The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-28
DEFENDS CANAL COMPANY.
ANDREW HEINRICH, ITS VICE PRES
IDENr, MAKES A STATEMENT.
Says Corporation Has Used All Pos
sibie Diligence in Carrying out
Its Contracts with state md Is

strong defender of the Seattle and
Lake Washington Waterway Company,
the filing In the tide lands south Of the
city, is Andrew Heinrich, vice-president
OF the corporation.
Mr.. Heinrich yesterday. gave out the
following statement OF the controversy
from his own standpoint:
In view Of the fact, that the
newspapers OF the city have quite
asy aac snd tss e. tae ssae
and Lake Washington Waterway Com
pany, with which company / have had the
years. and in which an heavily inter
ested, | take this opportunity to lay be-
fore you the facts In the case. Attacks
have, not only been made. in interviews.
on the waterway company, but on the
commissioner of public lands and the
bankers who have conracted TO take the
securities OF the company.
The first attack wss made on the order
OF Commissioner OF Public Lands Bridges
OF May 9TH, last, extending the time on
the contracts OF the Waterway Company.
formally TO the law and the contracts.
and merely followed the precedent estao-
lished by Commissioner Forrest his prede-
eessor, who extended the time on the
same contracts during Gov. McGraws adj
ministrafion, no one then claiming. and
no well informed person now claiming that
side the contracts. Commissioner Forrest
also made an order changing the style OF
bulkhead, and made an order in regard
TO the extra cost Of the same, which was
approval Of Gov McGraw. The pres
ent commissioner, the Hon. Robert
Bridges, also made an order changing the
eos o Which, wss ana sproIeS ov
Rogers. All these acts OF two administra-
tions were without notice to parties out
side .he contracts, and under them the
worth Of work.
Amy one who is familiar with the situ-
alton must know that II the waterway
company contracts should be Cancelled
that end would be put to any hope
of harbor Improvement, the excavation
OF waterways and the reclamation OF the
tide lands. except such as might suit the
pleasure and convenience of the railroads
mo other contract could ever be let and
no plan OF harbor Improvement and hlling
of these tide lands arrived at. as such
an arrangement would have TO be made
with the unanimous consent of the hun
dreds Of tide land owners. and even IL
IL were possible for these individual tide
land owners TO agree upon any plan the
railroads, who own large pieces OF these
tide lands would NOV agree. as the ac-
complishment OF such work would result
In defeating their object, namely, the ac-
QUESTION of the tide fats In question. IL
the railroads had defeated the present
plan OF harbor Improvement, what would
be the effect upon these tide lands?
Every tide land owner knows that instead
OF these lands then having high market
value. as at present, In contemplation or
the fact that they will soon be filled and
thereby rendered Of great value for the
purposes for which they are intended.
these lands would be comparatively worth
less to the individual owner. who would
be anxious 20 dispose OF his lands at
whatever price he might be able TO oh
tain. and the result would be that In the
near future the railroad companies would
have purchased all OF these tide lands at
their own figures. The railroad companies
would then have complete control OF not
only all the level land in the city OF
Seattle not already covered by improve
ments. but also all of the water front in
Seattle harbor, to the incalculable damage
of the city for all time. as Is the case at
Tacoma, where a project for Improvement
similar to this one was defeated by the
Tacoma Land Company.
THE state OF Washington would then be
defeated In its comprehensive plan OF har-
Dor improvements at Seattle, and the rail-
road companies would have control of
every wharf and dock In the city, and the
shippers, by water as wen as by rail,
would be at their mercy.
THAT the object, above rccited. ls the
one which Is actuating certain parties
who are Offering the opposition 70 the
waterway company Is apparent 20 me.
Not only have they opposed the waterway
have brought influence to bear upon the
people with whom the waterway COM
pany, was negotiating for finances with
which TO carry on the work 70 prevent
the hnanciers from taking hold OF the
proposition,
''in addition to this. this opposition tied
the waterway company ny In litigation
for number OF years, thereby more Of
fectnally preventing them from making
any financial arrangements but the wa
terway company has been successful at
last in obtaining sufficient funds to carry
out the project. and having obtained an
extension Of time for the completion ~
this work are now determined To carry
the great work Of harhor Improvement 20
completion according 70 the original plans.
"A contract has been let 20 the Puget
sound Bridge and Dredging Company 70 DO
a large amount Of the work $4,000 worth.
and this company having commenced
work will vlgorously prosecute tho same
as soon as they know the character Of the
hulkhnads 10 be constructed.
I'm this connection ! again call attention
10 the efforts OF the opponents nf our en-
terprise u appearing TO the commission
the tide land owners could he effected
/ hy the substitution % a new form Of
hulkhead Nhi,h would serve ne purpose
~ retaining The uil fully as Well IL not
better than the one formerly ordered 10
be made. he made an or1ct. in accordance
with the provisions of tho waterway con-
tracts and the preccscntE u his Office.
substituting such new form OF hulkhead
aud liking the compensation 70 be allowed
therefor as he ~es bound 20 do under
said contracts, and then presented hts
order 20 the governor Tor his cousldera-
tion and Approval IS 20 the allowance 20
form q bulknead, wherenp0n the morning
and evening papers Immediately renewed
their attacks upon the commissioner and
the waterway company and Morris &
whitehead the people who are furnishing
the money Tor Carrying On the enterfrise
stating as O fact that this was a scheme
g. obtain the approval q the governor 10
she order ~ the commissioner made last
MAY in which he extended the dime for
/ the completion y the work an order with
which tire governor had nothing whatever
Is do
These attacks upon she commissioner
and the waterway COMPANY nprear
20 have been made for the purpose X in
HucncluE the governor So Withhold HIS ap-
pr0Fal - tire allowance Of the nsx uru.-
| posed huikhead, beilevinE. nn doubt that
way company would Dc 20, embarrassed
that " could not proceed with ~ work
! fu this the opposition arc mistaken Is IL
r. "a matter ~ the utmost Indifference 20
fhe waterway company az 20 whether