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

as practicable after the conclusion OF
the ceremonies at that place. fer tina
purpose OF gaining information rs
10 the feasibility Of making use or
Lakes Union and Washington near Se-
attic, for water basins for Inen-of-war.
L left Tacoma on the morning Of the ifh
inst. Sunday. reaching Seattle at S a. M
As was obliged 10 STAR for Portland on
the morning Of the Sth inst. TO receive
me silver service. | could not begin my
Investigations until after my return. al
though | saw Mr.. T.. q. Graves president
or the Chamber of Commerce. a few mo-
n1ents on the Sth inst, before the train
eft.
Returned from Portland. or. on the
evening Of the It'll inst. ard on the ssh
inst visited the office OF the United States
engineer In charge OF rivers and harhors
III this vicinity. Capt. Taylor was kind
enough 10 show rue the plans and draw
ings or the proposed canal. which is 10
connect Lake Union with the Sound.
This canal is 10 be about three miles in
length. and the city authorities are az
present trying to set title to the land
through which the canal Is TO he dug.
The proposed canal Is TO be twenty-six
feet in depth at half tide. and it will NOT
be wide enough for our large merchant
vessels
The width of land that is being set apar,
for the canal is only three hundred feet.
Immediately upon my return from Capt.
Tayior's office. found Geographic orders
TO proceed with the Oregon TO San Fran
cisco. and the next morning the Oregon
left for Port Angeles. hence further IN
vestisation was impracticahie.
The department: will perceive by the
above that have had no opportunity TO
verify the soundinSs which have been
taken by the United States engineers. or
"a do. ~
general observations may not be out Of
place.
This proposed canal was originally In
tended for merchant vessels II there be
need for this canal for the merchant
marine. ii would seem good policy to
make II wide enough and deep enough
to accommodate the largest merchan, ves-
sells that now run to the Sound or that
may be expected to run.
II Lake Union or Lake Washington. or
both, should be used as fresh water ba-
sins for our men-of-war one thing is
certain. viz:
The government should have entire con-
troi of the canal. and should own the land
on both sides OF the canal for a certain
distance. and this land should be walled
in. The reasons for this are plain. In
time of war. or riot. the United States
forces would have to guard the canal the
whole length. ard II would be very easy
for traitor or disarected person TO
block 1t up or TO destroy the locks so
that vessels could not go through.
have not read the report of the board
which selected the present site for the
dry dock and naval station, but / under
stand that 1t reported against Lake
Washington as naval station. Some OF
the arguments they advanced at that
time may apply to the subject now under
consideration.
return the letter of Mr. f. O. Graves
to the department. as II requested. as II
may be the wish of the department to
have another officer on board look into
the subject.
/ do not consider this a report for or
against the project. The question is OF
too great importance TO decide without
weighing all the arguments for or against
the scheme. besides considering whether
or not fresh water basin could not he
made with less cost at some other point.
Very respectfully,
A. s. BARKER
Capt. L. s. N, Commanding.
L. $. S. Monterey.