The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-11-17

Washington. Nov. is.-specsai--Ad-
vance copies Of the report Of Brig. Gen.
W r C-a-ghsil. chief OF engineers. 20 the
secretary Of war. on the duties and opera
Ions OF the department Of engineers.
nave been received from the puhIic print
En- inasmach as the secretary relies
greatly on this report for guidance "a
making Recommendations 10 congress X
- OF great importance to such communi-
mes as nave been selected by congress for
river and harbor improvements. II cov-
ers only the fiscal year ending June %.
~. OF course. and Is generally an
arrangement OF the reports and reco1u-
mendat-ons made 10 Gen. craightil by his
sueordinases in the field. Where the chief
omiis these recommendations n is ac-
cepted as iacit disapprovai Of them and.
as they are thus kept from attention OF
the secretary. this action Is nearly always
inal.
Gen. cra.ghilrs review of the situation
at Wii,apa harEpor Is no more than a brief
OF that made by Capt Taylor. which Was
published almost IN fun in the Post-Insel-
iigencer at the time OF rs receipt in WASH
ingion. The engineer corps II left with .
balance of A.s71sl. OF which Cant. Taylor
made the following recommendation, but
TO which Gen. Craighili makes no refer
ence: The funds already appropriated
being sufficient TO complete the work pro-
Jected. there 10 no necessity for a future
appropriation TO be made. but II IL neces-
sary that the balance remaining after
completing the Wiliapa river and harbor
work be made available for completing
the channel through the log Jam higher
up the river
The only part OF Capt. Taylor's recom-
mendations and statements Of the wcrk
At Gray's harhor omitted from the report
of his chief Is that portion which refers
50 posntedly 10 the log piracy in the neigh
bornood OF Preacher slough. otherwise
Gen. Cra.ghill approves his whole review
OF the situation at this place and sugges-
ton that. since a channel % feet deep at
low water Is to be built al the entrance of
the harbor. and Il will be necessary TO
make some extensive repairs to the dikes.
no further appropriations be made other
than those necessary for the above work
Gen. craighili adds. however. an essi-
mate OF the amount which the whole i'm
provement will cost. fixing Il at $50 90
and a recommendation that $fHo.00o be ap-
prcpr:ated for the fiscal year ending June
50. 1885,
Recommendations were made chat the
work In Puget Sound be furfhered by the
construction OF new snag boat, or at
least OF a new hull, as the old one Is now
water-logged and rotten; and that 1t was
necessary 10 expend the remaining bal
ance of LEO which remains Of the Appro-
priation OF $4,000. on further dredging and
clearing Chehaiis river. Both Of these
suggestions are omitted from the report
The chief IL evidently determined to
make no recommendation as to the work
on the new waterway at Seattle He ex-
plains carefully that no definite selection
OF route has yet been made and that the
only work actually done consists OF a sur
yey and the preparation OF some few
maps; that the amount expended up 10
rails time Is but 2.6Sl: and that no definite
work can be or should be done until the
acquisition OF the whole amount Of ground
noeessary for the purpose. He revises his
former estimates of the cost of the work
and submits as his final statement an esti-
mate OF s2.471. Is as the cost of actual
construction. He concludes this portion
Of his report without making any recon-
mendation whatever as TO work on the
new waterway.
Everett and the work at that point re-
ceived special attention in Capt. Taylors
report. but both are given much less
space in that OF Gen. Craighiil. The lat
ter contents himself with q mere state
ment of the work actually done. OF It's es-
tsmated cost, 1917 600. and onits all mem
ton OF the spirit which has prompted the
citizens OF Everett to make the cost OF
OF the dikes at that place a.
small as possible.
Swinomish slough is also disposed Of
with statement of the work actually
done, the pan of the work, and finally an
estimate of the cost OF such work. In this
instance the estimate is s1ze.ooo. The rec
ommeniation of the inspecting ofncer
that. at is very desirable that the slough
be opened with the least delay practicable
and IL is therefore recommended that the
full amount necessary TO compiete the
orig tnai project tabout S2s.o35.2e) Be APP
piled as soon as possible" Is not submit
ted.
Concerning the work on Columbia and
Snake rivers, Gen. Craighill says: The
estimated cost OF the work has not been
actually determined because of the lack
of continuous. fun surveys and because
many distractions which IL Is necessary
should be removed are continually recur-
ring" He does not even consider the
proposition OF sending an expedition TO
Aso,in. on which Capt Taylor reported
unfavorably.