The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-22
IN THE DUWAMISa BASIN,
No Abatement CT the Flood on the
Lower Riyer-The Big Log Jam.

The peculiar system of rivers in the valleys to
the south and west of this city has caused the
foods 20 last there much longer than in any
other part OF the Sound country, ami the Duwa-
mish aad Black river bottom lands are still a
vast sea. Fo. the last tIo days Cedar
river has been keeping this sea supplied,
the floods in the White and Green rivers having
gone down, bu, yesterday il began to discharge
Into Lake Washington, and it Is feared
that .he lake will now fill up. receiving in ad-
ditiou the streams from its own watershed and
from semammish lake. flowing through Su,n-
ainmish river, aud back up into the valIeyss a
causing a continuance of the food. Thus the
DGwamish would be made the outlet to the
sound for all the western and southern parts of
King county. receiving the contributions Of
Cedar. Black, White and Green rivers aud Lakes
Wash ingtoa and Samammish This destructive
deluge might have beed prevented hai ths ship
canal been cut from the lake to the Sound BY
wey of Salmon bay, Tor 1t would retucs the
level of the lake and make safe outlet for all
the food water pouring iRso II.
The situation was in no degree improved in
the northern part of the valleys yesterday
Water stretched everywhere, carrying with il
gres: quantities OF d-iftwood and wreckage
The Cedar and Black rivers were falling a.
Renton. but there was no sign of a subsidcace
OF the Duwanish and IL still spreads ell over
the broad meadows which border It's ordinary
channel The water from Black river broke
through the railroad embaaz nent made last
summer and added TO tbs body to
The west. The Jam still presses aeains,
the county bridge, u solid mass five acres in
extent stretching far bsyond the ordinary
channel and reaching TO the bed of the stream.
This blocking Of lis channel has forced the
river. which makes q sharp bend, almost doub-
ling On itself, iust above the bridge, 20 make
short cut across the meadow in this bend
and strike against the long trestIe an
prosch on the south side. Men were en-
gagged under direction OF Commissioner Gascb
ali day yesterday in blasting and cutting ayav
fragments OF the jam on the inner side of ths
bend and forcing them into the current Ten
blasts were fired and several charges failed to go
of. At dark this work had gotten -id OF about
one-third OF the length OF the Jam on one aide
and the work Will be continued TODAY Tba
government snag boat sSsgis is tied up a. the
mouth of the river within sight of the lam ana
could clear ont this jam in ~ hour but ,hongb
Capt Jefferson ts very anxious 20 do 80 bis
orders are to tie up and he dare not turn
wheel The county would gladly nav
all expense of the work, but even II the, WOO
to telegraph to Washington City for Orders NV
the time the circumlocution Office got through
its routine on the subject the need would have
passed away. Meanwhile the draw-Spsu r,ar
receives the pressure OF the jam, END on an,, ia
all that keeps the bridge from being torn sxsv
At TIE po0r farm and the pest house a short
distance 10 the north, the water /. nm
J. o the floors At River Park, close bv
many OF the houses are in water I'm To the
ceiling Of the first aoor The bridge of the elec
| trie railway has not yet gone out, but cannot
stand II the county bridge above goes Asdrift
| comes down IL Is kept in the channel by large
| force Of NEE, but 8 Jam has commenced TO form
| there despite all their efforts. On Cayansugn's q