The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-07
THE PESTILENT WORN
How Harbor Improvements
Will Stop His Work.
DESTRUCTION HE HAS WROUGHT
Wharves Which Have Been Eaten
Away by the Teresfo-6reat In
crease fn Water Frontage.


The filling in OF the tide fats and the
creation OF waterways. through which
the fresh waters oY thA Duwamish river
Will flow directly along the main water
front, will prove an incalculaose saving
10 the wharf owners. for little or no
trouble viii then result from the desfrIset-
I've tersdo which thriyes only n salt
water. IL is eorlseryatiyeiy estimated
that fully half million dollars have been
spent by wharf owners and by the rail-
roads having tresties along the water
front OF this caty within the past eight
years for repairs alone. which are con-
ttnually necessary. and new wharyes sp-
pear In place OF the old ones about every
two or three years. Towards the head CT
the bay. where the influence of the fresh
water from the Duwamish river Is felt
the life OF the piles is much longer than
those further north. and especially IN the
wharyes in North Seattle. Piles in the
bay on the tide fats have been known 10
last for six years. but those in the North
End have to be replaced at least every
two years. The Oregon Improvement
Company has gone 10 great expense IN
putting in copper covered piles as pro-
lection against the teredo. but IS necessary
to put In new fender piles on the bunk
that an unprotected pile will be totally
honeycombed in five months. and when
protected by several compounds and So
buttons used for such purposes IL viii last
at best but four years. but a wharf over
three years old is not considered safe.
When It IL considered that the wharves
along the water front each represent a
total first cost Of from $50 600 TO 100000.
and that II Is absolutely necessary 10 re-
build at least every three years. the bur
den TO the owners can easily be under
stood. To better illustrate the rayages OF
the teredo. a few instances OF the
wharves which have broken down within
the past three years and that have re-
quired rebuilding will be given. The Est,
as near as can be ascertained. is as fol-
lows:
wharves That Have Collapsed.
Mcknight dock. foot of Pine street,
collapsed two years ago, carrying ware
house and sheds into the hay.
Fish wharf, adjoining the same dock.
went down on the same day.
Bakers wharf. large warehouse and
sheds, went into the bay two years ago.
on this dock was a cargo of Christmas
goods from Japan and the total loss was
very large in consequence, for everything
was destroyed.
Wharf at the foot of Seneca street fell
down one night without warning. the
work OF the teredo having been much
swifter than usual and the structure be-
Ing supposed to be good for at least an
other year.
Oregon Improvement Comrany's wharf.
below the bunkers. tumbled In few
weeks ago without warning.
Manning's wharf. foot OF Vine street,
fell In three years ago.
Harrington & Smiths wharf was
threatened with collapse few weeks ego
and part of II did fall In the bay, but re-
pairs were speedily effected and the
destruction.
Stfmson's wharf. foot of Depot Etreet.
went down a year ago.
Halls wharf adjoining Mannins's
wharf, tumbled in three years ago.
The wharf owned by the Mechanic's
Mil Company went down two years ego.
Part OF the Oregon Improvement Com
pany's trcstie between Colman's wharf
and Manning's dock Is now in need Of re-
pairs, part of ii being very shaky and I'M
safe.
The Seattle Dry Dock and Ship Ruild-
ing Companys wharf went into the bay
less than a year ago.
And all of the wharves north of Schwa-
bachers have tumbled down within the
past three years.
Can't Figure on Mr.. Teredo.
than others, and tt being an erratic
creature. the wharf owner can tell moth
ing about him. and must ascertain as
best he can Just how far he has pro-
gressed without taking up a pile and ex-
aiming IL, Sometimes a wharf VIII ap-
pear TO be good and strong, and there
viii be no indication OF weakness. but the
strain of a vesesl at It's fastenings Will
sometimes pull whole structure into the
hay without a, rnOTnout's notice,
At best the building OF wharves Is an
expensive enterprise. \ well-known pile
driving contractor has given the follow
Ing estimate for building an ordinary
dock, the piling being I'm no manner what
ever protected from the teredo. each vile
20 he forty feet long: Caps. IKE; main
stringers. l2xle; intermediate stringers.
4xta. planking. 3x12; price per pile, 12
cents per lineal foot. or s5.445 per acre.
Protected piles or piles that have been
put through a solution will cost about
twice as much.
with SO many grave difficulties 10 con-
tend with, II Is not at all surprising that
those interested in shipping should look
favorably on any proposition that would
relieve them of 30 great a tax, and most
Of them have concluded that the south
canal scheme will have the wholesome
effect desired.
Increased Water Frontage.
Without considering the immense
wharfage area that would be available
along the eighty miles OF shore line on
Lake Washington. where teTedos are I'M
known by the building OF the canal, 81 Is
interesting 20 know the area OF Wharfage
that will be available when the fats have
been filled I'm and the waterways exca-
waited The Iineal feet OF frontage on the
waterways through the fats and along
the made harhor line will be approxi-
n1ately as follows:
Feet
East waterway ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. - co
West waterway. Observation-Disclosures. 6 40
Canal waterway. Observation-Disclosures. 9aol
Total fresh water from tage....... =. eto
Salt water frontage on harbor line. z. GO
Total OF all frontage. ............. * 200
In other words. this would give ii 'front.'
-. -. l. Ill L u.