The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-24
Board Of Engineers Decides
Against Smiths Cove Route.
SECRETARY OF WAR APPROVES.
Secretary Lamont's Action In Fixing
on the Smiths Cove Route for the
Lake Washington Waterway II
Set Aside-The Great Project
Brought Another step Nearer
C0npleti0n-Text Of the Report.

The report of the board OF engineers, de-
tailed by Secretary Alger 10 investigate
and report upon the mos: feasible route 10
be followed by the Lake Washington wa
terway. has been approved by the secre-
tary Of war and is printed in full below.
Tie board recommended that the Smiths
cove route be abandoned and that the
waterway which is to connect the waters
OF Puget sound with those OF Lakes Union
and Washington shall have It's terminal
point at the Sound end In ShiIshole bay.
This report and the action Of the secre-
tary' Of war effectualIy dsposes OF an an
noying question. which has been a source
OF some dissenson and trouble fer many
months. The Lake Washington waterway
now stands in the shape that it did two
years ago, when Secretary Lamont changed
the course OF the route from Shilshole bay
to Smiths cove.
The first appropriation made for the con-
struction OF the north canal was made for
the improvement OF a waterway already
In existence. namely, the Salmon bay wa
terway between the lakes and the Sound.
The nrst surveys were made with the pur-
pose of making this the route from the
Sound 10 the lakes. Subsequently. inf,u-
ences we're brought 10 bear at Washington
and Secretary Lamont changed the route
from Shilshole bay TO Smiths cove
This involved the excavation OF a large
area OF ground for the canal In crossing
from the cove 10 the head of Salmon bay.
The money that had been appropriated for
the survey Of the Shilshole bay route could
not be used for the surrey by way Of
W. 20
funds for the survey by private subscrip-
tion.
The approval of the report Of the board
or engineers places the Lake Washington
waterway another step toward the goal OF
completion. The board finds that the
Shilshoie bay route is $3.50. 600 cheaper than
that by way of Smiths cove, and mention
Is made in favor OF the former route as
being advantageous to large warships that
Will use the canal in entering the fresh
water basin in the Lakes Union and Wash
ington.
Following Is the full text OF the report:
Listened TO Arguments.
"The board of engineer officers consti-
tuted by special orders No. s. headquarters
corps of engineers. United States army,
Washington. d. c., March /, 1888. for the
purpose or considering and reporting on
the waterway connecting the waters OF
Puget sound with Lakes Union and Wash
ington. with speciaHreference to the ter
minal point at the Sound end OF the said
waterway, met at Seattle. Wash. on the
morning of March Is 1858. ard the fore
noon was consumed in going over the maps
and other valuable information, and In
listening 70 the remarks OF Mr.. VIII H.
Thompson. the attorney OF the Great
Northern railroad, and Judges Roger s.
Greene and Thomas Burke, representing
the Lake Washington canal committee OF
the Seattle Chamber of Commerce. In the
afternoon the board inspected both OF the
proposed lines for the canal, from the
Sound as far as Lake Union. In the even
ing public meeting was held In the city
hall, where the board listened TO remarks
from representative citizens: some of these
We're later submitted 70 the hoard IN docu-
mentary form. The board met again on
The 18th 10 discuss the matter and to ar
rive at a definite conclusion. In reaching
It's conclusion the board has considered the
following points:
Il. Weather-The weather report FOR
the past four years shows that the winds
have been from the southeast. south and
southwest for the greater part % each
year; that the maximum velocity has been
from the south or southwest All Of these
winds get a long sweep at the entrance 10
the canal by the Smiths cove route. The
Shiishole bay route leaves the entrance ex-
posed TO the west, northwest and north
winds. which are ordinarily the summer
winds and are very moderate. There Is
however, a north wind OF grea. velocity al
times. but very rare. there having been
none In the past four years.
An Important Point.
80. Defense-The defense OF ,heAlock has
been considered as ali important reason FOR