The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-11
Receipts From Tide Land Sales
Will Be Available.
CHAIRMAN PRossEa's SCHEME.
A Large Sum Is to Be Expended on Sc
attic Harbor for improvements.
A Corpse Found ON the fsailfoad Track
Near Puyallup, . whisky Bottle
Near blythe Whaleback Will BE
Broken to Pieces SooB.

OLYMPIA, Sept. 10-tSpeeial. Col. W. f.
Prosser, chairman of the state harbor line
commission, who is in the city on official
business, made public today plan for the
construction of the Lase Washington
canal that is certain to command wide
attention and is believed by those who
have considered it as lfxely to have .
great bearing upon that enterprise. In
disclosing the proposition Col. Prosser
said:
The suggestion has been nsade to the harbof
line commission by high authority that it IL
within its power to do away with the contro-
versy that has arisen over the J.ake Washington
canal enterprise. The method proposed is the
construction OF the canal by the commission
with the funds arising frora the sale of tide
lands In Seattle haroor. By an get OF the last leg
isatrre 70 per cent. OF tho proceeds of the sales
of lands within the limits of any incorporated
city or town, or within enc mits on either side
thereof, were appropriated for che construction
OF Improvements In aid OF comslerce and navi-
cation in the harbor of such city. and it 10 pro-
vided that such appropriation shail be expended
under the direction and supervision Of the har-
Dor line commissioners
1t is argued that the construction OF q water
way in the city of Seattle bekween salt water
and the fresh water OF Lake e sashington 10 as
much harbor improvement az any work that
can be done to aid commerce ard navigation in
the state and if this be true it l. much within
the power OF the commission Is build the canal
as il is to dredge harbor. build bulkheads or
the like.
Furthermore, no one outside of Seattle can
object to the expenditure of the Seattle
tide land fund in this way, the
fund is to be expended fer the improve.
ment of Seattle's harbor in any event, and if tho
hat,
canal enterprise alone no one else need COM
plain. The fund arising for suse at Seattle
from the sale of tide lands will be ample
to construct the canal, and II 10 probable
that il it should be decided to pse it for that
purpose work could be commenced at an ap.
proximateiy early date. II tne lands were
ready for disposal at Seattle as they are now
in whatcom county and At Oiygpia, the work
could be commenced speedily, as no further
legislation is required and the matter is en-
tirely within the discretion of tie commission.
The sale of tide lands at eesttle, which has
been delayed by litigation. mag not, however,
be much longer postponed. Tae Yesler case,
which isl test one, 10 set for nearing by the
supreme court of the United stases on October
H. We are promised an early DECISION after the
hearing and then the cornmission will
Ee able to proceed with its work at
Seattle II the Seattle suite were disposed
OF and the commission Ca tie authority sug-
gested, there would appear to be 40 good reason
why the work OF building this caaal should not
be begun at an early day and carried to q speedy
conclusion without waiting for she tardy and
uncertain action of congress. and at the same
time prevent an enterprise OF such magnitude
and importance from falling into the hands or
under the control of private Individuals or
corporations 1t has been estimated
that the tide lands of Seattle will pro-
duce &l0,000.000. In that event S7so0.OO0 will be
available for harbor improvement at that city.
This fund would not only build 9he canal, but
pay for all other Improvements sf the harbor
that may be decided upon. The. canal matter
will be taken under consideration by the
commission soon as the pending suits are
disposed OF, and a hearing Will be given
to all King county people interested in the
matter, just as hearings have already been given
to citizens OF that and other ports on questions
affecting their harbors. Especial attention will
be given in connection with the canal question
to the representatives OF the comlssercial inter
ests OF Seattle, to whose opinions great respect
will be paid If the people of Sesgtte wish the
commission TO undertake the work, l am
satisfied it will do ii, and belieae tho enter
prise can be conducted to success by the com
mission economically and with satisfaction to
the people whose interests are Concerned II
the harbor line commission shall conclude that
the cons truction of this canal Il properly a
part of its duty, rs outlined hcrefu, there will
b. no unnecessary delay or expenss incurred in
pushing the work to an early concf usion.