The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-09
THE "DITCHEs" COMPARED.
Lake Washington Canal More Deserving
Than the Willamette River.

Lake Washington Canal More Deserving
Than the Willamette River.
Dayton Chronicle.
Years ago the Oregon delegation in congress
assisted by the delegation from Washington
got an appropriation for the commencement OF
the Cascade locks and also for other improve
ments OF the Columbia river. Why have those
locks not been completed? The reason was and
Is all railroad lines must be completed TO Port
land, Or; FIRST make all Eastern Oregon ana
Washington tributary to the Oregon metropolis.
The Willamette river ditch must be kept open
and made permanent to its junction with the
Columbia river; the immense jetty at Astoria
must be completed; but the admission and
rapid development Of Washington and our dele
CATION compelled them to show their hand
whereby We have secured appropriations and
bills introduced letting the contract for compile.
ton OF the locks, which will in all probability
take three to five years, or about twenty years
In all. II 1t had been LETT to the Oregon delega-
ton (and they claim all the honor because our
delegation had the temerity to ask for what
they call the Seattle ditch), the bill appropria-
ton and contract never would have been intro.
duced.
The Willamette river ditch or Portland ditch
10 twelve miles long, and all OregOnians know
that a United States government dredger has
been at work on it for many years past, and IL is
fer from good ditch yet at some seasons of the
year, and needs continual digging. But they
tell you that the United States men-of-war
Charleston and Baltimore went up and down
their ditch; (yes, In the spring OF the year when
the Columbia river filled their ditch.l Why
should all the freight from Eastern Oregon and
Washington go up and down that ditch? Why
not go to Astoria directf
What great crime has our delegation COM
mitted when they ask for q three-mile ditch,
after having not only assisted but taken front
seat in the Columbia river appropriations, as
shown by their speeches, and Mr.. Allen having
furnished Mr. Dolph with data and information
in making his argument before the Senate?
The fact Of the matter Is, the Oregon delega-
ton have and receive the credit they deserve
for the appropriations they have secured for
their state, and which we approve, but we do
most emphatically object to having our delega-
ton censured for exactly the same thing. Why
should they not ask to have one of the finest
fresh water harbors in tho world opened by the
general government?
The Lake Washington canal would be but
three miles long, furnish fine water power,
opening up coal mining, iron and timber lands;
and furnish fresh water harbor on Puget
sound far SURPRISING Portland, or, in fact, any
fresh water harbor in the world, the immense
value OF which to our state i'll the future can
hardly be realized at present But the Oregon
delegation say it Is local to Seattle tit 10 not
local to Portlandl Is that q damage to the
state?
The Democratic party at its late convention
having seen III to follow its old traditions of
opposing public Improvements, made mistake
which they certainly will regret in opposing the
Lake Washington canal and taking up fight of
the Northern Pacific railroad and its metropo-
lis, the town OF Tacoma.