Resolved, that an earnest expression of our
| gratitude 10 due, and hereby lie rendered TO the
| company its officers and emp oyes for the very
complete and enjoyable excursion given on the
! 9th AMI 18th ultimo, in commenoration OF this
great event.
| The question of delinquent dues and assess
rnents came up for discussion. Secretary J. w.
| Dodge stated that the delinquent dues amounted
to s, 2l7 and delinquent assessments to s., $50.
! total OF s. SAT. The need of making immediate
payments was earnestly urged by the president
/ ana others Mr.. Aver suggested that since no
| new member OF the chamber would buy stock