The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-10-14

Secretary OF War Lamon. has decided
thai the Smith Cove route shall be the
one 10 be followed for the government
canal from Salmon bay 10 Lakes Union
and WASHINGTON. and that the original
intention cs converting Salmon bay into
a deep fresh-water basin by the con-
strGctioa OF q dam al the foog 0. the bay
shall be adhered TO. This gladstone
news. for IL is gladstone 20 Seattle. as il
brings the canal ave miles nearer the
city. was received by Capt Taylor. OF the
United States engineering once, on Mon
day. aud placed before the canal commit
tee OF The Chamber of Commerce At a
special meeting held last evening. The
letter in fun is as follows:
Mr.. Roger S Greene. Chairman Lake
Washington Government. Canal Commit
tee-Sir: | have the nono- TO inform YOU
that 1 have just received letter from
the chief OF engineers giving the decision
OF the honorable secretary OF war IN re-
gard TO certain questions raised in your
letter or July 3. 1856. as To the route TO
be followed By the canal connecting the
waters of Puget sound with Lakes Union
and Washington and other matters con-
nested with said improvement.
Under date OF August Is. 1896. the CHIEF
OF engineers recommended thar in the ex-
ercsse OF the discretion granted by the act
or June ). 1856. the secretary Of war des-
ignate the Smiths cove route as the route
10 be followed for the canal from the head
OF Salmon bay. 10 Puget sound; and that
the original plan of converting salmon bay
into deep fresh water basin by the con-
struction OF a dam at the foot of the bay
be adhered to-
These recommendations were approved
BY tie secretary under date OF September
THE adoption OF the Smiths cove route
will OF course necessitaie additional right
of-way from the head of Salmon bay TO
Smiths cove, which must be secured and
presented
work be carried out. The funds
which the act of March .. 1895. per-
right-of-way We're all exhausted upon the
survey made in tho summer OF lSo. which
included only the Shilshcle bay route and
under a decision of the comptroller no
be used for a survey until the authority
OF congress is obtained. II you can assist
the Smiths cove route made. | should be
glad OF your help. Otherwise. l can do
nothing until given authority by congress
10 use. some OF the funds already appro-
priated, but according to the comptrol-
ier's decision. not vet available. Very
respectfully, HARRY TAYLOR.
Capt. Corps of Engineers. L. s. a."
This communication was read by Presi-
dent Graves, who also made full. state
men, 10 the committee or the transaction
between the chamber and the government
in regard TO the matter. He then stated
the reason for calling the meeting. youch-
safsng the belief that the change would
prove a great benefit to the city In many
ways and meet with the approval OF the
mil men. who were. perhaps more greatly
interested than anyone else. Another sug-
gestion. and a very important one, was
that the change would bring the matter
of the canal on the south side OF the army
post thus insuring greater safety in case
OF war
The president then called on several
members for an expression OF their opin-
ion on the change and for suggestions as
TO the best method TO be pursued In the
natter of resuryey and right of way.
Thomas McEwen and Fred Stimson. the
mill men. were present and stated that
as far as they could see the change would
prove benefit rather than a disadyant-
age, as the dam AZ the head of Ssfmon bay
would insure quiet hsrbor at their mills
and nor;hward. and the entrance 10 the
bay at the south would give the vessels
an opportunity OF passing in and out OF
the canal without interrupting them. They
thought some little trouhie might be ex-
persenced in getting all OF the sections OF
their Jog booms in al one tow. but way
to obyiate this was explained by Engineer
Eugene Ricksecker that vas satisfactory.
The change VIII also necesSitate additional
towage charges. but the amount would be
sinafi and unimportant when the benefits
were taken into consideration
Judge Thomas Burke. fresh from con-
duering campaign tour. was in attendance
and enthusiastic over the change He
said the city should look chiefly 10 her fac.
tories In considering measure OF this
character. and as the REPRESENTATIVES, ~
two OF the largest industries had sta.e,,
that the change of routes would be AL
Vantagecus The was In favor OF doing All
ne could to effect that change He asked
what the increased expense would be for
the right OF way and was tod by Mr..
EicksAeker $40 approximately.
captain Taylor was asked If he had any
lands mat could be turned TO this use ana
said he had not; that the funds he "a
were especially apportionea and these an
portionments he had to follow.
PRESIDENT Graves stated that he v-as
satisfied that the government would re-
tuna any such sum when making the
next apportionmen:, and ala no. ar,tcl-
pate any trouble in raising the amount
The right-of-way question was co,s,s-
efen M some length. IL being the mos.
important. Engineer Ricksecker xave
some estimates and mentioned that ina
Great Northern railway owned the mos.
or the property through which the canal
Wohid pass, which land was west OF the
track. Judge Burke said he Thought on
arrangement could be entered into ne
tween the county ard the road whereby
me ROAD would give the land in question
Tor an equal amount OF tide lands "a he
niled by the excavation from the carsi
as this dirt has TO he dumped Somewhere
rms put an entirely different light on tho
proposition and made IL possible for the
cIaage TO be effected with out little al
dit.onai cost. After this trade was mass
the county could then transfer the Iars
received from the Great Northern tn tha
government and the work OF actual COR.
strucucn from the lock al the heal ~
smith cove 20 Salmon bay begun
President Graves appointed Jnava
Barke and Capt. Taylor a COMMITTEES -
confer With the Great Northern ana ~.
range for thu transfer. 1nis being .ha
principal thing 70 BE- considered al This
time. any other business ia connae,to.,
with the change will be held In allowance
Capt. w. w. Robinson who IN In char
OF the army posi- work. was present. ana
IN answer TO a question whether .ha
change OF route would Fse beneficial 80 g.
post sail that IL would make r.rruan~v,,
dam and bridge and also make > a.,
class landing for anything that may -
shipped tn He considered the change n
good one
Hon. John Leary also spoke IN favo-
% the change. believing II would g~ea.s,-
benefit Seattle IN more ways than nsna
Those present a. the meeting w.ra.
Presidsn. Graves. Jagre Burke. ga1r
Learv. Capt Taylor. Thomas AcYws-,
Fred l. StimsSn Capt. Robinson. ! "
elise. Harry r. elise. Griffith w. Davies
A. w. HASTE. w. ". Wiltshire ana In.