The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-13
LEWIS RIVER N BAD SHAPE.
Low WATER SERIOUSLY IMPEDEs
NAVIGATION.
Appropriated Of e2o.0oo In Needed
CSttaens 81 La Center Rely ON
CongPesa Ia Aid Them-Captafn

Special Disoasch to the post-Inteilieencsr.
WASHINGTON Nov. i,-Tae citizens
OF Washington. living along the Lewis
river. from the point where il emp
Ties into the Columbia up 70 La Center
may reasonably expect from congress az
lis next session ar adequate appropriation
Tor The permanent improvement Of that
river Congress at its last session author
izec the expenditure OF $50 for making a
survey OF Lewis river. The survey was
/ made By Civil Engineer Philip g. East
Wick. under the supervision Of Capt. Har-
~ Taylor. Corps of Engineers who has
! charge Of river and harbor improvements
| IN the Washington district
AS result OF the survey the improve
ment proposed by Capt. TAYLOR is TO Sc
cure an Increased depth In the river By the
construction of training dikes. and by
Dredging and snagging. The cost Of the
improvement Is estimated at SEQ 80 The
opinion Of Capt Taylor. c0ncurred In by
.oi :. X suter. the division engineer is
tnat the Improvement is worthy one
being fully justified by the interests Of the
commerce involved. Gen. Wilson, chief OF
engineers, mas so reported to the secretary
OF war. and the latter In his annual esti-
'halss VIII ask congress for the 50 40 ne
cessary to dc the work
Survey Of the River.
Following Is Capt, Taylors rer,srt on the
survey or Lewis river. in detail:
me Lewis river emptiee into the Column
pa r1ser about IL miles below the mouth
Ia =, dhe Whlam ette; or Is miles from Port
ishu. Or No railroad touches the Lewis
ftser ana az the natural trading point for
,us peopie living along this river Is Port
.ann. ne business Is. al carried on by
means OF the boats niying between port,
l iand and the points on the river
Al q distance Of three and three-quar-
-, rptie n e f'n'rr~Fs his IRE Lewis
- s.a 49,
as the North Fork and the Fast Fork ~
these. the North Folk is the larger stream
la center is situated on the Eax. Fork
, ire ana ana one-eighth miles from the juno
the forks is from 40 feet TO sno feet mar.
rowirg In less than a0 feet near the forks
s widening to over 100 feet at rindsEey's
feet. ''''" i'" iee' 10 >"
Eoats running from Portland can as
oeha ,ne r'ewls river and the East Fork
as far as Il, Center. except at low water.
Al low WAFER a transfer to smaller
steamer II made AZ the forks. and at ex-
row,oa, .to,a .s neera1,ar w - n-" a
there Is oniy one shoal where anv diff
cpifv is experienced
The material forming all the bars ex-
cent the ones in the East Fork near nc
main river. is OF an exceedingly light Weld
ing material. apparently pure pumice cas-
w carried by g current az is shown by
fy
changing in shane. TIE material forming
me shoal near the mouth OF the East Fork
Is clay o'n
AZ the time the survey was made IN
river below the forks was /. fea, GA ~ 'i !.
the East Fork above the forks was two
Ieet. Two gauges are kent hy the Ieufs
LIVER Ever TRANSFORMATION Comnany--one at Ia
center and one at the forks Calling the
stage OF the rixer at the time the survey
was maze normal the record Of the
gauges for the year 1896 shows that the
river was above the normal for period
OF IA DAYS at the forks and at or below
II for AZ DAYS. and that II was above the
| normal Tor "a DAYS and at or below II for
- DAYS a La Center
'The lowest stage reached Airing The
year was two and one-half feet below the
norman al the forks and three and ore
haIf feet below at La Center That the
river could fan three and one-haIf feet Al
Ia Center below the stage al which denths
OF only two feet were found below ~ err
nia'hed ov the fact that the shoaieSt place
IN 'he river ss ahou. half way between the
forks and La Center and fall in the
main river below the forks due either W
2 fall In tho Columbia or IN the North
FORK, world sncreaSe tire s'o~e OF the water
surface from the shoai to the junction OF
the forks without causing much change
- 80 r'H9H Ivy - -Aos' white fa'l ~,
the Fast Fork would decrease tho stone
firm, In Center ~ the shoal without cans.
ing corresncn'ine change below the
shoaL TIE total fall In the water surface
ilpth Ia tFhfsr 10 the forks he
f'rne OF Tire survey three and one-half foe.
The number Of davs during the wear dur
inT which The river vas at different stages
is shown bv the tables accompanying the
EcHort of nv assistant who made the sur
NeF which rs forwarded herewith
"An increase Of derth 50 that Stea mhoats
could ascend 20 Ia Center me year round
would I've ~ very material hsnee, Ia .ra
commerce ~ tho river. II f. believed that
great relief woulS he AFFORDED eyen 10 an
aH-fhe-year-rnund nsvigas ion was rot oh
tanned. by the constr uctjon of tratntr~
q kSs A. ore pFacc on tho main river and
81 thrp@ ~fa~ss IN the Fasa Fork and M,
dredging in the Fast Fort near ,ha surc
tiof' II Is nrono~ed nv these 10 secure a
6epth IF siw fe". ir the main river AID
fHfr foot from the forks 10 La Center M
nc sag a. water At which the river was
@N~H 'he survey was made
THE estimated cost If this improve
rT'oFt Is follows.
D'ke asa linear feet. ~ "a --.....- sig foa
l'redrtug. a@s' cubic yards AZ p cents sna
SnagginS ..,... ...-...... ........... ys1
TIT