New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-06
HARBORS ON PUGET SOUND
THE SEATTLE SHIP CANAL DECLAhED
TO BE UNNECESSARY.


Allow me - say that, except for running saw logs
the canal would have no use. A few Seattle poll
ticians united with some Eastern statesmen,
bought a large tract Of land OH Lake Washington
and about fourteen miles from Seattle. and laid
off town called Kirk. They tried TO get the Re-
publican convention OF the State Of Washington to
out a canal plank in the platform. 1t was such an
evident job that 1t came near bursting the party.
az some OF the principals in the JOB were Rcpub-
Ican leaders. If there had been good reason Tor
building the canal, and large appropriation Ead
been made II would have ruined Seattle, because II
would have carried the business Inland to lake
miles away from the present business centre on the
sound with as the Coas. Survey maps VIII snow
almost mountain between them If you VIII look
=, IN, Coast Survey maps you will also see that
Seattle has abundance OF good anchorage. I've
topography OF the same map contradlctS the SUITE
ment that there is not room for railroad 10 come
in The wide level valley Of White River extends
to the waters Of the bay. II this is not So the
Eastern capitalists VINO loaned millions OF dollars 10
rebuild Seattle .when 1t WAS burned were deceived
By Seattle people.
Your CORE spondcnt's destinations as regards Ia
coma are equally Incorrect The terrible lanGslide
he speaks OF simply slide Of filed ground
where no retaining wall had been pat in. 1t occa-
stoned delay in shipping or railroad transporta-
toa. though the railroad companys ify-hve niles
OF sde-track adjoining. The land which Slid into
the bay was nearly half mile from the neares; bus-
ness and dwelling part ~ the city. The former
slide OF fifteen exists only in his Imagination,
unless he has in mind the extensive hydraulic work
by the railroad company In making terminal faci
ties The Northern Pacific has spen. nearly $780,
90 In iern,i,a work at Tacoma. and has made very
extensvo p!ars for the future.
The large investments made I'm real estate by
Eastern people IN tn way Of purchases and loans
in the cities OF Tacoma, Seattle. olympia Everett
and other places Puget Sound have been made
with the belief that they are situated on wonder
ful harbor about 80 miles long. but with shore
line OF some 1900 miles: that these cities are To-
Gated on bays giving protection even to the smallest
vessel In all weathers. with anchorage for innuEler
able vessels. and with shore line admirably
adapted 10 commercial and shipping purposes. IL
the urgent necessity for canal climbing noun
tain to accommodate Puget Sound shipping really
exists these investors have been snindled Parties
from Seattle in this city to-day. trying TO get
capitalists TO invest 100000 in water front
scheme at Seattle where this correspondent says
there is no anchorage To strengthen his position
the canal question, he skilfuly makes state
ments which would lead one to believe that Seattle
- the great maritime port Of Puget Sound. and
that there being good harbor there vessels must
mount through a caLal to the top Of hill TO ac-
commodate the shipping OF ths state. He mentions
a great many steamships running from Seattle he
failed to state. however. that all of these steam
ships simply stop in passing to discharge passen-
gers and freight their way to and from their
terminating point. Tacoma.
II the harbor Of Seattle WAS obliterated. in thirty
days time Tacoma could accommodate the entire
trade Of that city. II both Tacoma and Seattle
harbors were suddenly filled in. either one Of the
ma gniflcent harbors OF Olympia Farhavcn or
Everett could. soon as wharves and side-tracks
could be built. accommodate the shipping Of both
places and have room besides 10 accommodate an
enormous amount OF shipping and the trade OF a
great metropolis
Your correspondent says THE need for the canal
Is immediate" II he means for shipping purposes.
there IL the s,ightes; semblance OF truth in the
In shipping the port OF Puget Sound
stands fourth beading san Francisco OF all the
ports of the United States. This business is divided
among several places With all this immense tom
mage. there IL not captain or owner or any OF
the crafts which has sailed from Puget Sound VINO
would ascend that canal with toll paid and load
at the same rate he could obtain to load ut Tacoma
or Seattle water front. Any shipping firm having
had vessels loaded unloadcd at Tacoma VIII
testify that for quick Dispatch few ports in the
word Equal H. The only claim OF the need OF this
mountain harbor three years ago was that II would
clean ship bottoms Letters addressed 10 the prnci-
pal vcssei-owners and shippers in America and Eng
land brought replies which completely demolished
that claimed advantage. Granting the necessity on
Puget Sound FOR such harb)r. how many msr-
chant Government vessels would consent TO take
the chances OF some crank or eyil-minded person
a
imprison them miles from the Sound for months?
II there was no better way OF accommodating
$ shipping than this Washington has another grani
harbor the Columbia River. wnerc there Is fresh
and need OF building canals ana locks
Had there been political influence and city BOOM
ing IN this talk about a naval station ana location
Of dryiock the drydock and naval station would
have been located at the pace selected By a Gov
eminent commission of naval officers years before
there was a town Puget Sound. These officers
selected Gig Hsrbor few miles from the site OF
the present dock and the Government reserved lana
reserved the present day. The report stated tha
It the best natural drydock site 10 me wotil
Survey charts show that 4 Is Day ap9u' In
miles long by about one-half miie vide p WIN
Sound. through a channel about one hundred feet
wide and OF thu same length. This channel mas about
would close il ike the stopper to 9o,e the i'Ss
rises from eight to sixteen feet iresn T1 h nssI
TO freshen the water II desired There Is iarse
OF the Puget Sound harbors. and water at TT. re
%harvCs whsrs they inter gats or National
rnsre IS a aso fSe I hnrhnr project
II would be bad II his private 100 should get
further appropriation W sr, GGr for I'M
SHOT OF the entrance to Puget sorrd Great brita,n
her OF war vessels. We have neither foruhcations;
our entire Puget SQUAD country could be captured
in six hours The Government Is building big drK Try,
dock for war veSscs on Puget Sound. put there VIII
NOT be 4 gun TO DEFEND II when completed.
| ask YOU TO publish this letter os simple act
OF Justice to Puget Sound. In ordinary times IL
would no. matter but AT present that region is
feeling In common with ali other parts or the coun-
try the effect OF Democratic misrue. beins 80 iar
away from, money centres we are. without any
at a great disadvantage. People
in The East have invested millions or dollars In
purchase OF and loans on Puget Sound property. They
are naturally very mucn disturbed AZ present about
their investments. and such letters as Una OF YOUR
CORRESPONDENT must increase this solicitation No
one who has loaned m iney with any degree or
prudence on Puget Sound real estate or bought reA.
estate using ordinary intelligence. will lose anything
by waiting patiently for comparatively short time,
Many OF your most prominent Eastern men VINO
nave visited the State OF Washington have publicly
stated that the state Is the most promising OF any
In the Union. and that the harbor OF Puget sound
Is simply wonderful, Unfortunately. fear the chi,
cago. burlington and Quincy people will be surprised
10 earn that their road Is being butt to Seattle.
Ind yary nearly omitted npeak.nG OF the cost OF