The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-29
SEATTLE. s4TURDAT. OCT. go.


Ifthere is any X ing county voter who is in
sympathy with the Tacoma and Port
land attack upon the Lake Washington
canal he should look backward over the
steps which have been taken in connection
with that improvement and make up his
mind where his sympathy with its as
sailants began, and how far he expects to
carry 1t.
To go backward to the inception of the
canal project one must go back to the first
settlement of Puget sound. Long before
the rebellion the canal project was dear
to the hearts of the people of the Sound
region: that Is, to the hearts Of the few
people who were then here. And even
then it had been favorably recommended
in reports to the general government, no
less distinguished an engineer than George
B. Mcclellan having placed himself
strongly on record in its favor. Nobody
in all the state would have dreamed of
opposing the improvement at that time.
The war put an end to public improve
mcnts for time. and for few years after
the close of the rebellion the governments
attention was SO entirely taken up with
other things that the Northwest was but
little considered. Still the people looked
forward to the time when the canal would
be built, and from time to time petitioncd
congress in its favor through memorials
from their territorial legislatures, and in
other ways. Throughout the territorial
period nobody in the commonwealth Of
fered the slightest objection to the con-
struction of the canal. The people were
unanimously in its favor. and it was only
because of our lack of representation in
congress that the work was not begun
long ago.
When Washington was admitted as a
state. however. the people of King county
naturally supposed that work upon the
canal would soon be commenced. Their
county was the largest and wealthiest of
the state. II had one-fifth of the popula-
ton and more than one-dfth of the
wealth. The canal was the only improve
ment for which the county ever could
ask. 1t was natural to suppose that
as the project had met with no
opposition from any direction in the
past. 1t would meet with none when the
time that it might he successfully carried
out had arrived. The movement for Sc
curing an appropriation for beginning
work took shape, and there was everv
prospect that a bill for that purpose would
pass both houses of congress. Then, and
only then, Portland and Tacoma, in
f.uenced by jealousy of Seattle and fear of
the benefits which the canal would afford.
began an open warfare against the project.
In every way they sought to poison the
minds of the people against it. They as
sailed it through the press. They fought
it with Hobbies at Washington. They did
ell within their power to prevent the in
ception of the work. and were successful
In preventing the passage of the bill by
the house of representatives at the last
session.
When the Republican state convention
met last August very natural resolution
in favor of public improvements. includ-
ing the Lake Washington canal. was
adopted. This resolution WAS as follows:
R.solrcf That we recognize the Importance 10
our peop,e OF the Improvements of our rivers
and harbOrs, and that especially com
mend a. worthy OF the attention of con-
gtess the Columbia river. the harbors of
cur Pacific coast aud OF Puget sound and
Of the ship canal commenting Puget sound
with LAKE Washington: that we condemn
the sctlon OF the democratic house OF repre-
sentatives in refusing an spproprI stiou for
the opening Of the Columbia river and the
lake Washington ship canal. and that We most
n
and Squire ana 81 Reptssent ativs llson in their
advocacy Of those measures, that We are heart
Fly in favor OF the speedy opening 10 settlement,
of she Pgyallup a1d other Indian reservations
with!a this state.
The adoption of this resolution aroused
the haters If Seattle 10 renewed exertions
By appealing To the delegates in one way
and another they succeeded in forcing the
Democratic convention 10 condemn the
canal. This was done against the earnest
and vigorous protests OF the King county
delegation. The resolution adopted bv
the Democratic convention a. as follows /:
We stToarlv cnalemn the course Of senators
Alien ard squire IN advocating appropriations
for the lska Washington cSnaL
This brought the issue sauarsly hefors
the people OF King county. As has been
said nobody in the county hsd dreamed
Of opposing the canal up to that time.
Few oppose it today. Yet, isto he feared
that there are some who. ia opposition 10
their own wishes. IN opposition 20 ;heir
own interests. N opposition - what they
believe 10 be right. viii vote the Demo
cratic state ticket and thus express their
demnstory Of the canal il = to oe hoped.
however. thar there are not many such.
A vote for the Republican state. CON
ercssional and legislative ticket Is vote
for the lake Washington canal A vo.s
against that ticket Is = vote against the
canal.
THE TWO $GIIEAAS~.