The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-03-31
TALK ON WATERWAYS
State Land Commissioners Hear
Citizens Views.
TWELVE MILES or FRONTAGE.
he CAa0bss 81 ce0nsPeo Rlsa 6se
rive Waterways Over shs 1tAs
11sas Geasrsily Favored.

6u4esstioDs - 70 the plan Of vatervayu
70 b laid out in Seattle hasbcr by the
board Of state land commissioners were
made 10 the board ss . meeting Of cit;zsus
as the Chamber Of Commerce last evening.
Tvo members Of the board, r. n Reed,
jr.. and Erassus Brafpsrd. both Of this
caty. we're present. George d. Shannon,
Of Olympia. . member Of the board, was
too III 70 attend.
The meeting VS. the result Of the me-
mortal OF the Chamber Of Commerce pub
iished some weeks sGo to the stats board,
suggesting . plan OF waterways for the
harbor and asking . hearing before the
board, the board having suggested the
meeting ~ the proper occasion for . hear
ing. About forty representative citizens
we're present. and In the absence Of Mayor
Phelps and President Graves. ofths Cham.
Der Of Commercs, Vice President Thomas
w. Prosch presided. The large map Of the
harbor just made by u. Strixrud, engineer
Of the state board, Was spread out IN the
room and was carefully examined before
the meeting Was opened. Secretary
Whitslesey read the Chamber Of Com
merce memorial and the meeting took the
form Of Endorsement Of the plan proposed,
the advancing OF arguments in favor OF il
and the suggestions Of some extensions.
The plan. in brief. Vas to establish one
main waterway in the channel Of the Du-
vanish river. three parallel waterway
east Of this 100 TO 800 feet wide and half
mile long and two simiiar ones west Of IL.
Andrew Knox explained that the plan
OF the committee contemplated that these
waterways should end on line. so that
all could b touched by . broad avenue
running across the tide fats TO West Seat
tie, in which but one draw bridge across
the Duw amish river would be necessary.
He thought that with this plan carried
out Seattle would have rs good harbor as
any city in the country and the best on
this Coast 1t was important that the
railroads should be able TO reach the water,
that transportation by land and water
should meet, and he referred to the impos-
sibility Of building wharves opposite the
city to accommodate large ships on &C.
count OF the depth Of water. He thought
the length Of the waterways should Do de-
termined by engineering, and they might
be of different lengths, but the avenue At
their head should run parallel with the
head Of navigation and not on an east and
west line.
Judge Roger s. Greene said he had paid
principal attention to the legal aspect Of
the case and the result Of his thought was
contained in the memorial, that whatever
action was taken by the state board would
be 20 far final that it could only be changed
by an amendment to the constitution.
Capt. 8. G. Gresniesf thought the plan
not only beneficial to railroads. but 1t
would prevent much wear and tear OF
ships. With the prevailing winds. from
the southwest and southeast. ships could
lie in these waterways with perfect safety
and without damage. He thought the
Duwamish channel should be 600 or 500
feet wide and the others from 400 to 600
feet
Capt. III. II. Nswhall thought the main
avenue south of the waterways should be
$50 feet wide, the waterways half . mile
long, 400 feet wide and not less than
twsnty-thres fee; deep.
7. NJ Reed, jr.. thought the system
would isolate certain portions Of the fats
from other portions. and that people from
the city would have to 60 half mile south
and then half . mile north again to reach
business bstwesn the waterways.
Mr.. Knox explained that IL took about
half mile to accommodate full train of
cars, but IL shorter waterways would an
swer the purpose they would do just Is
well. But IL Was important to have con-
veniencss for heavy business, where il
would not be necessary to break up tram
aud push II In . car at time. He cited
the handling Of wheat a. showing tho
necessity for long slips. As to the distance
around referred to by Mr.. Reed, he said it
was absolutely necessary TO use the tide
fats where they were, as they could not
be moved, while the people of the city
could move to them.
W. ID. Wood thought the plan did not
go far enough, but that II should provide
for lateral waterways which would accom-
modats manufacturing.
J. Il. Pratt. engineer of the coast and
geode,ic survey. thought tho demands of
the plan were very modest indeed, as only
twelve ships could bs docksd for each mile
OF shore line. Tho committee had not
asked for one-quarter enough. Besides
the big ships. provision should be made
for fishing vessels The development Of
fisheries in the Pacific ocean had never
been begun. South of the Aleutian isl
ands the Goldfish banks were probably
twelve times as great as the Newfoundland
banks. and Puget sound was the nearest
halibui banks Of the Pacific were probably
i've times as large as those in the At
iantic, for halihut could be caught IN
ninety as well as in tifsy fathoms of water.
The city In which the tish could be cured
was the one where the business would go.
Or. Samuel Ramsey thought the request
of the committee very modest. As the
present work was 20 be for all time, city
of SO 600 inhabitants should be provided
for. lie favored the plan proposed. but il
did not SO far enough, although the ex-
pense nj many bridges shoald he avoided.
Mr. Pratt said that modern engineering
had made drawhrtdges over waterways
practicable, citing Chicago an example
Judge Greene said that a popularity OF
Seattle was the limited area where land
sad water transportation could meet The
tide Eats would have 10 be used and when
they were not sufficient. with the twelve
miles Of shore line contempl plated. the city
would have 10 enter Lakes Union and
Washington, where am pie aeeommod alton
coaii be had.
Discussion OF different points In the pro-
posed plan was further participated in BY
Mr.. Prosch, Mr.. Wood. Mr.. Knox. Judge
Greene. Capt Greenleaf. Capt Nswnail, n.
F. nurie and others. after which the meet
Ing adopted . resolution offered by Dr..
Ramsay asking the STATE board 20 follow
the plan proposed, xith the addition of
enc water~sv Ia the northern part Of the
city (Smsth's cove) and such other. a.
migas seem necessary.
THE NEW COUNTY AssEssMESr.