The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-24
REPORT OF j. 5. ENGINEER.
CAPT. HARRY TAYLOR TELLS OF
IMPROVEMENT DURING YEAR.
Land Secured for Lake Washington
Canal, Preliminary Work Done mt
Everett, Dredging mt Olympia and
Grays Harbor Jetty Construction.


Of Washington, has just been received at
the war department.
With regard to the Lake Washington
waterway. Capt. Taylor has nothing more
to say than that deed has been re
ceived and filed for record June p, 1900
The preparation OF detailed plans and
estimates can now be undertaken and
construction commenced without any uu-
necessary delay. The total available
appropriation is still $1,000 The origt-
nal estimate May 1881. made for con-
struction OF the canal. varied from 81, 500
900 according to the width Of the canal to
the mouth, and OF the construction OF
the locks. These estimates are no longer
considered even approximate but Capt
Taylor says IL is probable, however, that
an estimate at the present time will be
less than the original maximum estimate
Everett and Olympia Harbor..
During the fiscal year q continuing con-
tract for the completion of the improve
ment OF Everett harbor was made, but
no work was done under this contract
as the plant was not entirely completed
at the end OF the year The expendi-
lures during the year were only such as
were necessary for preliminary work in
executing the contract and for these
expenses an aggregate sum OF nearly
S,1p was expended. There is an unexpend-
ed balance of sls0l65, which is not suff-
Gent to cover outstanding uncompleted
contracts by about $4,000 The present con-
tractor is the Seattle Bridge Company
who was to have begun work July p.
The Improvement OF the harbor at
olympia has been carried on by dredging
operations from January 70 up to March
4 The total quantity of material removed
was l1.lSs cubic yards. The channel was
completed $50 feet wide and twelve feet
deep for 1900 feet from its outer end and
a cut OF $50 feet wide dredged to the
iuil depth for the entire length Of the
channel Only SIG Gmain unexpended
OF this appropriation and IL will require
at least $4,000 TO complete the work.
Work at Grays Harbor.
Regarding the Improvement of Grays
harbor. Capt. Taylor SAYS:
AT the beginning Of the year the con-
on the various classes of work required
under the contract All classes of work
were pushed until October 3, 1899, when
pile driving in the trestle was suspended
continued until mattresses were complete
ed 10 the end Of the trestle in the early
part OF November Rock dumping con-
tinued until November IS 1899 when Sc
we're swells damaged part OF the trestles
so badly as to cause temporary suspen-
sion OF this work. he trestle was re-
paired and rock d. ping resumed and
continued internationally until December
10, when all active work was suspended.
on March !, this year, the overhauiing
and repair OF the plant was begun pile
driving was resumed March IS. mattress
construction soon thereafter and rock
dumping April ? on account of the short
age Of piles comparatively slow progress
was made until May l. when an ample
supply was on hand. For the next ten
days very rapid progress was made ON
May q a storm OF most unusual sever
ity occurred. which destroyed 432 feet OF
the trestle, carried the pile driver into
the sea and did other damage The pile
driver was recovered in the harbor and
towed to the wharf, taken out of the
water. rebuilt and was again at work
June 3. Since that time all branches Of
the work have been actively carried on.
The work satisfactory.
The progress during the year was very
times been considerably ahead of the con-
tract requirements in regard 10 the
amount OF work done. and he showed at
all times Il disposition to do all the work
possible. The total amount earned by
him during the year was sls2 $50 During
the year trestle construction has progress
ed at the rate OF about forty-eight feet
a day. AT the end Of the year the trestle
was being carried across the channel
which had developed since the ietty Was
depths as great as twenty-nine feet al
mean low water were found. Great dif-
fcuty was experienced in sinking side
mattresses In this depth OF water. Sew
eral o. the mattresses We're lost. and II
was difficult to get any Of the mattresses
In their proper places. For these reasons
side mattresses were omitted In this see
ton Of the tetty. and the central jetty
was Increased TO four feet in thickness
and thirty feet in width. This form OF
foundation allows the mattress work 10
proceed rapidly, reduces loss and appears
10 give satisfactory results During the
preceding Year various forms OF founda-
ton were used Observations point to the
conclusion that IN shOal water the cheap.
est and best form 81 foundation Is a
central mattress three feet thick and
twenty feet wide "a side mattress on
each side. The enrOckmcnt during the
year has followed the compl- OF the
mattresses as rapidly as possible Dur
ing the latter part 90 MAY and nil Of
JHns treeiie construction has been car.
ricd on Ia water deeper than any which
was supposed 10 exist at the time tho
amount ~ rock necessary 20 complete the
teity very materially
Increased Depth of water.
Daring June a survey % the bar ana
vicinity was made This survey shows
"a msteriai Improvement tn the channel
across thc BAR ere are 'wu channels
across the bar IN which there h. % dapta
OK eighteen feet Two vears ago The
greatest depth IN any channel across the
oaT was fourteen feet itnme Stately south
~ the lettY and near the inner rp1 there
has been considerable accumulation %
sand Apoyt a mile seut1 q enc fctty.
however. the-c appears 90 h. material
wearing away x the sand. In the ,aFt
tWo years she four fafhGm curve has
az iAr Gee. an3 the ave fathom curve
nHs arurta. hvI about thr came dis.aurr.
AionE fhe HHe - che tety about Two
wears ago tarTF Was uriy SIX feet 10
wafer uhsre nos there Is over tweuty-
falr feet. ard in one niace the thirty
f.at curve approaches very close go the
.Immc3alsf west ~ fhc entrance
th-r, has oeeu rauparsuyety Htta
eaArge ir fae position g ne fpsr sr use
fathou curves &orth ~ The entrance
s~a.. curves have gone out fr1-r use
shore abort tistsur Tee survey tnla
year saaEs taat no depth in tho p-a-