The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-02-18
Columbia river. Oregon aud Washing
Total appropriations for the Pacific
Nnrshua.r a. asa ati

which are not absolutely needed In the
interests of her rapidly growing commerce.
Her requests for the fiscal year ending
Jaly /. 1885, are as modest as they have
ever been IN the past. The justice OF these
statements must IN themselves be n forci-
bic appeal to your honorable committee.
Concerning the individual improve
ments which should be made in the state
of Washington without delay now desire
to speak in detail:
There is at present existing a natural
waterway connecting Lake Union with
Salmon bay and Puget sound. and a small
canal between Lakes Union and Washing
ton. The object of the proposed Improve
ment is 20 enlarge and deepen these water
wars sufficiently 10 enable ships to pass
from the salt water of Puget sound 10
fresh water haroor. and 10 provide an out
let for the important commerce of the
lakes. The opening Of this fresh water
importance 10 the state OF Washing ION,
hnt TO the entire Pacific and To tbs
national government
Capt Thomas w. Symons, the United
States engineer officer who has for some
time been engaged in river and harnor inn
provements Of Oregon and Washington.
SAYS. i consider this by far the most i'm
portant improvement tina. could be under
taken on the whole Pacific coast, and IL
completed think ii would reader Lakes
Union and Washington the finest har
bors in the wer.d, absolutely peerless.
ask that s2o0.o COO may De appropriated
tor the commencement OF this work"
Here the senator submitted the report
made by The COMMITTEES on interstate aud
foreign commerce 10 the house of repre-
seniatives during the second session ofthe
Fifty-secoad congress. recommending the
passage of the bill providing an appropria-
ton for this work.
Squire having made the statement that
the people generally wanted this canal,
Chairman blanchard asked: Aren't you
mistaken about that. senatos?" He then
took from Q piseonhole W. F. Ruper.'s
protest. a!tsywaFd repuaiated by the Port
Townsend Chamber o. Commerce, against
the canal. This be read aloud 10 the com
tnitsse. blanchard further stated that he
hal received a number Of protests from
other parties in Washington which led
hifn 10 believe the people generally did
not look on that lIs pvovemsEt with favor
Mr.. Wilson, who was present at the com
mittse meeting. spoke good word for the
canal. Chsirman Blanchard's antagonism
81 this early day is so pronounced THAI in
urging an appropriation for the canal
washiawton's representatives vii! be ght-
lag an uphill battle.
The Columbia river. from Rock Island
rapids 80 Foster Creek rapids is q stretch
oil ninety miles. which, since the opening
of the Great Northern railroad, has be-
come very important avenue o. CON-
rsaerce 10 aud from the mouth Of the
okanoEan river 20 the railroad. and - the
commercial highway from and into the
great okanosaa mining. agricultural and
grazing region. aud furnishes . long
needed oE;le. for the Big Bend country.
"Two steamers are nov running on fais
Part Of the river from Aenatcbee TO the
mouth of the 0kanogan, and the
improvement o! the r.yrF would be a great
bench: 20 navigation and commerce. Caps.
T. ". Symons. who made tAe snTyey of
the upuer Columbia river, especially men,
tians the above named portion Of the
river ns worthy Of Improvement The
work Of improvement af PEiest rapids hav-
ing been suspended by reason of recon-
fn-nsiatIans az the United States en- rsneers.
there i an znexpeaded balance OF 8, go 81.
fo~ which there 10 no immediate Use
therefore ask that thar amount be trans
:~rrea for use On the above mentioned
work.
.sTas Upper Columbia and Snake RIVERS