The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-11
ALLEN ON THE CANAL.
Arguments in Favor of Connect
ing the Seattle Lakes.
FOLLY OF DELAYING WORK
The Channel Must Be Made at Some
Time, and 1t Never Can Be Done
More Cheaply Than Now.

WAsHISGTos CRY, March 1o.-TSpecial.l
The argument of Senator Allen before
the Senate committee on commerce in
favor of the Lake Washington ship canal
was such worthy presentation of the case
that it is very possible now that the COM
mittee will earnestly recommend the pass
age of the bill that is now before it. Mr..
Aliens argument in full is as follows:
Lake Washington has area Of about $500
acres, OF which about - 900 acres cover depth
OF twenty ave feet ana more The lake lies i'm
mediately in the rear-iu fact, it forms the rear
OF the city of Seattle. Between Lake Wash
ington and Puget sound lies Lake Union, with
an area OF about 900 acres, OF which about 500
cover depth OF twenty-five feet and more. The
distance from deep water in Puget sound to
Lake Washington is one and three-quarter miles.
The first part of the work to be done would con-
s;st in dredging a channel through the shoals to
the entrance of the canal. The distance from this
point to Lake Union is about 500 feet. The
average tide in Puget sound is eleven feet, and
the extreme tide about eighteen feat. The level
OF Lake Union is about eight feet above that OF
Salmon bay, and the height OF Lake Washington
above Lake Union seven and one-half feet
This gives you about an outline of the position
OF the different lakes in relation to Puget sound.
The estimated cost of this work, according 10
the two plans, by one is s3,50)000 and by the
other s., 100000 These figures are based on the
report Of the recent board OF army engineers.
One route leaves Puget sound BY Salmon bay
into Lake Union. That is the least expensive
route. The other goes through Smiths cove.
That uecessitates the cutting of the canal be-
tween Salmon bay and the bay OF Seattle.
The shore of Lake Washington is the rear OF
the city OF Seattle. Two electric car lines and
two cable lines run across from Puget sound to
the lake.
In reply to question as to what the adj
vantages of such canal would be since
naval commission had made an adverse re-
port on the proposition to establish naval
station on Lake Washington, Mr.. Allen
said:
The local advantages of Lake Washington are
all within few miles. The nearest coal mines
are within two miles. and within eighteen miles
are seven coal mines that have an annual yield
OF l,2j0, 900 tons Of coal. Two larger mines are
within short distance. There are on the tribu-
tary waters of these lakes 5000 100000 feet of
lumber, and sawmills of almost every descrip-
ton. There are also within very easy reach of
the lake seven discoveries OF iron and steel ores,
the largest that have been found in the state, OF
almost linitless extent, and men of Judgment
are placing capital and operating these mines.
will say in addition that all the railroad sys-
tens Of the state of Washington center around
Lake Washington 1t is practically beltei with
them. The Northern Pacific, Union Pacific,
the local roads, tae Great Northern and
the Canadian Pacifc-in fact, all Of the
railroad systems of the state are having COM
munications put in there. In 1850 the state had
less than 200 miles of railroad; now it has 1900
miles and 100 miles in project. This local
traffic. however, is all made up OF elements that
go into the making up OF general commerce.
The state supplies the whole Pacific coast with
coal, and is one Of the greatest lumber suppliers
On account OF the great range OF tide, occurring
twice IN twenty-four honrs, the loading and
loading OF vessels at the locks on Puget sound is
very difficult and expensive In all of the Paci-
fc waters the teredo or ship-worm is extremely
destructive. 1t is found that in these waters
the worm will destroy pile III two years. You
will see from the rise and fall of the tides the
great length of plies that must be used. In
fresh water, where the piles meet with no
such trouble, you are also free from the
rise and fall of tides. These lakes are
always free from ice, and so shipping can
go on all the year around. This fresh-water
harbor would be OF great advantage as well as
benefit TO all ships lying in il. On account OF
the rapid accumulation OF marine growth on
the bottom OF iron and steel ships a vessel can
make the voyage from Liverpool to Seattle in
from twenty to thirty DAYS less time than she
can make the return trip. 1t is an established
fact that fresh water is the only remedy at pres
ent known for the killing off of the barnacles
and other moliusks that attach themselves to
iron ships. No way of protecting the piIings of
the wharves has yet been discovered, and the
Oregon Improvement Company has been at
great expense In the matter OF piers, one of
which alone cost sl6S 900 This same pier could
have been built on the fresh water harbor at
cost of not TO exceed $4,000, and the real cost
would have been even less on account OF the
longer life OF timber in fresh water and it being
free from the attacks of the tercdo.
There is no otaer place on the Pacific coast
where vessels could anchor in fresh water with
the exception OF the Columbia river The naval
authorities say this harbor would be an i'm
portant adjunct TO the navy yard to be estab-
lished at Port Orchard, and all concur in the be-
lief that the dry dock IS located where il should
be. The naval ships while waiting their turn
to go on the dry dock would be lying in fresh
water, and this kills the barnacles. so that they
can be removed with a shovel and without in
jury 10 the bottom of the vessel In the history
OF the building up of our navy common sense
dictates that at least one-half OF that navy will
have TO be used IN the Pacific waters.
The territory OF Washington was organized in
1851, thirtyeight years ago, and up to this time
l do not think, if you sum il al up, that PUGET
sound has had the patronage OF congress in the
way OF Improvements to exceed 5000 I do
not know that the entire state has had anything
Ouls!ue OF the Improvements on the CO.unbIa
river. she has asked nothing from the general
government, and for years her shipping has in
creased until today there are more vessels
licensed in the Puget sound district than in any
other state in the Union, with one or two excep-
tons.
For twenty years or more this enterprise has
been fathe:ed in the minds OF far-sighted citi-
zens. Twenty years ago two routes for this
canal were surveyed; twenty years ago, though
a struggling village, they had two lines inr
more economical than any line today
These two routes, however, will have to be
rejected, because they pass right through
the heart of the city OF Seattle
The right-of-wsy through the city today would
cost more than the whole enterprise. By DELAY
two opportunities were lost. third opportun-
ity has been lost. such valuable property in
terests have gathered around these waters that
the question of bringing the two lakes 70 the
FAD In "a q