The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-16

| Special Dispatch to the Post-Intelligencer.
department has at last raised the en-
| barge of secrecy from the reports OF in
vestigations made last summer. upon is
| authorization. by the comma ders of the
| warships Monterey and Oregon. IL was
| stated in the Post-Intelligencer at the
time that the reports were very favorable
| to the utilization of Lakes Union and
| Washington. one or both. as fresh water
harbors for the laying up of war ships
| when not in commission on the Pacific
| coast: but that the department was 10th
to make them public. fearing the rise In
| real estate values which it was thought
would be sure to follow when. IL was made
known that the navy department looked
| upon the plan with favor. 1t was thought
| at the time that the department might
! wish to obtain considerable quantity Of
| land for its own purposes. but it has been
| since decided that no considerable amount
| Of land outside that condemned for right
OF way for the canal would be required;
in consequence. any effect OF the reports
on the real estate market of that vicinity
may be lost sight of at the present time.
Recently Senator Turner called upon
the secretary of the navy to furnish him
with such information as he had obtained
concerning the proposed waterway. and
after some delay il was decided TO place
the senator in possession OF all the facts
He gives them to the Observation-Disclosures
correspondent Three reports have been
1
navy department. one by Capt. Barker,
of the battleship Oregon, and two by
Capt. Clark. CT the coast defense ship
Monterey. Capt. Bankers report was IA
vorable, although his investigation was
! very brief, owing to his receiving sailing
orders before he had fairly begun his
work.
Capt Clark. on the other hand. made
a very thorough examination of the pro-
posed government waterway, making
soundings in the lakes and going into the
matter extensively His first report was
In regard TO the canal recommended by
the government engineers, for which
the sum of sl5oeoo has already been APP
propriated, TO be available as soon as the
His second report discusses what might
be done in the way of making fresh
water harbor at the south side OF the
city, where a private corporation has been
engaged in dredging out the Duwamish
flats. with the avowed purpose OF event
rally making a canal through the ridge
to Lake Washington.
In his letter 10 Senator Turner the Sec
rotary of the navy is particularly careful
not to commit the department to any
thing. and although he furnishes the SEN
ator with the fun reports of the COM
manders. he does not comment upon them
to any extent. Yet. all in All. the com
ment which he does make Is a favorable
one, and shows that the navy DEPART
ment. If called upon by congress al any
time 10 express its views as 10 the advlS-
ability of establishing on the Pacific coast
fresh water hartor for the lying-in OF
war ships when not in active service,
woaId be more than likely TO recommend
the construction OF the Lake Washington
waterway as the mos; desirable means Of
obtaining the harbor desired, rather than
the expensive dredging out Of a harhor
OF that sort al some point in California.
Secretary Long Is particular TO poin,
out that the investigation made by the
navy department was caused by a letter
written by the Chamber Of Commerce OF
Seattle. on June s. last, setting forth the
advantages Of Lakes Union and Washing
ton for the purpose, and suggesting that
steps be taken by the department TO So
cure fun and authentic Information as 10
the advantages possessed by these lakes
as storage basins for naval vessels.
The result Of the correspondence ana
investigation Is that. says the secretary.
the department IS possessed OF the in
formation that there is available site
for fresh water basin on the Pacific
coast. near the city 90 Seattle in case
the necessities CT The service In the
future require = fresh water storage
Basin IN ,hat locality"
Following is the full text Of the three
reports.
Capt Bark~r-. Report.
T. (. : Oregon.
Port Angeles, Wash July H. 1887.