The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-22

SEATTLE, SUNDAY. AUGUST ~.
A CANAL FROM THE LAKE.


IN Ammo Donini ICE Pliny the Younger.
having been appointed TO the once Of the
proprietor Of Pontiea, wrote as follows 10
Emperor TraJan;
when / reflect upon the splendOr CT
your exalted station and the masnanirn-
ity OF pour spirit nothing, ] an persuad-
ed. can be more suitable TO both. than to
point out 10 you such works as are worthy
Of your glorious and immortal name, as
being no less useful than magnificent.
Bordering upon the territories Of the
city Of Eicomedia is most extensive lake.
over which marbles. fruits. woods and all
kinds Of materials. the commodities of the
country. are brought In boats up TO the
high road at little trouble and expense.
but from thence are conveyed In car
riages TO the seaside. at much greater
charge and with great labor. To remedy
this Inconvenience many hands viii DO
In request; but upon such an occasion
they cannot be wanting; for the country.
and particularly the city. is exceedingly
populous. and one must assuredly hope
that every person Will readily engage in a
work which viii be OF universal benefit.
1t only remains. then, 10 send hither. If
you shall think proper. a surveyor or an
architect. IN order 10 examine whether
the lake lies above the level OF the sea.
the engineers Of this province being CT
opinion that the former is higher by
forty cuhits. l find there is In the neigh
borhood OF this place a large canal which
was cut by king OF this country. but as
IL Is left unfinished. 1t IS uncertain
whether Il was for the purpose OF drain
ing the adjacent fields or making COM
ruunication between the lake and the
river. 1t IL equally doubtful. too whether
the death OF the king or the despair Of
being able 20 accomplish the design pre-
vented the completion of H. II this was
the reason. ] am 80 much the more eager
and warmly DESTROYS for the sake Of your
imstrious character land hope you viii
pardon NE the ambition that you may
have the glory OF executing what kings
could only attempt"
To which Trajan replied:
There Is something in the scheme you
propose. OF opening q communication be-
tween the lake and the sea, which may.
perhaps. tempt me 70 consent. But you
must FIRST carefully examine the situation
OF this body OF water. what quantity It
contains ana from whenc6 1t IS supplied.
lest. by giving 1t an opening into she sea.
g should De totally drained. You may ap-
ply 10 Calpuruius Macer Tor an engineer.
snd I will also send YOU from hence some
one skilled in works Ct this nature"
Pliny again writes 20 Tratan:
'4The apprehenzlons you express. sir.
taat the lake viii be In danger OF being
entirely drained II communication
should be opened between that and che
sca. ny means az the river. are agreeable
90 that prudence and forethousht you So
eminently possess; bat think Z have
found s. method 20 ohviatc that inconve-
n.cnce. A channel may De- cut from the
Like up 20 the river 80 as not quite go
}ain them. leaving Just "a narrow strip Of
land between. preserving tho lake ny
this means it VII not only be kept quite
SEA Arate rrcIo the riyer. hut on enc sana
purposes viii Re- answered as n they
we're united. for q VIII Sc extremely easy
90 convey over hat Wle Intervening
ridge whatever goods are brought Down
lev ths canal
This is scheme which may ee par-
sued L 81 shah &c found necessary. bat
hose thore VIII Re no occasion 70 have -
course 70 Sc. for IN the FIRST place the
lake ttself is pretty deep ard in The newt
~ damming up T.ver which runs from
&c oa IRE opposite side md Turning So
course sc we shall ena 3, sxrea3eat IRE
same quantity - wafer may he retained
Pes,5es there are several brooks ~ear The
place where 70 Re pyereee7 re channel
sha3 ~ est vht-h. - ektfuf'y collected.
viz supr,v tee 'skc wfts water .n proper
tl3a - What II shau discharge ru; Z
sea Should rather approve g tbe -hAn-
vel eegrx extended farther ara cvt nar-
ravyer ara - conveyed directly isto tha
sea. without ~1nnleg lnto TIE river TIE
rrH4x ~ th@ tf8e wi3 vefGr1 wha-fver 4
receives erora the iake. After az 2 the
rsturs - tAe place SHOULD roc admit =
aav - These schemes. the e-a~$e - re
water uav - checked by slui-es- THes~.
however ard many ctAsv particulars
wtH Re ue1e ss.ntaIy exaHsnea 3uto ~
gre sesfeser who0. indeed ST. yoa
csgGt Is seca according 20 year promise
fer it ts an enterprise weil voTsev year
attention ara srarrfa-eo-e r. re mean
wh.ln I Pave written 4, tAe D}ustr' eas
Ca,rurr.as Ns~~- 20 pursuance - ycar
orders. TO ss-a re tAa r7ost skg.az3 eags-
reer &c - bad
Trataa eeactl1a4 ths coyrespenasaoe sy
....st-a.