The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-23
WATERWAY COMPANYS SIDE
EUGENE sEMPLE OFFERS ExPLAN-
ALTON or BuLKHEAD CHANGE.
Original style. ~ Approved by the
Company. was Not Adopted. but
Matter was Left discretionary
with commissioner Of Lands.

Win NOm misuioner "
state Land Commissioner Bridges ac-
ton in granting the application OF the
Seattle and Lake Washington Waterway
Company for a change in the style OF
buikhead to be constructed on Seattle
tide lands, under the extended state con-
tracts. as published IN the Post-lnteiii-
Tenccr yesterday, has but added interest
In the matter. President Eugene Semple,
of the waterway company. has addressed
the following communication to the
Post-Inteiiigencer. which IL seif-erpian-
atory:
Seattle. August q, 1900.
To the Editor: In view OF the fact tnat
tho Post-Infelligencer has given consid-
cradle space this morning TO the discus
missioner OF public lands In regard to the
form OF the bulkhead TO be constructed
BY the Seattle and Lake Washington
with the state, think IL would be OF in.
terest to the citizens OF Seattle, interested
In this action. 20 at this time read
short hIsroy o. he whole . pss
IN your paper for this communication.
In drawing up the contract WITH the
state under the Jaws Of 1883. Al nrst pro-
caIy a seawali there being at that time
only one waterway, but on the advice
OF my engineer ! abandoned that idea be-
substituted q form OF bulkhesd then being
considered for the filling OF tide lands at
Tacoma, and the plans and specifications
p that form were attached 20 the con,
when those contracts came to be for
mally executed. however. that form was
not adopted, but the contracts were
changed 20 as to leave the matter Of
bulkhead construction at the discretion
90 the commissioner OF public lands. hts
20 os % tSs
tract applicable 10 this matted is as fol-
.Proy,ded. hewsver that the commis;
power ard authority 70 modify said plans
tanning walls as to the shape. form and
by experiment or otherwise to be nsces-
sary to impound. In a secure manner. the
material OF the embankment provided
ncse Elm. ample IT power 81 deviation ,, being
seen difficulties. bait II any such nedifica-
tion. or. change In thu character Of bulk
head shalt be ordered BY the commits
x March, isss' Or after s such " work ia Z
charge shall add 20 much 10 the sspenss
81 ss . 20 q e :" s q the sn es. S.s
cubic yard. the commissioner Of public
lands shall cause such Increased expense
e hc estimated. and with the approval
addition "a. said u cents per cubic yard
e Which ne entire cost OF such work
Afterwards on the sth day Of June
1875, the form of bulkhead described in
the contracts having been adjudGed In
sufficient by the then commissioner OF
p eHss VIII az s% W d &. so ,S
error lion, John IT. MeGrawJ. prcscrlbed
thu brush bulkhcnd which has heretofore
been used ny the Bcattle ana Lake wash-
inKton Waterway Company, making In
his order an allowance TO the company
for the cost Of the new form. over the
one prescribed IN the contract. No mo-
TO be necessary. and no notice OF an cx-
tension Of time upon its contract. which
was afterwards ordered by Commissioner
Forrest, was given or thought 10 be nee
This form OF bulkhead was used along
the western limit Of the existing MI and
may be inspected BY any one Interested
Interior one, buildings. wharfs and other
improvements existing 10 windward and
protecting II completely from Injurious
action ~ waves and currents.
When Il comes to the inner harbor line.
however, where the bulkhead was ex-
posed 10 the action OF waves and cur
ersneer John a crgSsrm es 'es nsn ,s ssats
change IN the form should be made by
eliminating two wooden members of the
nulkhead ordered hy Commissioner For
mass u brush more compact and pro-
tecting the more exposed portions OF the
line by facing Of riprap.
The commissioner OF public lands (Hon,
Robert Bridsesl, and Inc state engineer
sIohn crydsrman, G. E). inspected the
situation personally upon several occa-
wo Psrieu,,s,sy s T. the q srsa
the new form, and finally made tho order
q March le, iS3, which was approved by
Governor Rogers
since the date % that order. in the gen.
crni progress Of engineering science. a
form of huikhend has been developed
which. while IN nay Judgment much
nSgcss and csmmissioner Bridges IN
their order az March 30 1897 ~ a, tha
same umc very much cheaper, In fact,
ar 7 am Informed hN tho chief engineer
q ,he waterway company &C., IL Rollins,
e. El, the saving 20 the land owners by
the adoption 81 the latest form of bulk
had aessriesd IN ,he proposed arder o.
co
! desire 70 say further that Il does no,
make any difference 20 the waterway
scribea hy the state auiharltie. An az.
ira allowances must be made IN each ease
" the new order u made Within few
aaNs We Viii proceed under that. IN not
made within a few days We will proceed
Under The order % March sol fss wh,rf
N9a approved BY Covsrnar Rogers OF
thH We have sudas notified the gdxernat
Nni the commissioner % public lands
the reason betting that the PUGET Sound
irtdxe and Dredging Company that ha.
undertaken the completion AZ a fortlnr
~ tho I'll anproximstlnw ssol 80 IN cost
has netleed VS. that n a ready 10 con,
tinue with the work y ha. heretnfor,
begun and that tho form % hufkhsat
must be determined upon AZ ance,
The principal caHsttuieut 81 the pres
set form Of bNikheAi a brush, sad thal
~ tho proposed hNlkheaa Is riprap -
tf can be seen that the work u Assem-
biting materials for the structure rannol
teSin until tho form has been settle
Ngen.
Allow me 90 say that George " Cettcr
~ g. ", rgNFesNnts the stats ~ wash
iugtea On the 9rnprA ard n the Success
scr % Wendail III Chase. C. r appnint
Ell hy cVmuts~iNaer Forrest Roth thes.
gentlemen during their terms o. ofne.
have essetet the ctcsest adherence b,
the waterway company 20 the laws A.
contracts ~ the stat.
The waterway company had 40 votc,
e ts. Nlsl~ a dat. sl.ssa -