The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-24
AGAINST BOAT RAILWAY
GEN. WILSON REPORTS UNFAvoRA-
BLY TO WAR DEPARTMENT.

ment Improvement ut The Dalles
Not Favored by Steamboat Men.
Special Dispatch 10 the Post-Inteldgencer'
WASHINGTON. Nov. 2S.-Brig Gen.
John NJ Wilson, chief OF engineers or the
war department has made very interest
ing report upon the long standing propos-
ed improvement OF the Columbia river at
Three-mile rapids, and the constructor
and equipment Of a boat railway from me
Dalles rapids TO the head OF Cello fails.
The principal feature OF the report is what
amounts to a practical recommendation
that the entire project be dropped. This
will be a severe blow to the friends OF the
Improvement and will make the light Tor
further appropriations In the coming ses-
sion of congress a decidedly uphill one
Gen Wilson sets forth the history OF this
project and the reason II should be aoan-
doned as follows:
vessels drawing twenty feet OF water
can easily ascend the Columbia river FROM
its mouth in the Pacific ocean 70 point
two and a half miles below Vancouver.
Wash, or a distance of about 100 miles. ana
river steamers drawing about eight iee'
of water navigate the stream to Inc Daiies'
Or, farther distance OF about no miies.
i
obstructed at all times. In distance OK
twelve miles are Three-mile rapids.
crooked channel 1.5ao fee, in length. marrow
and much INSTRUCTED by rocks and swift
currents: then Five-mile rapids Cine
Dalles), where for a mile and half the
river PUSHES with great velocity between
apart: then Ten-mile rapids, a similar gorge
one-hah mile in length; and lastly Cello
falls with sheer fall Of twenty fee,.
I'm these twelve miles the total fall In the
t.xFxf IL. q
The navigahe capacity of the Columbia
above Cello falls as well as that OF Snake
and Clearwater rivers. and the character OF
the country which would be benefited oy
any Improvement that would enable steam
ers to pass the distractions In the twelve
miles OF the Columbia from Three-mile
rapids up to Cello falls. have been de-
scrtbed in previous reports
THE project for providing means for
boats to pass the distractions In the Co
lumbia between Three-mile rapids and
Cello falls, adopted In 1894 as outlined In
the act OF congress Of August Is. 1894. is as
follows:
Improving Columbia river, Oregon and
Washington, at Three-nnile rapids and the
way from the foot of The Dalies rapids to
the head of Cello falls. said boat railway
10 be provided az each terminus with ny
draulic lifts, and other necessary applf-
ances for purposes of lowering and raising
the boats on suitable cars to and from its
tracks, the whole to be located. construct
boats of COO tons each in each direction in
twelve hours, on the south side Of the Co
mmbia river. substantially In accordance
with the location and plans submitted by
the board of engineers, appointed by the
president In pursuance OF the provisions OF
the act of congress approved July H. 1892
The estimated cost of the beat railway
is 81 .264, 467. The expenditures to June 30
1885 $l5, go resulted in a survey OF the
line of the proposed boat railway, In Oh
tanning title to part of the land required for
right-of-way and terminal facilities. and
in partially preparing plans for the railway
and Its appurtenances.
THE expenditures during the fiscal year
ending June 80 1899, We're In payment for
land and in continuing the preparation OF
plans for the boat railway.
ut is not practicable to positively fore
tell what benefit would ensue from some
kind of Improvement that would enable
freight to be passed around the obstruc-
ttons I'm the twelve miles between The
Dalles. Or. and Cello. Or. When the char
upper Columbia and its tributaries is CON-
sidered. 1t Is quite probable that such i'm
provement would result in very great
benefit to the upper Columbia river coun-
try. providing II would an all river route
for the shipment Of grain, the principal
commodity, Of the region.
Much OF the grain is exported TO Europe
and Asia. AT present Il is brought by rail
20 Portland and Seattle and loaded into
ocean vessels az those points With boats
plying on the Upper Columbia river II is
be afforded sections OF country that now
have not even rail- transportation.
action looking 20 the acquisition Of land
for right of-way for this boat railway has
been completed and II only remains now 70
arrange with the Oregon Railroad & Navi-
cation Company for an exchange Of rights
of-way where the road of that company
crosses the line OF the proposed boat rail-
way; but no steps have been taken TO con-
s,immate this exchange. which will neces-
state the removal Of the tracks OF the
~Fy, nm, FrNv M 1t.
loca ton.
LAS this work Of removal. with the ,e
CURED grading, etc VIII involve an adii-
tionai expense 70 the United States Of some
s9ooa and as no appropriation for this
boat railway has been made since 1895 the
secretary of war has decided 10 defer fer
ther action in the matter until cong >ess
definitely determines whether or no. the
work OF constructing the boat railway shall
continue.
I'm the event of affirmative action by
congress upon the subject. some provision
should be made by which the secretary Of
war SHALL be empowered - efrec. erch
transfer OF land with the Oregon Railroad
IL Navigation Company as nay be ne. ,s
sary to secure feasible line for the heat
railway
Il, seems proper to state that I am in
formed that the steamboat men and Others
interested In the proposed improv>me1,
between The Dalles AMI Cello do no, re-
gard the construction of the proposed boat
raaS y win aa faspr Thy prefer portage
would perhaps answer every purpose for
several years TO come, and il would be con-
structed. equipped and operated at far less
expense than the boat railway
The following Is a financial statement as
the Improvement:
July !, 1898. balance unexpended & 234 s01 "a
July 50 1888 amour: expended
curing hscal sear ..-..... II s@s 81
July l. 1889. balance unex-
pt'ae" 90 70, 4o4 II