, 1892-09-10
ILWACO'S HARBOR.
Colonel PrOsSer Discusses Its I'm
pOrtance to Washington.
Ruined by Fish TraPs-What the
Government and State Will DO
to Redeem It-NOrthern Pacific
Extension.

Extension
Colonel Prosser, of the state harbor line
commission, has returned from nwaco,
where, in conjunction with the United
States engineers, the state commission has
been establishing water lines and arrang-
ing for the improvement of the nwaco
harbor.
"Wen there isn't much in relation to
Olympia's harbor that's new. AS you al
ready know, the government has adver-
tised for bids and will go ahead with the
work as soon as the contract has been
awarded.
Reverting to the improvements at the
mouth OF the Columbia. Mr.. Prosser fur
nished information of general interest to
shippers all over the state. Bakers bay
has been rendered practically useless for
harbor purposes by the accumulation of
fishtraps in that body Of water, no less
than 907 traps having been erected. These
traps, in many instances, occupy areas 700
by 1000 feet and are constructed with heavy
piling that directly interferes with the pas
sage of boats. Furthermore, these OBJ
structions, have caused sand and alluvial
soil from the Columbia river to accumulate
in the bay to such depth that vessels of
heavy draught can no longer enter Ilwaco
harbor. A partial compromise was effect
ed by which the owners of the tishtraps
will yacate channel from the outer bay
TO the harbor proper of sufficient
width to afford the free ingress and egress
of large vessels. 1t is hoped that the OBJ
lectiOnable traps may be permanently re-
moved and Bakers bay restored to its for
mer glory as a deep water harbor.
The harbor line commission considers
the maintenance Of good harbor on the
Columbia river on the Washington side an
imperative necessity. Ilwaco seems to be
the best place that can be found. 1t is
near the mouth of the river and
is easy of access. Through lines of the
transcOntinental association have signified
a desire to make IlWaco an important ter
minus, provided the harbor is improved
so ocean vessels can land. The work on
the jetties at the mouth of the Columbia
river has progressed sufficiently to enable
the larger ocean vessels to enter without
the aid of tug boats. This means that
llwacO will become a very important land
ing in the course of time and will form
connecting link between the Columbia
river traffic and the interior of Washing
ton.
The Northern Pacific road is building a
bIanch line from Chehalis to South Bend,
to be completed within sixty days. 1t
would be any easy matter for the line to be
extended on down to the harbOr. Already
there is narrow gauge road in full opera
ton running from IlWacO to Sealand on
the west side of Shoalwater bay, distance
of twenty-One miles, along a magnificent
beach. Cottages and hotels are scattered
on both sides Of this line, and last summer
over 10000 people from the interior of
Washington and elsewhere visited the
beach by way of the narrow gauge.
Colonel Prosser is of the opinion that the
Iwaco horbor is as worthy of special con
sideration as are the ports on Puget Sound,
because it will open up a great highway
through which much of the ocean trade
can reach Washington.