The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-10-29
The MONEY. READY.
Work on Semple's Lake Wash
ington Canal in Sight.
SUBSIDIES TO BE ASKED FOR.
Durfs Tells of the Benefits tn the city
and stass-worshlsss Lands
Mads Valuable.

turned TO the city yesterday morning from
Olympia, where, as announced IN the
PosT-ISTELLIsgscER yesterday morning
Mr. semp.-'s contract with the state 20
excayate for 3 csnal from the head OF
Elliott bar to Lake Washington and the
Duwamish waterways and TO Oil
in the tide fats with the material taken
oat. Was assigned 10 the company by per-
mission OF the state. The officials OF the
company are in excellent spirits over the
situation and feel that in short time the
actual work will commence.
David T. Durie, treasurer of the COM
pany, was seen Yesterday afternoon BY a
PosT-IsrErLeEsoEE reporter. and asked
when the company intended 10 commence
work. He replied:
"The company has perfected arrange
ments for the necessary capital TO COM
msnce aud prosecute 10 contamination
the work IN terms of its contract with the
state. This money wiii be at once avail
able when the company makes showing
of sufficient subsidies TO pay for the right
of-way through the lands privately owned
aud other purposes not provided for In the
act OF the legislature, the law providing
for liens on the filled lands for the cost Of
filing and the necessary bulkhsads and
retaining walls.
the right-of-way through privase prop
srty
mo, We do not, and We feel confident
that this preliminary work will be accom-
piished so that we can begin work In De-
cember"
Can you estimate the number OF men
that viii be given work.
II cannot for the reason that Capt.
Symons has the engineering department
in his charge and ne Is at work on the
plans and specifications, but has not yet
reported his plans to the company. / can
say this. however, that the work viii be
prosecuted with all the energy possible
consistent with business economy"
What will be the general character of
the engineering workY"
The lands will be filled to . height of
two or three feet above extreme high tide;
the streets aud alleys will be filled and
placed in a condition for immediate use by
the city. graded in fact. A fresh water
harbor of great capacity will be created by
the excavation of the waterways to
depth OF twenty-six feet below low water.
The canal through the hills will be of the
following dimensions: Bottom eighty
feet wide, the walls being constructed at
an angle of one TO one; the bernie or tow
paths, thirty-six feet wide on either side.
wide enough for driyeways and railroad
rights-of-way. The length Of the canal
through the hill section will be
little less than two miles.
One lock viii be necessary
and this will be 500 feet long The water
in the canal will be maintained at the
level of Lake Washington by means of
spillways and other works. The work
will probably be commenced on the east
waterway and We hope before many
months 10 furnish a portion Of the same
for wharfage use. Our work on this water
way will in all likelihood be prosecuted in
such way as to afford relief by another
year TO the overlooked lands in the Du-
vanish and White River valleys"
How do you view this enterprise?'
This is purely . business enterprise.
not being dependent on congressional APP
propriations, and is made possible by the
| state making a market for the excavated
material, by filling up of the tide flats,
| thus making them available tor business
| purposes. At the present time the tide
| fiats are practically worthless. but by fill
| ing them their value will be enhanced in
| such n degree as to enable them to easily
| bear tho burden of the lien W hich the state
| has placed on them for the cost of the i'm
| provemenL The opinion of competent
| Judges is that the lien for the filling of
these lands will not equal ons-fifth OF their
value " hen filled in. There will thus be
| created a new taxable value of many mil
| lions of dollars within the city of Seattle
| for the city and state. This will really be
| created out of nothing. or something out
of what hitherto has had no taxable
| value"
What do you calculate Is the benefits
to Scatter"
Il do not think | could answer the
| question better than giving summary of
the advantages as shown in letter from
the company to Gov. McGraw."
| "'Ihe advantages TO Seattle which would
accrue In consequence Of the execution of these
| works are many, aud the result would be the
| creation OF a city without a rival In facilities
| ior commerce.. manufactures and trade. A par
| sial summary OF these advantages would in
| eluds the following;
"firt-seattls would be provided with
magnificent harbor at a los cost no part of
| which cost would be a tax on the existing prop
| erty or resources of the city. This harbor
| would be ready for present and be large
enough for ali prospective requirements.
| Nharyes aud other structures sbutIing on the
| waterways would DO free from the rayages Of
| tbs teredo, aud BY reason OF the waters OF the
| Dawsmish river being confined In these water
| Ways and directed against the whAFyea
| which are now in the harbor
| front. thus efecting the dilutfon OF the salt
/ wster of the bay in their vicinity, a great
| saving in expense would accrue 10 the owners
| OF these ~harsss snd structures, Ia addition
| % these facilities the greatly desired ship canal
| he butt aud the great fresh water hsrbor CT
| Lake Washington would 10 added 10 ihs CON-
| msFCiai facilities OF Seattle. The existing har-
| boT, the new hsrbor tho nuwamsh and canal
| thea form integral parts compsctly arranged of
! the hsFhor of Seattle
/ 'seeoaa-The railroad situation would to
solved. All railroads would fud sufficient
/ room Tor their vayie1 business. and access on
| roon1y.apa natural lines would be afforded them
/ 10 whzrSes Of suitable construction for the
/ transaction OF business between them and the
| water erGft-
"'faira-Ths hnlns in OF the fats to
| height of several ieet above high water would
| b. sanitary measure of the greatest import
/ sBes 10 seattle The fats, ia their present con
dsstoa, are ga ansighty nuisance and dsErl-
mental 20 the health OF the CITY. Tnis evil Is of
! continually Increasing menace, ana therA ia no
/ possible remedy except 20 IA Gp the hats, ss
cur company proposes 70 do "a stdissoa. By
means Of the canal cut. large area OF the hitls
ana va'sess At The seGta eud of tue city can 10
| ssweusg zad TIE drainage froza . distyict which
cannot es taken care 81 bY means OF tie south
| sewer tunnel would De diverted from Lake
/ Washington "a the deep waters Of the hAy
/ g 'faaFsa-eA0nli tbs tide aAs be plated
In large tsocks As proposed by ise beard OF local
| spnrz!ssrs, TIE area OF the street would amOaut
10 80 acFes ny cus PlsDs, these streets would
BE- al raised - helEst a sevsEal iees above
hisa water saa soula % practically graded
ana ready Zoe asa II these streets wsgs con.
/ sueeted OF umbes. at sae figures savsn els ,.
whsFe. tie eost ol construction woaIa he sboui
g. 5eo an sere greater than % tue plan OF nlsng
vita caFth when ouee nllS1 With solid nA
serial, tee eoss st maintenance would 10
iFlajng. but II constructed Of timber ire sx.
pSnse % risastug ~ least would ave to be re-
! Incurred evcfx three o. iaar YearG a
/ " *Flita-fAs reclamation . the tide Fats IN
! connection With fas cara cut through Ihe hl4ls
and TIE maintenance st tie waters OF IAke
eiEy sltk sAe much desired driveway 10 saa
xgDSg the shores 81 tAs AXE Tbs canal eat
wo1la also furnish 50 entrance Tor railroad. Of
a. s1a1s f2tS she area OF tie clfv.
/ ssixtn-The wofs pFepsss1 by tAfs npaay
n alltHg tie Hats Yea u reduce tAs danger 70
tAs c.tg iron extensive afes 70 minimam. Ia
thls coauestsoa. Ne have 0Als 70 remind Yoa
fAat TIE gre@t ere 81 June . IsSa wks tsfsnsi aei
~ the fact tAas sae eeisFa water treat u tasa