The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-20

report OF Capt Clark Capt. Barker had
not had opportunity Tor thorough invssti-
gation; Capt. Ciark's second report related
to the south waterway project
Warm Enforcement by Capt. Clark.
In his first report Capt. Clark. under
dale CT Seattle, August %. 1881. says:
"Sir: In obedience 10 the departments
order Of July 81, iSa7 directing saat re-
part be made upon the plan Outlined n q
letter OF Mr.. u. @. Graves. president OK
the Seattle Chamber OK Commerce. a1S
uf.on tbs pYactsoabasaty ~ using Lakes
Union ard Washington as fresh water
anehorages Tor United States naval Vessels
have the homer to submit the fo!i5@ings
'-Ths United States engineers, in sur
veysng the tine OF the proposed cana u
connect the lakes win Puget soan4' hed
developed the contour lines or ias oos-
tom la the northern arms os I@aKe Lhion.
ard 10 deep water IN Lake Washington,
but no information eas oJfaanaA.e regard
Ing the depth elsewhere IL either iAke-
Parallel lines CT g94ndIngs were tnereiose
run In Lake Un.on Upon range s.gna1s es-
tablishea every tbfee hundred feet, ~
Lieut. " l. Ceftman. s3d ffty-ssx miles
or sounditgs sfre run b. Lieut.. Harry
Kimrneu 10 ascertain the depth azd char
acfer OF tae bottom ia Lake Washington.
(Traeings showing the result are torw ward
ed BY this MALI
at VIII be seen that Lake Union Is ali
that could be desired a. a fresh water
basin, and that secure snchorages exist
In Lake Washington. especially Al the
northern end ard 10 the eastward OF Mercer
island. From the appearance OF fEs sur
rounding hills. and from the report that
violent transforms almost unknown Ia
this region, II Is almost evident that little
In the way OF surface scouFiags. which
would lessen the deptsl. Is Carried into these
tS.xF4t -sfa
shores for many years assert that they are
never frozen over. and mat only thin
Tim OF Ice foTms occasionally near the
banks
III canal with a lock through which
vessels OF fofty-elgat fest beam ana TWEEN
fy-five feet draft can pass. has been de-
termined upon, there seems 10 be every
good reason phy Il should be enlarged
enough 10 permit any naval vessel now
built or building 10 enter Lake Union. From
naval standpoint, the extension or the
canal TO Lake Washington does not appear
TO have any significance. The wafer Jewel
OF Lake Union would be maintained leven
should the locks below be IN constant use)
by the inflow through the cut already made
for logging purposes between the two lakes,
ar 1t certainly could be by 4 little more
excayating.
ssReferring TO the suggestion in Capt.
Bankers letter, herewith returned. thai
the canal should be walled in the entire
length so that 1t could be guarded in
tine OF war. or riot only regular fortifcs-
lions would protect from an enemy who
was strong enough Ia effect a landing. ard
rioters. who might destroy or disable the
gates and machinery OF the lock. would
hardly attempt to block the canal. The
lock should he enclosed at least sufficiently
20 enable the guards to prevent the ap-
preach OF unauthorized persons. and II
should be as far back possible from the
sr4. sci
attempting 10 fire a. the gates would have
TO take Il position in H1e with the canal.
and be exposed to Increased accuracy OF
FIRE from tae mortar batteries TO BE placed
near the barber entrance.
with reference 10 the statements IN the
departments letter that Information was
particularly desired as to the conditions
under which the goaernment cou'i ac-
quire property on the shores OF the lakes.
II was found that land Cn or near suitable
sites was held In anticipation OF the rise In
value that would come with the beginning
OF work on the canal. On the eastern side
OF Lake Union. which Is nearest the city
and where little ieve.ing would have 10 be
done. lots 41xil0 are valued anywhere from
$40 TO so1 depending upon the distance
from the water front. On the opposite
side lard Is CHEAPER. but the slope IL
abrupt. and an electric railway follows
the shore line. The shores OF Lake Wash
ington are SO extensive and SO sparsely
settled that land could he purchased where
wanted at reasonable figure To general
Inquiries made. the answers were 10 the
eHect that the government could have any
land condemned. or that the holders would
part with il at n fair price | fhntefo~e
addressed letter to Mr. Graves, anS upor
learning Of his absence from the city. sent
II to the trustees os the Chamber of Conn
sasfee' "a copy or the same and The an
swer received are enc!osed1
frooab!y as mach land as that sur-
Eested would not be required hv tho do.
partment. ~ any vessel needing ex,en
slve repairs could be taken % pnr, Orchard
f'id dr'H ground Tor tie officers and men
III charge % the ship. though they we're
CHARTERED on shore is Hot a positive need
IN airy event, the amount paid for land
wepld bs small compared with thar Cav
the water leading to II. bat the conditions
under which the government could acouira
properly on tho shores Of either ;ghe hava
so Tar been indicated
ON account 81 the saving that II Nigh,
he 10 the government. have ,hs nnnor IN
ask thai the departments attention he
given 70 the plans FOR the proper y-oter-
ton 20 the canal when the survey VS.
nfss mace. !t was proposed 10 go strnlgs.
OUT through Salmon hay Ia Shfsasi, h,,.
because there would ~ a saving 81 tslsaa Ai
hu; later. to better pto'eoa fhs locks frozen
risk Of honhardmeat. The lsuv war ala 4us.,1
So Tar as the navy IS Governed the canal
wenid te adSantagf@u& o1ly Ira tins. ~
peace Au tie vessels lafd az, woulA D..
hurried out T,esr az she 'atk s M the nrs,
sisn or rupture with a strong neva1 power
ans should our iiecF IN TIN Sound be de-
feated by an enemy that hal rl3n tho ha.-
feries NJ the entrance tthe channel - near
~ three miles vide. ana tse smoke 80 for
est fires vel as III. f2v fe ,fta,
ceaaei. retreat woa'5 te made.
not "a cansi wish "a focA IN H.
bot Through the narrow ars4 eaefv de-
Tended approaches rs PORE Orchard
TfEsu. too. II the canal conles oHt i'm S5ns7A
ecse. Salmon lay Is io - oYern >xn4 and
the darn - - suils between the 15v-er std
ana The tHra of ths Nauai eaH'3 i.a gvr-e<i
by shel and iha cana, drained 4 nl.xat he
found that Il rac casat te}oRc,l the lirs NJ
$500 q 6 . O. O @