The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-08
Crea. Northern Wharves at Smith
Cove Safe From Fill.
REACH OUTER HAReoR LINE.
Depth of Water Gained So Great
That Formation of shadows Need
Never BE Feared-Everett Paper
Makes Absurd Charges About
Smith Cove-CIaims Elliott Bay Is
Too shallow for Ocean Trade.

The unusually great depth OF water in
Elliott bay affording ample accommoda-
lions to vessels of the deepest draft. and
the litter improbability that this depth
will ever be decreased by alluvial depos-
its or other natural action, has long been
a subject of felicitation to those inter-
ested in the future of Seattle and its
shipping.
To those who have been resting secure
In their personal knowledge of the sub
ject. confirmed by the numerous govern
ment and other expert reports, the as
sertions made in the Everett Independent
OF December / will probably prove a start
ling surprise. The article In question
starts with the assertion that the 'chan-
nell at Smith cove is fast filing up with
quicksand. that already there is no deep
water there. and that deep-draft vessels
will soon be compelled to take their car
goes at Everett or Tacoma. The charge
is further made that the steamers OF the
japanese line have to discharge and take
cargo at the end of the docks instead OF
lying alongside. From this attack upon
the Great Northern engineers in careless
ly selecting so poor a location the article
looks into the future. 1t gives the i'm
preston that Elliott bay Is so shallow
that 1t cannot accommodate the ocean
trade, that the harbor at Smith cove will
soon be several feet above high tide, and
that 1t Is only a matter of a short time
when the entire Oriental business will be
centered at Everett.
The assertion in regard TO Smith cove
is the most startling and. because of the
general public conception of quicksand as
a thing of unknown but terrible possible
ties, might be given credence by those
unfamiliar with the plan of the Great
Northern improvements. The site for the
great wharf construction by the
Great Northern was not selected
until after careful examination by
some of the ablest engineers in
81, 100000 in providing facilities for han
ding an enormous Oriental trade was
contemplated. and not a yard of earth
was moved until a site that answered ev-
cry requirement had been secured. Smith
cove was picked out AIN ideal place,
partly because of its freedom from any
danger OF alluvial deposits. and then plans
were made for wharf that would ac
commodate vessels Of the deepest draft
and extending out to water so deep that
It could never be made shallow by any
normal action of the Sound
A knowledge of the Great Northern
work at Smith cove Is alone necessary to
expose the absurdity of the quicksand
charge. The work was a combination of
dredging and filling. with the filling by
far of the greatest Importance. The Great
Northern did not dredge a channel back
from the shore to the outer harbor line,
and upon II constructed great wharvcs
able to accommodate even the ocean lin
crs now under construction.
The Everett article speaks of ships be-
ing compelled to take cargo from the end
of the wharf. The wharf Is wide enopgh
for any ship to lie alongside the end; in
fact the idea in construction was for the
ocean ships to receive their cargo In that
position. When alongside the front Of
the wharf the ships are outside the outer
tao .afn n fGh hxr ,s.t,f
surveys. n much created distance out and
In much greater depth OF water than at
any OF the Seattle wharves now used by
ocean boats.
Although the Great Northern landing
place at Smith cove could stand a great
decrease in depth without threatening Its
gineers, In no danger OF any I'LL at all
The only filling with which any consider
able trouble Is ever had unon bottom
as substantial as that found In most parts
OF the Sound is from deposits made by
the inflow OF streams The average river
carries down large quantity of sedi-
ment, and will in course OF time build up
bars across It's mouth as well as decrease
the depth OF the water for a consider
able distance out. Not much danger need
ever he feared at Smith cove because
there Is practically no inflow OF water at
that point.
L. n w. shelton. a civil engineer, who
made his first visit to this Vicinity over
forty years ago, and has had much TO do
sound said 10 Post-Intenlsencer re-
porter yesterday II do not believe Smith
cove has allied In two inches In the last
thlrtv-five years There Is no reason why
70 should MI at ALT The bottom Is solid
and there Is no river flowing in to bring
down sediment"
TIE Everett writer Is the first 70 make
the discovery that Elliott bav Is shallow.
The general opinion OF those familiar with
the subject Is that. y anything, the bay
IS too deep Shins temporarily anchor
ing uut In tho stream have to let ont 40
much Of their anchor chain that 70 CON
stlfutes an Inconvenience Few ~ the
present Seattle whArves reach within 90
feet 0f the outer harhor line. TO which
theV viii all probably be ultimately ex-
tended as abundant depih Of water for
the present business Is 10 be foNni close
Go the shore
Not she remotest possibility exists ~
Eltiatt hay being damaged hv any fil The
only stream Towing IN Is the DuWRwish
river. practically an the sedincnt 81
Whieh j. deposited on the Tide fats near
Itq mouth or Is carried out BY the faw
o. the fiver currents along the east side
Of the West Seattle point TO extreme deep
tar