The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-06-17
TO BE INVESTIGATED.
ADJ ANTAGE OF LAKE WASHINGTON
FOR STORAGE BASIN.
where ships Of War May be Laid Up
in Ordfnary-omnaand Of the
Oregon Ordered to Report-Hon.
e. q. Graves Letter to the Navy
Prospect.

Less than month ago. IN It's report OF
one OF the meetings of the board of direct
ors of the Chamber o. Commerce. the Post
Iutelhgencer chronicied the efforts Of that
body toward attracting the attention OF
the war and navy departments to the de-
STABILITY Of Lake Union. and eventually
OF Lake Washington. as places for the lay
ing up OF vessels of the United States navy
tn ordinary. The effort was prompted by
the information sent OUT from Washington
City that the navy department was at
work on plans for excayating a basin at
Vallejo Cal. an estimate for which was
placed at 81. GO. GO.
The fact that an appropriation had been
made for the Lake Washington canal and
that the only delay in the beginning q OPP
e-ations lay in the settlement by the gov
eminent upon another route than that first
intended. and the transfer OF the amount
OF the appropriation led the Chamber OF
Commerce 10 address the Washington del
egaricn in congress upon the subject. There
is no comparison in the advantages Offered
by the TWO locations. TIE prime idea of
q vessel il ordinary is in the fresh water
berth afforded. and this could not be ac-
complished by the California proposition.
No more ideal spot on earth exists than the
natural fresh water harbors that require
comparatively little expenditure. that lie
10 the north and east OF Seattle, and il
view OF the governments determination
TO connect the Sound and the lake few
changes would be necessary 10 make the
canal applicable to the uses OF the vessels
OF the navy.
This representation OF facts has undoubt-
eddy had its influence, and last evening
the personal efforts of Hon. Z. .. Graves
in the matter We're rewarded by the re-
ceipt OF an important telegram from Con-
gresham w. c. Jones OF the most en-
r.Nts .zcrfVa DUNE
Graves forwarded to Senators Wilson and
Turner and Congressman Lewis and Jones
was as follows:
Seattle, Wash, June s. 1891
Hon. John ID. Long, Secretary of the
Navy, washington. u. C.-Sir: The at
tention OF the board of trustees of the Se-
attic Chamber OF Commerce has been at
tracted by the published statements that
the navy department is considering a
project for the construction of fresh
water basin at some point on the Pacific
coast. IN which vessels OF the navy may be
laid up IN ordinary.
By direction OF the board, 1 have the
honor to call your attention to the UNI
equaled advantages possessed by Lakes
Union and Washington for the use of the
proposed purpose. Lake Union lies en-
tireiy within the city limits of Seattle, and
Is about one mile distant in Il direct line
from the waters of Puget sound. 1t has
an area of 9sS acres. is9 acres of which
are twenty-five feet and over In depth,
with maximum observed depth of sixty
feet. Lake Washington lies on the east
side OF the city OF Seattle, and is less than
two miles from Puget sound at its near
est point. Its total area is -, >9S acres. OF
which about ZOO acres have a depth Of
twenty-five feet and over with a maxi
mum depth of COO feet or more. 1t is nine
teen miles long, and averages about two
miles in width. Both OF these lakes are
OF pure, fresh water, and they are well
protected from wind and storms by tho
surrounding hills. The winter climate of
this region is SO mild that ice never forms
on either of them. The lowest tempera-
ture recorded by the office of the weather
bureau In Seattle since its establishment
III ls9l is degrees above zero. The ad-
VantdgeS OF these lakes for the purposes
of a storage basin for naval vessels are
great and obvious. The fresh water pro-
tects piles and whaTyes from the ravageS
OF the teredo, which Is so destructive to
such structures on the salt water of the
Pacific coast. They would furnish excel
lent facilities for boat drill and torpedo
practice, while the shores are well suited
for drilling grounds. They are both ac-
cesslbe from the heart OF the city by cleo
trio, cable and steam railways so that
supplies and men could be ready trans
ported TO vessels anchored therein The
proximity of the government dry dock at
Port Orchard. only fourteen miles distant
from Seattle presents another strong rea-
son in favor of the selection of one or the
other or these lakes as "A storage basin
bottoms cleaned could be put In order at
the dock and laid up in the lake ia condi-
tfon TO go to sea.
Plans have been adopted by the war de-
partment Tor the construction by the gov
eminent or a ship canal connecting both
or these lakes with the waters of Puget
sound. and an appropriation OF Slg5.00a for
beginning the work has been made. to be-
come available as soon as the right-of-way
is rendered to the government. The great
er part OF the right-of-way has already
been secured, and condemnation proceed
lngs Tor securing the remainder are under
way. Within very short time the ti.Ie
for the entire right-of-way will be tender
ed to the government, and the work OF
construction will undoubtedly begin i'm
mediately thereafter. The plans adopted
however, do not contemplate c CT mai with
locks OF sufficient capacity to admit the
largest vessels OF the navy. They provide
only for locks of a width OF fifty feet and
depth OF twenty-six feet. Should it be
desired 10 utilize the cana. for vessels OF
the navy. 1t would be necessary 20 change
these plans and enlarge the capacity OF
the locks. Probably Lake Union would
meet all the requirements of the navy de-
partment for some years 10 come as il
contains more than 400 acres of water of
sufficient depth for the anchorage of the
largest vessels of the navy.
1t is estimated that the construction OF
the canal from Puget sound to Lake
Union, under the present plans. would
cost about x.9oo. and that a canal of
sufficient capacity to admit the largest
naval vessels would cost about ST. sd. 0se
IL it is true, as has been stated that the
construction of fresh-water basin at any
other point would cost $500 600 IL would
seem 10 be wise economy for the navy de-
p9rtment TO cooperate with the war de-
partment in building canal at this point
which would suffice for the accommoda-
ton not only OF vessels OF the merchant
marine. but OF the United States navy as
well. The canal viii be built In any event
and II would be d great misfortune IT, as
result or q policy of unwise economy it
should be inadequate for the accofnmoda-
ton OF the vessels of the government by
which IL rs constructed Ii the navy de-
paFtment should wish to avail itself of
this opportunity TO provide an ideal stor-
age BASH or It's great vessels. il Is i'm
portant tia. ( should act promptly as the
work of construction viii soon begin. and
once begun. any change Of plans Will be
difficult and expensive. II is hardly nee
essary 10 add that the harhor Of Seattle is
reached from the ocean by a broad, deep
waterway navigahle in all weather and at
all seasons. and free from bars rocks
shoals or other Instructions 10 navigation
i have, therefore, tire honor 10 suggest
that steps be at once taken by the navy
department. either through the appoint
ment of a board, or otherwise. TO secure
fun and authentic information as TO the
advantages presented by Lakes Union and
Washington as a storage basin for naval
vessels, when connected by the proposed
canal with the waters Of Puget sound.
herewith tBclose a map OF the city show
ing the lakes, the route OF the proposed
canal and the street and steam railway
lines. and also a copy or a memorandum
furnished by Ihe Officer iu charge OF tho
weather bureau in this city, showing the
mean temperature OF the coolest month
and the minimum temperature Of the year
for each year since lsss. a2d the total mum
Der OF days In each year since lss3 that