The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-14
THE MOUTH oE THE NooKsACK.
Two Plans for Keeping IL Open Either
VIII Cost S25.O0O.

In obedience 10 the provision of the riy-
err and harbor act of 1894, a survey OF the
Nooksaek river has been made by As
sistant Engineer David b. Ogden. Com
menting on his report, Capt. Symons
states that IL the mouth of the river
could be opened and kept open, the ex-
pense OF keeping the river Itself free from
snags could properly be borne by the gen.
erai appropriation for snagging Puget
Sound and tributary waters, and no es-
innate Is therefore made for this work.
Capt. Symons states that the great frou-
bic with the navigation OF the river Is
at its mouth, and he submits two alter
nate plans for Improvement at that point.
lie estimates that the Improvement un-
der either plan will cost x25.01o.
The great trouble with the navigation
OF the river Is at Its mouth. Here. where
the river debouehes into the tide fats,
booms have been built for catching saw
logs. and these constructions, together
with the logs and drift OF all kinds caught
thereby, have very effectualiy closed the
river 10 ordinary navigation. 1t is now
almost an impossibility for boats to get
into the river.
Added TO these distractions is the great
| area o. tide fats about the rivers mouth.
These have an average elevation OF four
TO five feet above low water. and act as
a dam TO the free outflow of the river.
Boats could. however, cross these fats at
high tide and get into the river were IL
not for the boom and jam.
Besides these direct Instructions 20 naY-
igation by blockaiing the river with
booms, logs. etc. great damage liz done
by its preventing the free outflow or the
river during fresheis. hereby the valley
lands are overiiowed, and great annoy
ance and loss caused.
The plan TO be adopted for the improve
ment OF the river VIII depend on the va
iidity OF the claim OF the boom COM
pany.
Following Is the report OF Assistant
Engineer Ogden:
In accordance with your instructions.
this survey was to include an especially
detailed examfua ton at the mouth or the
river. accurately locating tby present
boom construction. log lam. and various
channels: also an examination OF the old
channel 70 I4umml bay. and general sur
yey OF the river proper from the crossing
- the mouth. The survey was begun at
E.verson twenty-nsne miles from the
mouth. October Z. 1865 and the work at
the mouth was completed October =
This survey was confined principally TO
the adding Of topograr hicai and hydro
graphical details TO sectional field plots
OF $50 feet scale. compiled from lard Office
maps and data. Where marked differ
ences were found between the plots and
the present course OF the river making
ske,ching iinprseticable. the river was re-
located with reference 20 existing section
lines and corners by stadia measurements
and compass bearings There are namer-
eus shoals between Lyuaen and Everson,
making this stretch OF river practically
unuavigable excepting during times Of
high water.
am told that the Only steamboat that
ever attempted 10 run above fyndeu
reached 'eSehooIhoase Landing" FIVE
miles farther 80 stream, and could get no
farther. and on her Feturn trip she bad
seven holes STAYED N her hull I'm strsk
Ing had rocks before reaching Iynien.
These rocks I was unable 70 locate. as
The river was at n high stage during the
surweT Of this section. With exception
Of two short shoals tire river below T4yn-
den h IN fairly navigasie condition. ard
were heats bur able 20 enter az the mouth.
no particular trouble would re experienced
in reaching T.ynden Al any season Of the
wear There are numerous snags and
leaning trees in shls stretch OF river. Tire
removal Of sghfeh would facilitate naytga-
ton. Tns nature of the soil forming tse
hanks OF the river Is such that * yields
very readily 20 the action Of the current.
hence the position Of the river - continu-
ailsr shifting and changing. and thus an
enormous amount os sediment ~ carries
kelo1 or on the ants AZ SIS mouth. This
state Of affairs car RET well be prevented
sxeex,t nv a complete system ~ shore pro-
tertsoss along the entire river. for snosi3
sha eating away ~ prevented at one
rssfuf II wcuEd at oree begin elsewhere
Tes OH channel never having been s7s-
arsered. / could secure no data from