The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-23
PLANS FOR A DITCH.
Several Alternatives for Drain
ing Squak Valley.
COST RUNS FROM $50 900 DOWN.
Commissioners Receive Engineer Stix-
rud's Report-Rich Area Would
Be Reclaimed.

A report was made yesterday to the
county commissioners of preliminary sur.
veys made of the proposed Sammamish
ditch by NJ. Stixrud, the engineer to whom
the work was assigned. Proposals and es-
Inmates were submitted for five different
bitches from which to choose one. The
commissioners have called q special meet
ing for October to consider the matter,
and on this occasion all persons having
any interest in the proposed ditch will be
given hearing. The report in full 10 as
follows:
To the Honorable Board OF County Commits
sioners, King County, Wash.-Geptiemen: In ac-
cordsnce with your order Of August Is, 1892,
have made the preliminary survey necessary TO
enable me to make an approximate estimate OF
cost OF Ave different alternatives for the pro-
1ected drainage OF Samnamish valley, and have
the honor to submit the following report:
The nature Of the work done to date viii not
allow me TO 60 into minute details in this re-
port 1t will only contain such facts, figures
and description - will enable you to form fair
idea OF the different alternatives What more
information you may deem necessary
shall have the honor ID give Yer.
baily - far as my observation will
the project is entirely feasible and that, carried
out according to alternatives four or five, the
expense will not be greater than the benefit de-
rived thersfrom will fully justify II Lake
eammamish 10 lowered three or four feet and
the ditch carried out from Lake Sammamish to
Lake Washington, hundreds Of acres OF addi-
tiousl land surrounding Lake Sammamish can
be reclaimed. The cost Of this under the present
circumstances will probably prohibit this being
carried out
Alternative l-Ditch figured for q rainfall Of
g. q inches-ths average for one month during
the rainy season. The channel will start at sta
tion 0. at lower end of Lake sammamish, with
q uniform grade of 00l64 feet in 100 feet through
out and have total length of about 5000 feet,
or about eleven miles. The ditch to have the
location shown by red line on map. This 10
practically new channel all through, laid a.
straight as possible and as near to the middle OF
the low land as practicable in order to give
good opportunity for draining the low land. In
this case that part of the low land lying above
or south of the middle of section Is, township
Is north, range east, will not be flooded at any
time of the year except during the moro than
ordinary rainy season The land lying below
this point (center OF section 15) will bc flooded
by extreme high water only.
Alternative 2-The ditch il figured to carry
the same amount of water as for alternative l,
and has the same location (red line on map), the
south quarter of section Is, township Is north,
range east, the fall 10 changed, as shown on
profile in order to avoid any overflow Of the
land situated below this point.
Alternative 3-Ditch 10 figured for q rainfall OF
three inches, or the average for the month of
March. The location and the fall OF ditch 10
the same as for alternative /: also total length,
but dimensions are decreased a. marked on the
profile. II the channel 10 constructed accord
ing to this proposal the low lands along the en-
tire length of ditch will BE- flooded at high wa
ter, but all lands lying above the middle OF sec
ton Is, township %, range east, will be clear
OF overflow from about April !, and the rest of
the low land lying below said section Is some
time later, say about May l.
Alternative 4-Ths ditch 10 figured to carry
the same amount Of water As alternative The
location and the fall of the ditch is the same a.
for alternative 2-dimensions IA marked on pro-
file. In this alternative the low land along the
entire line viii practically be free from over.
fow at about April /.
Alternative 5-The ditch in this proposal has
location more conforming to the old channel
(see blue line on map,. The old channel Is as
sumed to be left - IL ID from Sammamish AXE
to station 17E50, or to the crossing OF the south
line OF section 2, township "a north, range S
east, and the excavation to begin ct this point
The grades and dimensions are marked on pro-
file. BY constructing tho ditch according to
this alternative all low lands along the new
channel will be free from overflow at about
April l. Rainfall used. three inches.
ArrRoxIxAr. ESTIMATE.
Excavation 1900 cubic yards at IL cents $Sl 900
Clearing 80 acres 1t Decentralization. LOGO
$500
Nots-By beginning at sta. T+5o (McRed-
mond bridge this estimate will be reduced to
$4,000.
Alternative p
Excavation 100000 cubic yards at IL cents s9l 800
Clearing 80 acres ct 80. ................... LOO
;s6. 400
Notwithstanding At sta 774-,o estimate win
be reduced to $S4SO0.
Alternative s.
Excavation 10000 cubic yards At II cents SIS, 500
Clearing 80 acres at SO. INSTRUMENTATION. 1000
So, 400
Notwithstanding at sta 77-4+5o estimate wiz
be reduced TO $4,000.
Alternative A.
Excavation 55l 400 cubic yards at II cents 200
Clearing ~ acres At 80. Loo
Sos 900
No:s-Begnnlne at sta. 77j-5o estimate will
be reduced to $780, 500.
Alternative s.
Excavation 36s, 400 cubic yards at II centa 81 900
Clearing 80 acres at $O................... 1,0OO
"a, 200
Note--By going clear TO Lake sammamIsh e.
innate will increase to $4,000.
Note--The cost OF alternative 5 can b de-
creased TO s3s.Uo0 il the fall OF the ditch 10 ar
ranged according to alternative and 8, /. g..
uniform grade. but then only the land above
section Is will be free from overflow on April l.
Remarks--The total length of line is divided
into five divisions. The drainage area for each
is aseertaiaed partly from the government re-
port on the Lake Washington canal and partly
from township maps The discharge for each
rs marked on profile IL compiled from above
mentioned drsiEsge areas and the following table
OF average rainfall as given in said government
report The summer discharge Is ascertained BY
gauging at point about mile above the mouth
OF Rear creek.
MONTHLY AVERAGE RAINFALL IN IScHKa
January .......... 7.7nJuly O. 50
February ......... 4 sSsAugust ........ 0 rs
March ............. =. 6oseptenber .... @ OF
April. .............. 5if0etob ........ 8 "a
Nay ..-............. l oS November . o "a
June .........-,... g. December ........ s. 50
In an interview regarding the proposed
work Mr.. Stixrud said:
tried 10 get line a. nearly a. possible In the
middle OF the low land, so as TO drain IL ALL I
have divided the waterway into ive sections,
with an estimate OF the drainage area for each
section. The surface OF Lake Sammamish is
sim acres, end IL has . drainage basin OF S. 500
acres. The total drainage basin OF sammamish
sloush ia 70 lfp srrax have not m ada a suvvav