The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-09-16

snors A Eastern. the CoiznAaa a Puget
SQUAD. The Noxthe-n Pscafa has Also
cornpassea . small piece Of road which. Ia
coninrcsson with the seztfss. Lake Shore
A Eastern. viii Eaks . eoru Plea bels
around tie LAKE. these roads teaching
svery known deposts ef ircn and coal 80
far opened - the ssaseL The lake 10 also
resrer 30 the best deposits OF iron ard coal
than anv other water. One OF tie Oldest
ana largest ecai mines In she state L. 40
gewcxs.ie. within two miles OF It's shores
From this nains immense Quantities Of
coal are shipped to California and other
parts Of TIE PsrsEc eo2ss Eeavy ship-
nenss are made from 6vs other coal mines
near Lake Washington A great body Of
Bsssenaer ere, sad 70 be equal to any IN
the world. lies less than Fifty
niles away. and the development
Of iron names and erection Of sfeel
works are already progressing upon an
important scsle. How vast the lumber in
teresss are that center here may be ssti-
mated from the fact that reliable experts
have calculated that the amount of rnerch-
antable timber IN the state Of Washington
il four hundred billions Of feet. Of which
sixteen billions Of feet are in King county,
IN which the lake Is situated, the handling
OF which must soon necessItais immensely
increased wharfage facilities.
WILL SHAVE ALI ISxKxKsrs
The eastern part of the state now pro-
duces about % 600 COO bushels OF grain per
annum, and has . productive capacity Of
At least 100. 600 COO bushels: large share OF
which production readily finds its way 10
Seattle. Thus the three great interests OF
the stste, agricultural. mineral, and TIM
Der, are ali largely dependent for their
future prosperity on an improved outlet TO
the ocean, at minimum cost for hand
ling. Even with the present condition Of
commerce il Is calculated that the exports
from this harbor. IL it were completed.
would amount 10 three millions OF tons
Per annum.
Another important point IN favor Of q
fresh water harbor. is the fact that the
waters OF Puget sound. in common with
ell the shores Of the Pacific. are infested
with the teredo, which 10 so destructive to
wood that all the wharves and trestles In
salt water become so speedily impaired
and destroyed by this worm as to necesi-
tate their frequent renewal. This alone
forms q severe tax on commerce. from
which IL will be entirely relieved by the
formation Of fresh water harbor. Owing
10 this difficulty with the teredo. il 10 now
necessary to build the eoaling bunkers
with copper-covered piles, which. in the
case of one company alone. cost si6s, 600.
Bnnkers TO handle their product could be
built on Lake Washington for $50. 600, and
could be maintained ut a correspondingly
cheaper rate than those at present in use
at Seattle. This is mentioned as one ex-
ample only of the saving 20 commerc
which can be effected in numerous in
stances.
The constantly increasing number of
iron and steel vessels engaged both In
coastwise and foreign trade points TO an
other powerful argument in favor of the
establishment of q frssh-water harbor. The
deterioration Of the hulls of iron and steel
ships is very small in fresh water as COM
pared with salt. The bottom of vessels also
becomes fouled by vegetable and animal
accretions when long exposed to the ac-
ton Of salt water only. Exposure for q
short time in fresh water destroys the
barnacies. causing them to drop of or be-
come easily detachable, thereby saving the
expense of docking and painting. Thus
during ths time necessarily occupied in
Goa ling or discharging or receiving their
cargoes, ships bottoms would be cleansed
by the action of natural process, without
loss of time and expense.
The mean high tide in Puget sound at
Seattle is thirteen and one-half feet, and
the extreme tide shows rise of seventeen
and one-half feet. These great fluctuations
are exceedingly embarrassing to shipping.
and add greatly TO the expense OF hand
ling cargoes. Thus the greater convent
ence and economy Of receiving and dis
charging freight IN a fresh water harbor
having no tide and consequently always
at the same level, will be an immense ben
EFT TO commerce. Lake Washington is on
the east side Of the Sound, that is, the side
which has and always will have the vast
bulk of the population and resources of
the state, as well as most of the railroads.
So far as Is at present known all the coal
and iron deposits are on that side. and not
only is the lake vaiuabls as q harbor for
the city OF Seattle, which already numbers
between SIS. 900 and $1,000 inhabitants, hav-
ing a registered vote of about IL 900 q. the
last city election, but IL Is waterway
which is very important for the develop
msnt of the country beyond its limits, and
with proper improvement to render il ac-
cessible, IL will become a great factor in
the future wealth and prosperity OF the
state.
NILES OF pocKAGE GRATED.
Salmon bay, maintained at the level OF
Lake Union, will contain thirty-five acres
Of water area more than twenty-five feet
deep. and an additional area Of Ie5 acres
can be brought TO the same depth by a
moderate amount OF dredging. Lake
Union has an area Of 400 acres OF q depth
Of twenty-five feet. which can. II desirable,
be increased by dredging. The total area
Of the lake is 9o5 acres. These two areas
combined equal about the total area of the
docks Of London, and they can be readily
made equal by dredging 10 the area Of the
Liverpool docks. Lake Washington's area
contains $3.50 square miles, or about Is GO
acres. of whiea about 1900 acres are
covered with greater depth Of water than
twenty-five feet.
ITS VALUE To THK NAVY.
It's vital importance 10 commerce being
thus conceded, the second phase of the sub
jscs. and enc Of great Incidental interest,
Is the value this Improvement will have in
furnishing TO the government OF the
United States great. safe and eonvenient
fresh water harbor. where vessels OF the
hAfF can e ccoaHai4s&A&Ay cSEed Tor, anu
which will be OF unsurpassed excellence,
both as naval rendezvous and eoaIing
stztion.
Beyond question tae future navy of the
Uaited States will consist Of sufficient
aumber Of vessels for the proper protec-
ton Of commerce and the coasts and
shs upholding OF the national honor
a6road. Many Of these vessels will he of
= character mainly adapted for harhor de-
L.. tha rreat frnr.el.A ha.tia xR4..a