The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-02
THE EAST DUwAMIsH CHANNEL.
The Memorial Urging Government I'm
gineera to Close 1t.

BlO06f8 I'd NIO8e
A special committee of the Chamber of Com
mercc, consisting OF Dr.. A. p Mitten, Judge
Thomas Burke and Thomas w. Prosch, yesterday
sent the following letter to Captain T. W.
Symons, Of the engineer corps of the United
States army stationed at Portland:
AT meeting Of the board of trustees OF the
Chamber OF Commerce. the resolutions following
were unanimously adopted:
".Resoired, That 1t 10 the sense of the board
after investigation and consideration, that the
slough or east channel OF the Duwamish river
should be closed TO navigation; that the closing
will be OF little or no injury to any one, while
its keeping open will be n serious impeachment
to the development OF the country and the
growth OF this city
"For the purpose of carrying out this senti-
ment 1t was further determined that a commit
tee composed of the subscribers hereto should
forward 10 you the resolution, with such addi-
tional statements to the committee members
seemed proper and desirable to secure the object
sought.
.The channel which we ask closed consists of a
mere slough a half-mile long, ut the southern
end of Seattle harbor. 1t 10 formed by the fork
ing or DIVIDING of the Duwamish river at the
mouth into three parts, locally known as the
east, middle and west channels. The middle
and west channels are the only ones available
for the purposes Of commerce with the outer
world. To reach the east channel, ii is abso-
lutely necessary TO use one of the other two
The east channel runs down the mainland along
the city front, and divides and re-divides into
small marsh-ways, which in town are piled and
built over and partially filed by the energetic
inhabitants of rapidly growing city II is i'm.
possible for the smallest of boats TO get into the
slough from the hsrbor by following any or all
of these waterways. The streets OF the city and
the railroads cross them, while they in turn
cross plated lots and blocks in their entire
course TO the sea- No steamer has used the east
channel In the Seattle Duwamish trade for many
years, all steamboat intercourse being by the
other routes No one here has any idea
that in tho future it will be diff
fesent On the contrery, all look forward
to ariver or harbor improvement by which the
puwsmish win be more confined, its usefulness
being correspondingly increased The state
haroor commission contemplate this and We
have no doubt that you have also In your official
examination of the Puget sound rivers looked
upon this IS the ultimate solution of such trou-
hles as the one OF which we are now writing
As the city Is built in that direction, streets
opened and other public aud private improve
ments inauguratec. the objections 70 this slough
this short and but little used body of water
win increase in number and extent while at
the same time the costs and difficulties OF its
removal will he multiplied eorrespondingly.
s'we call your attention 10 the matter. The
wheels OF commerce are already blocked, and AT
least one improvement stopped, the value of
which exceeds many times over the amount az
any and all interests supposed to be assailed.
We say, supposed TO be assailed.' for we GO no,
believe any interest 10 really sssailed. No one
viii be the poorer and no ones property will
be injured by the action we ask, and the action
Is one that. If not taken now. az the most can
only be postponed In the end il Is sure TO
come"