The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-30
THE LAKE wAsHINGTON CANAL.
Tho Memorial Favoring 1t Passed by
the First Legislature.

The following memorial WAS introduced In
the first legislature OF the state OF Washington
by Representative Alexander Allen, Oh hing
county, and passed both houses by unanimous
vote of those present:
To the Senate dad House of Representatives. Of the
United Sctes an Congress assembled: your menlro-
ia.ists OF tue sena.e aud House OF Representa-
tives OF the state of Washington respectfully
represent as follows:
WHEREAS, The city OF Seattle. growing
maritime port advautageously situated on the
waters OF Puget sound, Is bounded inianu 10 the
east by Lake Union, body OF iresn water one
mile wide, three miles in length ana from MY
20 800 feet in depth and.
Washington. Il body of fresh water four miles
wide and about thirty miles IN length, with
depth equal 10 that of LAKE Union; ana.
WHEREAS, South by southeast OF Lake W ASH
ington lies Lake Samamlsh, BODY OF iresn
water nine miles III length, with width ana
depth abou. equal 10 that OF Lake mon; ana,
WHEREAS, Lake Samamish Is connected Win
Lake ashington by the waters OF the Sanamlsn
river, and Lake Washington connected with
Lake Union and Lake Union with tide water at
salmon bay, on Puget sound, by small, snailo"
canal constructed by private enterprise ior
logging purposes; and,
Lake Union, the line OF the canal before
mentioned, is about one mile IN when there Is
rise OF seven ieet, the distance from LAKE
Union 10 LAKE Washington, on Tue same line,
lISo feet, In which there Is rise OF SIX 1eet ten
inches, the distance from Lake Washington To
Lake samanish, by the samamlsh river, aoout
twenty miles, with a rsidg attitude scarcely pre-
ceptlbie. the construction OF ship canal con.
Meeting the three lakes with tide water would
be work easily accomplished; anu,
WHEREAS, The waters OF Puget SOUND are
thirteen feet ten inches lower than the waters
OF Lake Washington, the construction OF snip
canal from tide water TO Lake oainaInlsn WouIu
lower the water margin OF all the lakes; an
event that would give the Samamish river TALL
and current, drain the overflow of centuries,
prevent the back water floods OF winter aud re-
claim great area of country now worthless,
but capable of being made valuable agricultural
lands; and
WHEREAS, The advantages of a great land
locked fresh water basin Tor ship building pur-
poses are we'll understood, and since limitess
supply OF the best and most valuable timber
lines the shore and covers the country surround
ing the lakes herein described, they would IN
all probability become, with the opening of the
aforementioned ship canal, greal ship building
Centers; and
nHERKAs, The country surrounding the said
lakes Is rapidly growing IN population, ana
since said country, in addition TO Its timber
wealth. contains iron and coal, the coal mines
being now extensively worked, the eonstrue-
ton OF q ship canal connecting these lakes with
tide water would stimulate settlement and los
ter agricultural, mining, manufacturing ana
commercial industry. The people OF the lake
country would have a water outlet for their
products, and ships could load with Goals at the
very mouth of the mine. Such ship canal
would confer benefits beyond measure upon
commerce, the City OF Seattle and the common
wealth of Washington.
In view OF these presents we most respectfully
commend to your honorable body the subject
matter of n ship canal constructed upon the lines
hereinbefore defined, ana we most respectfully
solicit the appointment OF mission at an
early date to review and report upon the con-
struction of the said ship canal; and your
memorialists will ever pray.
This memorial passed the House December 10,
1889, by vote OF yeas SO, nays none. absent IL.
Those who voted yea were Messrs. Allen, Black
burn, Blackian, Blair, Bothell, Brown of Spo-
kane, Bush, Clark, Clemen, Cook, Day, Dean,
Drew, Eddy, Edens, Parrish, Flumerfelt, Foster,
Candy, Gllchrist, Grant, Grub, Hamilton,
Hughes, Huntington, Hutchinson, Judson of
Whatcom, Judson Of Pierce, Kennedy, Kuhn,
Lull, NcReavy, Meade, Medcalf, Megler, Mink.
Ter, Morse, Moultray, Nash, Minis. Oliphant, o.
trander. Painter, Peterson, Pickerel, Plummer.
Purdy, Randall, Robertson, Rotch, Rutter,
Sharp, Shinn, Shaw, stevenson, Tucker, Turner,
Weatherford and Mr.. Speaker.
Those absent were Messrs. Bird, Browne OF
Pierce, Cornwall, Geoghegan. Herren, Hewitt,
HANDLE, Person, Power, Spencer and Straight
The memorial! passed the senate December II,
1882 bv the following vote: Yeas-Austin,
Baker, Clough, Fairweather, Fariss, Forsyth,
Guilfoil, Houghton, Hunsaksr, Hyde, Jones,
Kinnear. Landes. Lawrence, Long, Luce, Ow-
ings, Parkinson, Payne, Preston, Rinehart, Sea-
borg, Thompson &. F., Van Houten, Vestal,
Watt, Whalley, Wilson, Wolfe. wooding-So.
Absent or not voting: Drum, Kneelaud, Snow,
Thompson (G. IT,, Wood.