Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-06-01
SENSIBLE SUGGESTION
\ PROPOSAL TO KILL THREE
BIRDS WITH ONE STONE.

While Excavating a Channel TO
Bnild n Solid Bridge and Form n
Fresh Water Basin for shipping
at the Same Time-Mayor Mann's
Rec0mme ndation.
At the close OF the session of the
City Council, last week, Mayor Mann
presented to the members matter OF
vital Importance to the interests of
this city.
"The term of our Office is quickly
passing" said the Mayor, "and feel
that, even in the faithful discharge of
our routine duties, unless we do some
thing for the permanent improvement
OF the city, our time will have been
misspent.
Probably the most important
matter l desire to present to your at
tention, is the filling Of the Nashville
bridge. Now perhaps some people
may not know where the Nashville
bridge is; but all of the older residents
know it to be commonly called, the
westside bridge. Last year $50, 900
was expended on our harbor, and the
material excavated was deposited under
the long wharf. As understand it,
the bill embodying an additional ap.
preparation of $4,000 for Olympia,
has passed the House and is now in the
hands of the Senate committee.
1.-THE maintenance of the bridge is
a running expense, requiring repiling.
recapping and replanking. When the
dredger goes to work this year, the
principal operation will be the excava-
ton of basin near Percivaps dock,
for the turning of vessels. If we go
about it properly, we can retain the
dirt for making a permanent street to
the westside. The only expense will
be the bulkheading and the construc-
ton Of buttresses at the channels, per-
haps with rocks. Then proceed with
depositing the earth, working west
ward as far as the appropriation will
permit. This is one opportunity OF
our life time, to secure such good work
and think we should look to it care
fully.
"The suggestion would be to invite
Captain Symons to come here and
show him what is wanted before the
government drawings for the excava-
ton of the harbor are made, or the
contract is let. II we wait until the
award Of the contract, then the dirt
will be deposited where it is the cheap
est.
Another matter to which I desire
to call your attention, is one closely
pertaining, in its results, to the filling
of the Westside bridge. With that
work under way, there will be but lit
tie remaining to put Olympia in pos
session of fresh water harbor second
to none on the northwest Coast. The
channel at the draw could be closed
and main channel opened by lock,
for the passage of vessels. think
that We can secure from the most
competent engineers an estimate OF
the cost of such an improvement, at
but little expense. With a fresh
water basin two-thirds of a mile long
and half-mile wide the shipping OF
Puget Sound cannot fail to be at
tracted here. In addition, it will al
ways be of great value to mills and
manufacturing institutions and will
be standing inducement for people
to come to this city and 10 locate
their plants here"
The Mayor urged the immediate in.
vestigation of the matter and the
Council met as committee of
the whole on Monday evening, to
take necessary action.
At the special meeting subsequently
held, the Mayor was authorized to
correspond with the government en-.
gineer and request him to visit Olym
pia for a conference with the Council
on this matter.
Councilmen Gilmore, Giles and
Lammon were appointed committee
10 ascertain the condition and title OF
the lands abutting on the proposed
fill