The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-09-16

vita irrpzasty. Il selgows. therefore. sAss
h&roor defense vessels ike TIE Monfsrev
are absolutely essential fov the p-otersAon
% Ia Sound essiss Dasing s1mes Of peAcs
these vessels crnl3 lie in perfect safety In
tie f-esA waters Of Lake wzshingson and
~ TIE sane tire ne axaaIsele fer tnne-
ds&te action
The fzvcrsols situation With regard -
shs commerce with China. Jspsn and
Alaska: The sssnpevzss climate tAre1Shous
tne TeArs tie unlimited supplies OF coal.
iron and timber. and the resulting mana-
factories already IN their ineeptsoa; she
csassTiag Of nearly ali the sr1nscontiaen;sl
railroads ~ this point; tie accessibility
and rerfect safety at az seasons snd ia aIg
veatherss TIE fuiare assured sease popa-
iatlon. wnsch viii furnish "a abundance 81
skilled labor, al these considerations form
. combination Of the most convincing rea-
sons for the formsfion here OF one Of cur
great naval stations From the manifold
advantages Il presents IL h probable that il
vouid psy the government 30 haild the
canal for shis purpose alone. irrespective
OF is overwhelming commercial import
ancc. which il thu primary cause Of its in
espsioa-
kHA e&eA AEG 1Nk FhAN&
Tbs estimated cost OF the proposed canal
By the sAilshole bay route 10 s2sco coo.
The pisn for this route provides for canal
q. 20 feet long. ~ feet wide on the bottom,
$50 feet wide as the water level, and Is feet
deep, connecting Lake Union With salmen
bar. ths water Of which 10 also 10 be fresh
ened by dsmning Its mouth and admitting
the waters Of Lake Union also q channel
DO ieet wide through the shallow portions
OF Lake Union TO the portage between
Lake Union and Washington. and through
thi. q canal AGO fee; long. having the
same depth and width, connecting Lake
Union aud Union cay.
LakeW ashington forms the eastern boun-
dairy Of the city of Seattle, and five street
car lines, two OF them operated BY cable
and three by electricity, run from its
shores through the streets Of the city 10
Puget sound. affording ample facilities for
easy and rapid communication. Thus all
considerations point 10 the conclusion
that the work will not only be OF immense
value TO the great and rapidly growing city
of Seattle, bnt TO the state Of Washington.
the entire Pacific coast aud the national
interests Of the United States. One Of the
NEST important questions before the coun-
try at present is the fostering Of foreign
commerce-to provide fsesa outlets and
open new markets for the products of our
fields and forests, mines and mAnufac-
tories. and no opportunity should be lost
WHAT THE AUTHORITIES SAT.
No better argument in defense OF ths ac-
ton of congress in adopting the project
can be found than 8 number of letters
which we're used by Senator Squire in bis
work In the senate and before the commit
tee. Maj. Gen. Nelson A. Mics, writing
from Chicago on March 80, 1891, in reply
to communication from the Chamber of
Commerce. incloses q copy OF communi-
cation written by him seven years preyi-
ousIy and says:
should measures be taken by she gov
eminent, or the people of the state, or by
edly be or great value TO the commerce OF
that section OF country In opening an sx-
tensive area of rich mineral and agrieul-
tu.al country to water communication.
and il would in many ways be OF benefit 20
the general government Ii would afford
q most admirable harbor OF refuge and
repair for all vessels of commerce and ma
val construction in deep fresh waters"
Brig. Gen. John Gibbon (uow retired).
st. Augustine, Fla:
Its accomplishment would be q matter
of vast importance, not only to the COM
merce Of the whole coast, but 10 govern
ment vessels as well. heartily concur IN
the provisions of the bill 6. i, SOD now, |
understand, before your committee, and
earnestly recommend the bill 10 its fayora-
bic consideration
A. b. Wyckod. Lieutenant in command
of the naval station at Port Orchard. I'M
der date OF Sidney, February q, 1892,
writes TO the Seattle Chamber OF Conn
merce:
s.In reply to your inquiry, conveyed
through Mr.. Gilman, do not hesitate TO
ington, through a ship canal, would be OF
great benefit 10 the navy.
THE deterioration of the bottoms OF
iron and steel ships is very little in fresh
water as compared TO salt Vessels once
cleaned they remain free from barnacles,
inussels, and marine vegetation IN fresh
water. For these reasons IL would be ex-
tremely advantageous TO Law mp eli our
vessels in ordinary in Lake Washington.
The short distance 10 our naval station az
Port Orchard would make the lake an ef-
ficient adjunct to the navy yard. Beyond
question, the future navy of the United
States will consist Of a sufficient number
of vessels for the proper protection OF our
coast aud the unfolding of the national
honor abroad. Only limited percentage
of these vessels will DO In commission
while the country is at peace As our in
terests will lie more largely IN the Pacific
than in the Atlantic, AZ least half OF our
navy will be retained on this side. No
other body Of fresh water Is as accessible
or secure, and II would seem certain that
most if not ali the vessels in ordinary
would be placed in LSke Washington.
puget sound does not admit Of an
efficient defense by LAM Notifications,
submarine mines or torpedoes. The
depth OF the water aud the strong tidal
currents make the reliable use of the latter
means Of defense Impraeticabie. In clear
weather elaborate Notifications Of Admir-
atty head. Point Wilson and MARROW
stone point might deter an enemy's fsot
from an ATTEMPTED entrance. But under
The obscurIty of night. and especially
during tbs prevalence Of thick fog or
smoke, steamers could run into the Sound
with impunity. IL follows that haTbor de-
tense vessels ike the Monterey. nov be-
ing completed at San Francisco, are abso-
lutely essential 70 the thorough defense OF
the Sound cities. During peace times
these vessels would be perfectly preserved
ia readiness for action by lying In the
fresh waters Of Lake Washington.
ssThe very great advantages OF this mag.
niflcent body OF water TIE tempefAfe ca
u.sts throughout the year; the unlimited
material resources Of coal. iron and TIM
Ser. ard the resultant manufactures al
ready in their inception; the centering OF
nearly ali the transcontinental railroads
al this point; It's accessibility at ell
seasons aud in ell weathers; the future as
sured dense population on It's shores, insur-
ing cheap and abundant skii'ed labor the
rr9xifaitv 10 the Pacific naval station OF
Great britain. and its being the ksy Of the
caoyr.phscai situation with regard 70
tsbina Japan aud Alaska, together With