The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-03
Government Likely to Adopt the
Salmon Bay Route.
ORDERS FROM WASHINGTON.
Lake Washington Canal Committee
Called Together in Special session
by President Graves to Consider
Important Telegraphic Advices
Received by Capt. Taylor From
War Department nt Washington.


ton canal convened yesterday afternoon in
special session at the request OF President
E. o. Graves. The object OF the meeting
was 10 discuss late information concern
ing the canal received by Capt Harry Tay-
lor. bearing upon the Smiths cove route.
Capt. Taylors Geographic communica-
ton directed that condemnation proceed
ings cease upon the risht-oT-way. the
telegram was taken 10 mean that the gov
eminent had decided 10 abandon the
Smiths cove route. This information vas
transmitted to Prosecuting Attorney j. +.
McElroy. The telegram was signed by
William p Cralghin. chief Of engineers.
The receipt of the information had far
from a dampening effect upon those most
Interested. as the members OF the cham
Der who have been most active in calling
the attention OF the government 10 the
practcability Of the scheme of a canal
have combated the idea OF the Smiths
cove entrance 10 the waterway leading TO
Lake Union. The opinion prevailed at
the meeting that the more feasible route
through ShilshoIe bay and Salmon bay
had attracted the engineering department,
and that ii would now take up a propo-
sition that is in entire harmony with what
are believed 10 be the ideas OF the Seattle
people. who have estinlateg the impor-
lance of the canal connecting the lakes
with the Sound from an unselfisa stand
point.
reason that was assigned for the
change in the plans OF the war depart
ment was the influence OF President James
j. Han. who. Ii was well known, had ar
gued against the Smiths cove route on
the ground that Nature had provide a
waterway that only needed enlargement
10 convert ii into practical canal for YES
sells The Smiths cove route requires a
vast amount of excavation. and the first
report of the old engineers board stated
that while the cost OF the Smiths
cove route was 5000 900 more than the Shii-
shoie bay route, the former was more de-
sirable. as its entrance was from Elliott
bay, on the Seattle water front. vs. aim
This report was submitted to the war
department in 1890. At the same time
pressure was brought to bear upon Sec
rotary Lamont, who approved of the
Smiths cove route. In 1884 an appropria-
ton OF s25.doo was voted by congress for a
survey, but the bill contained the usual
condition that the rght-of-way had to be
donated before tho survey was made As
no right-of-way could be donated without
a survey the project was in even a more
delightful uncertainty than before, and it
was not until a succeeding session of con-
Gress that s5.000 was made available for
the cadasiral survey and map OF the
route.
Eugene Ricksecker. an engineer at
tached 10 the office Of the United States
army engineer, in this city, was engaged
and he made survey by the Shilshoie
route. ignoring the Smiths cove proro-
sition This survey was approved by
Secretary Lamont. after a representation
Of the facts by Mr.. +. Q. Graves. who
went 10 Washington City especially for
this purpose. An additional appropria-
ton Of $4,000 was made to apply on the
work but the absence of specific applica-
ton left the proposition in almost as bad
. a shape as it was before, and 1t was an
open question rs To how the fund should
be applied. Secretary Lamont approved
the Shilshole hay route but recommended
no Smiths cove route.
Finally the county commissioners Of
King county employed Mr.. Ricksecker 70
make another survey Of the Shilshole bay
route. which embraced much that the
first survey did not. and this last survey
was approved by Secretary Alger. Upon
this authority condemnation proceedings
were commenced and Attorney McF-,roy
| said yesterday that tho county had pro-
ceeded with The work until more than
| ~ oN had been spent by the county, over
| s6i go Of which applied upon the part II
| the route that was common ~ both plans,
from Salmon hay 20 Lake Union.
II was also brought out at yesterdays
| meeting that John +. Stevens. chief on
| ginecr Of the Great Northern, had stated
| his diSapproval Of the Smiths cove scheme
| as e interfered with the opera ton of the
/ road. This objection on the part OF the
| engineer is coupled with M Hll's state
| ments in favor OF the Shilsho'e entrance
| 10 the waterway. The strategic features
! ~ the old board of United States engin-
! GERS report are now believed 10 be OF M
| Importance in the governments calcula-
! tons and II 80 thought that its efforts
7 viii he concentrated upon what is believed
/ % he the more practical route from BE-
! low Magnolia hiuT. Engineers of both
army and navy have d,Sapproved If the
curve In the plans of the Smiths cove
/ route preferrlng a straight course
The telegram that CAPT Tsyler received
/ was discussed a yesterdays meeting. 7,
| also stated that the order % discontinue
/ condemnation proceedings was 70 hold
pending The arrival cf board ~ enE.n-
/ ecrs who would examine the routes
+ President Graves VAS Instructed to wire
T TO var department asking for specific
+ information as 10 the probable time II
arrival of such a board and so rtata
- the department the expense hat the
aeyfrrr ~ taaa- .fra.s E~e