The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-02-18

t4otea 70 p coAosS1. 1neSo vas arSro-
prsased for the work By scs az July. isas.
$4,000. OF this amount there renamed
On July !, 1855. a available balance sf
1N q The Unised States engineer
ctizcsr in charge Of the work reports a.
sosiavs: .Is il recommended that 81 APP
preparation OF $2u.0o0 be made for the
Upper Columbia and Snake rivers. a. this
amount can b probably expanded dur
ing toe fiscal year ending June 30 isa5. /
therefore ask that 81, 90 may b appro-
priaied for this work
Olympia il the capital Of tbs state OF
Washington IL 10 . growing ard thriv-
Ing city and . distributing point by water
and OF rail. The state 10 about 20 build
new and expensive capitol building. which
amount Of material. Tho com merce and
manufacturing interests of the city are
also rapidly increasing. IL h situated at
the head or south end OK Puget sound,
which 10 navigahle by the largest vessels
70 within two miles OF the business center
OF Olympia.
The plan of improvement II to dredgs
. channel 30 feet wide and twelve feet
deep - mean iow water from the vicinity
OF Fourth street bridge TO deep wator in
Budd Inlet. The estimated cost OF the
work is $775. 009: of this there Was appro-
pristcd by acs of July. 1862, $500; this
leaves TO complete the work $50. 00o which
therefore ask may be appropriated. The
whole Of the first appropriation has either
been expended or il covered by uncom.
pleted contracts. II is necessary, there
fore, in order that the work may proceed
without interruption until completed. that
the above named amount may b appro-
priatsd.
The plan Of improvement Of Puget
sound and ats tributary waters contem-
plates the removal of snags, logs. trees
MI AL oh. - NJ
the Skagit. SiiiiaguAmish, Nooksack. Sno-
homish, Snoquaimie and other rivers tribu-
tary 70 Puget sound. For this purpose
snae boat with complete outfit has been
provided, which boat goes from one river
to another rs necessity requires. This
boat 10 old and in need Of considerable
repairs. On account of the square bow
she Is an extremely difficult boat to steer,
aud this is . great drawback in the swift
and narrow rivers in which she In used.
This could be obviated If the boat could
be supplied with steam or hydraulic steer.
Ing gear. The engineers report states
that there Is an available balance remain
Of -, 500. IA. II also states that an increase
OF the appropriation to $25. 90 10 recon-
mended in order that the boat may be
thoroughly repaired and the steam or
hydraulic steering gear added. and tho
boat run for two years / therefore ask
that the sum Of $4,000 may b appro-
pristed.
"Swinomish slough 10 an important
highway for commerce connecting the
northern and southern portions of Puget
sound, forming the shortest and safest
route between them. 1t passes through q
very fertile aud productive portion of the
state of Washington. All traffic from the
waters on which are situated the towns of
PsdiiIa, Bay View. Edison, Samish, Ana
nd eli v,psx. - n hat
county are directly affected by this route.
Upon this slough is situated the town Of
La Conner, the county seat OF Skagis
county.
''The plan Of improvement is TO dredgs
channel four feet deep and 100 feet wide
from deep water in Saratoga passage across
the Skagit fats. through the shoals to the
diiia bay to deep water, and to build pile
waited dikes in Skagit and Padiiia bays.
to direct the ebbing and flowing waters
through the dyedged channels. The esti-
mated cost Of the work Is S122, 000 or this
there was appropriated in the act OF July.
1892. $4,000. This leaves to complete the
work necessary amount of $97 GOO.
.sThe report of the United States eng.-
neer says: Very great Inconvenience is
experienced by boats using the slough duo
to shallow water. 1t 10 very desirable that
il should be fully opened with the least de-
lay practicable and IL Is therefore recon-
mended that the full amount TO complete
the project be appropriated. namely $97.-
600 / therefore ask that this amount
may be appropriated.
II urge SIS matter of importance not
only TO the state OF Washington, but in
the interest of shipping in general, that q
survey may be ordered Of Clallam bay,
with view TO its improvement as = har-
Dor of refuge. and that an appropriation
h. Ia "a q k.u - D
expense OF such survey.
"Claliam bay lies in the northwest cor
ner OF the state of Washington, in CiaIlam
county, on the Straits of Fnca, and Is
about twenty-five miles inside of Cape Flat
terry. II Is the only harbor within o dis
lance Of about sixty-fve miles from the
ocean, and on account of its situation and
proximity to the Pacific ocean it is har-
Dor Of refuge in bad weather for vessels
outward bound from the various ports In
Puget sound. Vessels often return to this
harhor In bad weather after having reached
the mouth of the Straits.
aft is represented To me by well-known
and responsible persons that il is very sell
dom IN the winter months that one or
more vessels, for such reason. are not
living At anchor in this bay waiting favor
able opportunity TO proceed on their
voyage 1t is claimed that by reason
of the location OF this harbor tho
whole of the vest end of Clallam
Is tributary thereto. This part of the
country Is being rapidly settled and i'm
proved and many roads leading from the
interior 20 this bay have been completed
during the past year. and more are in
process of construction. There Is now on
the shore of the bay town OF about 500
inhabitants. sawmili, and works for the
manufacture of hemlock extract for tan
ming purposes.
Owing 10 the location of this harbor Il
viii probably become OF Importance, az
vessels going in or out of the Straits neces-
sarily pass within short distance.
rockingham bay is beautiful arm OF
Puget sound. 1t has the popularity, for
that region. of being shallow enough to
afford anchorage 10 vessels. Upon its
shores are the two promising cities Of New
Whateom and Fairhaven, which are the
natural distributing points and seaports
of the Nookszck valley, and large sections
OF productive country adjoining, a. we'll
as for the San Juan Islands. New What
com is a support OF entry. and coal mined
in that vicinity has been shipped from
that city for many years. There are thir-
teen sawmIils on the bay. and very large
quantities OF cedar shingles are also man
GiSctured and shipped.
the Ncoksack river discharges into
This hay al immense amount of detritus,
which will ultimately so iii the haroor as
20 render 1t useless unless some means are
taken TO prevent II. a preliminary exam
ina.ioa has bean made by Capt. T. W.
Symons, and bis report has heen for
warded by Col. Meadeil with the following
Endorsement:
1.-THE Nooksack river Washin yton. Is
regarded as worthy of improvement by the
general government 20 the exteas neces-
sary 10 prevent Beiiinghan bay from
shoaging by reason CT deposits from river
water