The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-06-24

beautiful cove. In this, and along the
SHORES, VIII be room for the amount OF the
material excayafed from the cut. for rais-
ing the level Of the land 70 suitable ele-
vation for building purposes. This land
must necessarily become very valuable.
The bottom Of the canal il placed at
twenty-six feet below Lake Washington
a. iss ordinary mean level. If the lake il
lowered 10 provide for the better drainage
OF Squak valley. or for receiving the Hood
waters Of Cedsr river. the bottom Of the
canal will have 10 be lowered, and the
amount Of excavation will be increased
The policy OF thus lowering the lake and
canal viii naturally depend upon the
amount OF subsidy which can be obtained
therefor from the people directly benefited
Is 10 Idle 70 make elaborate and Gloss
calculations IS 70 the amount Of materials
TO be excavated until these and similar
questions OF policy are solved. For all
| purposes of the project the auantities
stated In your prospectus are amply cor
rect.
The sire of she canal proposed is suffi-
Client TOR the passage of ships in both d.
rectlons under all ordinary circumstances.
Warships and others of great beam would
nave 10 have the way clear all the way
through. The future might develop the
desirability of having an enlargement or
basin OF moderate size about halfway
| through The topography lends itself TO
this very nicely.
Lock-The size Of the lrK or locks for
| passing from the deep tidal water to the
canal level must also be largely matter
Of policy. To my mind. q conservative
| course 70 adopt would be first TO provide
one lock of sufficient capacity TO pass
ali ordinary ships OF commerce at
some stage OF every tide, and
in addition to provide for an
additional lock of capacity TO pass the
largest ships of all classes at any stage of
the tide whenever such lock becomes
necessary. 1t would also be well to pro-
vide for a small lock for the numerous
small craft which would wish TO pass
through with the minimum expenditure
| of water in order that the maximum of
water could be kept for power purposes.
The ideal arrangement for this canal
| would be that laid down for the Man.
chester ship canal, where three locks are
| planned side by side. one 50 feet by 800
feet. one 30 feet by $50 feet, and one 30 feet
by It's feet.
| well be constructed of timber, with either
timber or steel gates. Piles and structu-
| raj timber of the highest excellence can
be obtained here At such extraordinary
| low prices that the cost of the locks viii
be very small comparatively.
From sanitary aspect, the project out
lined by you Is of the highest Importance
| to Seattle. The fats as they exist today
are extremely unsightly aud a
of the city. Their filthy condition
and proximity Is constant temptation to
| people to make them dumping
ground for everything of disagreeable
| nature, ard they are being filled along
shore with an accumulation of stuff
I which must ever be q fostering
| nuisance. Their condition, If filled up
with clean sand from the waterways or
| clean earth from the canal cut, will be
| entirely different and unobjectionable
| from sanitary point of view.
As stated by you, the canal cut will fur
| nish location for q sewer from the RAIN
| Ter valley, which will be the outlet sewer
| for q large area OF country, which will, I'M
| der the stimulus of the canal, be rapidly
| built mp.
Dock-Near the canal outlet and locks,
| a dock can be built wherever deemed de-
| sirsble. This dock can be constructed of
wood and arranged 20 be entered from
| the canal level, and the water drawn
| off TO the tide level. This would
| dispense with pumping. and the water
being fresh 1t could be constructed of
/ wood. The first cost and operating ex-
| penses of such dock would be very small.
The Importance and value of such dock
| right in the midst of the shipping of 3
| large harbor can hardly be over-estimated.
| summary-If proper plan for the har-
| Dor of Seattle be adopted and you can
| carry out your proposed work, the follow
| ing is summary Of its advantages as they
/ occur TO me:
| First-Sesttle will be provided with q
/ magnificent harbor at low cost This
| harbor will be ready for immediate use,
i capable of practically indefinite expan-
| sion, where wharves can be maintained
/ free from the teredo, and all readily
reached by rail and wagon.
/ Second--The fats will be reclaimed and
| great values thus created where none now
/ exist.
| Third--The greatly desired ship canal
/ from Puget sound to Lake Washington
/ will be built and the magnificent fresh
| water harbor of Lake Washington will be
| added TO the commercial facilities of Seat
/ tie.
Fourth-The commencement and carry
| ing on OF the work will be of incslculable
| value TO Seattle. particularly at the pres
ent time. when everything is SO depressed
/ in the buiness world.
| Fifth--The works proposed viii not tend
| to change or interfere detrimentally with
the existing values Of improved property
| to any apprcciable extent.
Sixth-The existing timber wharves
| along the city front will be greatly bene-
| flied by the fresh water brought TO their
/ vicinity.
| Seyenth-The railroad situation will be
| simplifed, and by means of the canal cut
| and streets along the water
ways, the railroad viii be en-
| abled 20 reach every portion of
| the natural or artificial deep water front
| age of the city on the Sound or on Lake
| Washington with the minimum of track
| age.
Eighth-A line and conveniently located
water power will be created. which will be
| available for any purpose.
Ninth--By lowering Lake Washington
| through the medium OF the canal and
some auxiliary orks, the farmers of the
Squak and Duwamish valleys will be
| greatly benefited.
Tenth--Thc reclamation of the flats will
| be a sanitary measure OF decided vaiue.
Eieventh-Means will be available for
| cheapiy furnishing sewerage facilities TO q
large area At present very difficult to be
supplied.
twelfth - Remunsrative employment
will DO furnished to large number OF
men.
Thirteenth-These gigantic and benefit
cial works will be accomplished without
any tax on existing properties. but rather
to the benefit OF ali existing properties IN
Seattle.