The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-22
What the Chamber of Commerce
Is Willing to Do.
COMMITTEE GIVES FINDINGS.
youId Ask Government Assistance
10 Use the Hyiebos sIough-fxIng
County Farmers Not to Blame he
cause They Have Been BENEFITED
by the tanning of the White
River Channel and sliding Bluffs.

Uylebos slough may be used for the d.
version Of the surplus water Of White and
suck rivers 10 assist the farmers OF Pierce
county in their efforts to overcome tho
trouble that has been caused by the annual
ovsrfows, and the Seattle Chamber OF
Commerce Is willing to assist Pierce coun-
b IN getting government aid In tho lire
Il river Improvement 70 bring this about
ne county commissioners are urged to do
mat they can to assist the people OF King
county in securing relief. That the eople
n King county were benefited by the clos
ins Of the old White river channel IL as
ctbed to their good fortune. ana was
thought about from natural causes.
This in brief f. the report OF the special
committee Of the chamber, which visited
he scene OF the trouble a week ago The
committee was composed OF John W. Pratt,
Jobn p. Hoyt VI. J. Carkeek, Griffith Da-
Vie, and Thomas w. Prosch. and yesterday
made the following report. which was unan-
frpousiy adopted;
ION Saturday. the 10th. a delegation OF
white and Duwamish valley citizens mot
the committeeman at the rooms Of the
chamber a free conference and fun dis
rossou OF the subject ensued. The farm
srs Of course, were opposed to any action
being taken inimical to their interests.
They believed that II was better for tho
Members OF the committee to look over
~ ground themselves, and with tnis idea
IN view they invited them 10 pass through
be valleys. and visit the scene OF chef
trcsfbe on the 18th inst. They also said
they were opposed 70 anything being done
h King county In this matter except under
Ne direction OF and by the national gov
eminent.
what the Com mittee saw.
In accordance with this invitation tho
committee members went to the country
Ast Thursday. On the way they saw hun
dreds OF acres OF the finest kind OF land,
near the Junction OF Black ana White riv-
eYs, under water, and ether hundreds OF
acres that was barely out OF water and
thar the rise OF few more inches would
also submerge This scene was conyinc-
ing that II would be unwise 10 do anything
70 add more water 10 the present oversup
p!y OF the unfortunate owners OF these
krds AT Auburn the committee was TAX
o. BY County Commissioner Smith and a
number OF farmers to the place whore the
White river formerly forked, discAarging
hs waters into Puget sound by a north
branch Mt Seattle. and BY south branch
q Tacoma -. .u,, ,.,a..
has become closed, completely 80 at ordi-
nary stages OF water, and almost so at the
highsst stages. These natural acts were
Die formation, nrst Of a jam OF driftwood.
covering period OF years and which has
become so entanglcd and matted, and
through which the brush and young timber
are now go rapidly growing ~ to become
4 fixed immovabie mass; and second, a
tide Of earth nj the same point.
which aide has completed the work
II forcing the waters down the south
branch. For these acts the peonle OF King
county are In nowiss responsible. That
thsy derive benefit therefrom is true. but
they are not 10 be blamed for this Ii Is
merely their good fortune.
1T II understood that a few places In
Stuck valley, Pierce county, arc Injurious
larh have in the past so damaged the
White and Duwamish valleys IN King
county. In the Tacoma Ledger OF March
II appeared the following
stuck Farmers Request.
"'Another delegation OF Stuck valley
hrrners visited the county commissioners
yesterday ana requested tho removal OF
The Jam In the river between the Stewart
md and the nleringcr bridge The work
tey say IL necessary to protect the bridge
snd e drain largo acreage now over
Bowed. The matter has been taken under
eorsidemtion by the commissioners
IT n also understood that 'herc II
opposition in Pierce county looking TO the
DIVERSION 81 the surplus water through
Hyiehos slough running through Puyallup
Indian reservation into the bay In front
q Tacoma.
III the commissioners ~ Pierce county
can lever the waters by removing the lam
y ne river between the Stewart road and
ne perlnger bridge. they have the ensteat
possible solution ~ the trouble IN their
esn hands, and neither advice nor help
nsNf be profered hy tho Seattle Chamber
x Commerce or the authorities OF King
county. II V ~ desired 20 use Hyleh0-
slough ~ Indicated and the influence u
ne Seattle chamber With tho general gov
unnisnt Is wanted 90 induce the taking up
es the project as one of river improve
n~1i. the c0mmittee recommends thai
ne cAamheg give all assistance IN US
rswer as a friendly nct ~ a nelghhorins
eeaniy and as a good thing 90 the state
n hFxN
..sla conclusion the committee suseests
Nai the county commissioners he ur2ed
= a. what they can e. assist our own
reoele IN securing relief from the over
heer m she nuWnmiah valley referred 20,
40 IN preventing other oNerf3 Ss in the
Waite river valley beyond"