The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-29

Special Dispatch 10 the Post-Inteligencer.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 2s-The proposed
ship canal to connect Puget sound with
Lakes Union and Washington is describ-
ed at some length in the annual report
or the chief of engineers OF the army,
made public today. Detailed plans and
estimates Of cost of the work. the report
says. viii be prepared as soon as practi-
cahle, and the construction viii be COM
menced with the funds available at an
early day. The appropriations thus far
made by congress for the survey and the
work OF construction are sl750oa. of which
5000 has been expended.
1t Is noted In the report that King
county has obtained the right-o way and
release from liability to adjacent prop
erty owners, and that the same has been
decided to the United States, the deed hav-
ins been HE'D for record on June % last
Describing the canal project, the report
says in part:
In the opinion OF the ofB-er in local
charge Of the work, the least dimensions
that will accommodate all the classes of
vessels likely to use the canal are for the
lock. 800 feet length net width. 100 feet;
, depth at sill. extreme low stage. 22.6 feet
which IS required to pass vessels OF s0-foot
depth at>lowest water. Outside OF the
ttth tnf tnAihtt enoul1 ne dlu lftt MtIs
at tho lowest high tide. with a basin az
the outlet of the lock 1000 feet long and
81 feet deep at extreme low tide, and cor
responding depth for the canal inside the
lock-
Work Of Clearing Rivera.
In regard 10 the work OF removing snHrs
and other distractions from the streams
tributary to Puget sound. the chief OF
engineers recites the history OF the project
and adds;
"The rivers have been cleared Of their
worst obstructions. their navigation great.
" Improved. and the annual season dur
ing which navigation was suspended by
reason Of distractions greatly lessened
The lower parts OF the rivers have a fat
slope running through the country which
was formerly completely and Is stin par
TALLY covered with heavy forests, end
they generally empty into Puget sound
through a number of mouths forming
Wide deltas. II ss 81 great Importance ~
keep these snags cut for the safety OF
nnViga lion. and to prevent the outlet be-
coming blocked and causing disastrous
overfows. To do this II Is necessary that
the snagboat be KEEP, steadily at work"
Boats now run the Skssit river 81 night
WITH comparative safety. where three
years ago It WAS dangerous "a run by
daylight. There Is stil work enough ia
sight to keep the snagboat busy for a
couple of years and with what new
snags come IN e win be an indefinite
time before the rivers WIN be entirely
clear. For the continued snsgging opsr-
ations alone an appropriation Of $4,000
ia necessary. and this amount II recon-
mended.
A subioined table In the repcr; shows
that the exports and imports through
these streams during the last year
amounted 10 117.ss
u Il recommrended that an appropria.
ti0n ~ s1i,co be made for improving the
harbor AZ Olympia. Tho balance unex-
pended ~ moneys appropriated for Oiym-
pfa harbor ls only little more than tl9a
Gray's 8arser Jruy.
work on the Chehalis river improve.
rnenis VIII b. confined 20 the lower part
~ the stream T'hr report says; Large
space IN the report II given 10 the ex-
tenstve improvements at Gray-s harbor,
fer which g.0a0o9 has been authorised
The balance os funds for the uaYfeae
remaining unexpen6cd q fEss gsa rz~
csesiye scoring has taken plase IA front
pf the iet,y and along the proposed isas
~ construction. so that the cost wijl fse
brought fpily un to tho authorised iiriit
q il.esAc0. The imports and exports IN
this harhor last year were N.g'a -
The building - dykes in connection
Niih iha Millspa harb1r and river inns
rrurements has been very successfei and
na recommendation FOR fptufe apprapFia-
t}aas ia made
Satisfactory ereRrem q reported in
tse Improvement af C0wii's ard fsswis
river
Concerning the work being carried cn
81 tae uaouih - thr Coiuuhis river. the
rerart says, Preparation are beinE
fnafe far resumption - arfivs opera
3ens Rapia extension 20 the jesty ~
essential ia the Hsccees % ihe lrnpfuve.