The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-05-27

Gen. wilson seems 10 &C Cue Vi AhsSDS
self-pofsed men who know vhen they
are right. He has looked over the
ground. and with the keen sight Of .
maa who = familiar with his subject has
no hesitation IN declaring the conciusson
10 which he has come After having seen
The proposed route Of the canal between
the lakes and the Sound. he uneQusvo-
caIiy declares that he win espouse the
project Of converting Lake Union into
q fresh-wafer basin to be used by the
vessels Of the United States on the Pa
ctfic coast. Connected with the deep
waters Of Puget sound. such q basin
would be Of great value. he says. to the
navy.
II no engineering authority had ever
before seen the opportunity. the opinion
OF Gen. Wilson would be SUFFICIENT. He
needs neither the eyesight Of others who
have preceded him. nor the Judgment Of
those who may succeed him. In order TO
be convinced himself. It may interest
him. nsvertheless. to know what has
been said By oficers who have been sent
here upon . similar mission. because he
win recognise In some Of them . claim
to respectful consideration.
Gen. George B. Mcclellan, who. not
withstanding the criticisms passed upon
him a. . commander Of large forces. 70
ssili ranked as q distinguished strategic
engineer. made personal survey Of the
country In 1853 and recommended that
the war department take the improve
ment In hand as one intended TO create
''the finest naval resort in the world"
Twenty-nine years ago an even more
extended report was made by Gen. Bar
ton S. Alexander. and II IL especially
valuable because his conclusions were.
after nearly . quarter OF = century's
criticism and long after his death. con-
frmed as soundly wise. and acted upon.
It II to be found in Q communication
dated October II. 1870. addressed by Gen.
Alexander to Maj. Gen A. A. Hum
phreys. chief of engineers. u. 8. A.. and
the pertinent points are as follows:
''Seastle harbor. opposite to Port Or
chard. and on the eastern side Of Ad-
miralty inlet. although more favorabiy
located. 10 not capable Of being made so
entirely secure as q naval depot. with IT
storehouses. ought to be. the more par
tfcuisrIy II we look to the future estab-
lishment OF navy yard In these wa
tiers II will do very well as an outer
harbor. and just east Of It II . large
fresh water lake. called Lake Washing
ton. which never freezes In winter. This
lake has inexhaustible supplies Of coal
mines on its borders. which are now be-
ing worked. and great quantities OF ex-
celient timber. ~ yet almost untouched.
An inland establishment at Lake Wash
ington would probably not require any
defense, and II II possible that . capa-
cious ship canal. with one or even two
locks. could be made at FIRST cost less
than that which would be necessary to
fortify an exposed position. n the canal
10 practicable the only defense necessary
would be the occupation Of the shores
Of Seattle harbor by barbette batteries.
in order to secure the outer harbor."
Gen. Alexander went into the details
Of probable cost at some length, and he
concludes most emphaticalIy by saying
that III there were such q chance TO
make a great naval depot, so entirely
secure. with 80 many advantages Of eli
mate. Of coal. Of timber and fresh water
free from Ice. at any suitable point
along the middle Of tho Atlantic front.
or even the Gulf coast Of the United
States. l DO not imagine there would be
much hesitation on the subject
He commented upon the infancy Of
this part Of the country in population
and resources. but added that, never
theless. II should at all times be remem-
bered that there are only three places on
the Pacific coast OF the United States
where navy yards or naval establish
ments OF any kind can be placed, with
security. and tina; one OF these was in
the waters OF Puget sound.
Fourteen years afterwards a report
was also made by Capt Charles F. Pow
ell. OK the corps OF engineers. 10 the
chief II Is only necessary 70 select the
following extract:
That the ship canal VIII be required
appears reasonable and should be cx-
pec,ed. Elliot, bay has ~un'cea Ter Sc
atsi~'s necessities. but her growth as a
large commercial center needs the mag
rineens harhors which the two lakes
near her can furnish
Capt Powell also draws attention "a
the Inconvenience I'm the outer waters q.
a fourse~n-foot rise 90 tide and 70 the
nx-.fn.s ~