The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-15
TO LOWER THE LAKE.
No Relief From Private Canals,
Judge McGilvra Thinks.
DUTY OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
Bad Features OF the Law Under Which
the Seattle and Lake Washington
Waterway Co. Operates.

and White rivers, have suffered severely
and frequently from the overflow of those
streams. and their attention is therefore
naturally directed TO the most efficient
means of preventing those devastations,
or at least 10 afford some relief fherefrom.
And il 10 not alone the farmers that are
affected, for the destruction OF the agri-
cultural resources of the community Is
felt By ALL
1t is a weiI-known fact that the beds OF
these streams are shoaiing every year by
the deposit of silt washed down from the
mountains. and that unless these deposits
are removed by natural or artificial means,
the beds of the present channels Will
eventually Ill up and new channels will
be formed on lower ground. The only
remedy is to improve the present water
ways or TO construct new ones.
For many years past public attention
has been directed to the project of creating
a new waterway from Lake Washington to
tide waters by the way of the portage be-
tween Union bav and Lake Union and the
outlet of Lake Union to Salmon bay. ana
by private enterprise the outlet of Lake
Union has been somewhat enlarged and a
small canal cut through the portage.
and this canal would afford relief measus
ably in ratio proportioned TO the capacity
Of such waterway as so enlarged, provided
such canal was kept open as a waterway
and used as such TO the extent of its full
capacity; but TO afford complete and per-
manent relief the Duwamish river must
also be deepened and perhaps Strengthened.
This great and very necessary work OF
improving our rivers and harbors is one
which the general government should at
tend 10, and 10 doubt will in time. if We
are properly represented in congress.
In the meantime. as before stated, tenn
porary and partial relief might be obtained
by the enlargement of the outlet to Lake
Union and the canal between the two
lakes. If the parties in interest would work
In harmony.
1t is understood that the owners of the
land through which the outlet of Lake
Union runs will consent to the enlarge
ment of that outlet, reserying. of course,
all their property rights, but not so, how
ever, with the owners of the canal between
the two lakes.
This canal is not used as a waterway,
and its owners will not permit it to be SO
used without compensation, and large
compensation at that.
With the consent of the owners of the
land on the outlet and the owners of the
canal across the portage referred to. the
farmers affected by the overflow of the
rivers, with such outside contributions as
they could obtain. might enlarge those
waterways so as to obtain partial relief
Without such consent they are powerless
to do anything.
IL is difficult to understand why the
consent of this canal company should be
withheld, as the improvement made
would improve their property, except on
the theory that they claim a lien upon
the waters of Lake Washington for water
power purposes. aud to which allusion
will hereafter be made in another connec-
ton.
The proper construction of a canal and
waterway between Lake Washington and
tide waters, so as to lower the lake, and
the improvement of the channels of the
Duwamish and White rivers. will not only
afford relief as TO the overtiows referred to
and reclaim a large area of fine agricul-
tural land. but will enlarge and improve
our harbor, making ii one of the finest IN
the world.
To construct this canal as il should be
constructed for commerce and navigation
and as waterway Will cost some So 500,
000 and TO properly improve the channels
OF the Duwamish and White rivers, say
$500 coo more.
While these are vast sums of money, not
10 be commanded by the city OF Seattle. or
county of King, or both. and which no
private corporation would or could be ex-
pected To expend for the Improvement of
our harbors and rivers in the interest of
commerce and navigation and TO drain
our agricultural lands, yet the work is a
proper one for the general government to
perform. ana larger sums are annually ar-
proprated oy congress for Improvements
OF rivers and harbors not as legitimate or
as much needed as this.
Oregon, with smaller population aud
less need of It. annually receives much
larger appropriations for similar purposes
This undertaking has been Endorsed and
urged by every government engineer who
has investigated 1t, one branch of con-
grass. the senate. has Endorsed it. and. but
for the Jealousy of neighboring state. an
appropriation would have been made at
the last session OF congress for the con-
struction Of the canal and waterway in
question.
II we make suitable efforts and have a
littie patience this great work will be ac-
cOmpilshed. But We become impatient AZ
such hard times as these. and many. los
iug their mental balance, become reckless
and are ready 10 indOrse or engage in any
Wild scheme that may be presented by DO
sttlcal demagogues or financial specuia-
tors such scheme Is now presented by
q recently formed corporation called the
Seattle and Lake Washington Waterway
Company.
This company proposes to excavnte
waterways through and I'll in the tide
fats ~ the head ui Elliott bay Tower , COO
acresb. and construct a ship canal to con-
meet one Of these waterways With Lake
Washington. by What they call the south
ern route. ard ga part through school sec
ton Is township 3 north. range east
This canal IS 10 sc about two miles ION =
with maximum cut uf $40 feet, the mini
mum being - feet and the average is2
feet ~ feet vide al the bottom. ami the
amount Of earth 10 be removed will De
about 2Seo0.tso cubic yards. The removal
~ this earth alone AZ = cents per cubic
yard would amount 10 5000. coo. TO say
nothing about buikheads. tide gates,
loCks etc.
The canal feature Of this scheme is not
Only not practicable on account of the enor-
nous oost ct tie work, but IL Is evidently
a band - catch the ear and eye OF the
pHhssC snd divert attention from the real
purpose 81 ghis waterway company.
The real purpose OF this corporation Is
20 excavAte waterways through and f i in
tae toe fats, and for watch they EXPECT
- receive an eroEbgsant price, and ii by
any chance the cansl shoald lse incident
atly constructed il would De private prom
ertT. sna 3 tax would e levied upon an
vessels and merchandise passing through
u - she fall sxGeat 0f HhAt Ehe traffic
acui1 bear
Beside tAls, q 3 not proposed to make
us drainage CANA or I0wer IaSe
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