The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-09
LAKE Washington CANAL.
PRELIMINARY WORK CANNOT BE
BEGUN FOR ANOTHER MONTH.
Estimate for Construction on Larger
Plans Than at First Contemplate
ed Are to BE Made-omciaI
Red Tape Makes short Delay.

Special Dispatch to the Post-Intellfgencer
WASHINGTON. July s.-T'he work upon
the Lake Washington waterway. which
Is TO connect the waters OF Puget sound
with those of Lakes Washington and
Union, can hardly be begun before the
middle OF August. Just prior TO his de-
parture from this city Representative
Jones had another interview with the
chief of engineers of the war depart
nlent, Gen. John NJ. Wilson. and urged
him in the strongest terms TO submit
an estimate Of the total cost of this
work in his annual report, that it might
be included by the secretary OF war in
the regular estimates submitted at the
next session of congress. Representative
Jones purpose in this was to have a
basis for securing a provision in the
next river and harbor bill providing that
this work shall be completed under a
continuing contract, as had been recon-
mended by Capt. Harry Taylor and other
engineers, and as has been done with
other works of importance upon the
Pacific coast
Gen. Wilson told Mr. Jones that II would
De necessary to consult with Capt Tay-
Tor before giving an answer regarding the
estimate. Gen. Wilson has now written
TO Mr.. Jones, inviting his attention to a
reply Just received from Capt. Taylor, In
which the latter says:
The preliminary work necessary be-
fore an estimate can be made of the cost
or this work Will be undertaken without
unnecessary delay. AS very little data
has been obtained upon which to base
exact estimates of the cost, and no plans
OF the work have been prepared II will
be appreciated that the preliminary work
for work of the magnitude and fmpor-
lance OF this canal will require consider
able time. IL 1t is possible to determine
the total cost of the canal by the time
congress meets again 1t will be done.
the money already appropriated IS suf-
ncient for all of this work and for con-
siderable construction work"
In the foregoing views expressed by
capt. Taylor. Gen. Wilson concurs.
Committed to the Work.
IL Is apparent from this and previous
correspondence with the engineer off,
GERS of the war department that they are
strongly committed to this work and
that great deal will be done before
congress meets again. Nevertheless. the
formalities OF the department required
In such cases sometimes known as red
tape) viii stu cause considerable DELAY.
capt. Taylor's annual report will be for
the nscal year just closed and will prob
ably be written within a short time. II
Is explained at the department that IL
would not be possible for him 10 include
the total estimated cost in his annual
report. The only estimates which have
ever been made for the Seattle water
way were made some ten years ago under
entirely different conditions from those
existing at the present day. The price
OF material and labor were all totally
different from what they are now, The
facillties for work We're different and a
much smaller canal was estimated for
than Is now known to be desirable. This
latter Is especially the case since the
navy department has taken an interest
In Its construction. with a view TO the
use of one of the lakes as a fresh water
harbor for war vessels. Besides, the
location Of the lock has been changed
more than half a mile.
During the past four years Can't Tay-
Tor has repeatedly asked to have tho law
so changed that a smaller part OF the
appropriation would be available for the
necessary preliminary work which must
be done before an estimate can be made
and IN order that plans and specifications
for the work might be prepared II is
stated that any estimate which he would
submit at the present time would b.. a
mere guess and he does not naturally
care to be responsible for any such esti.
mate.
Capt. Taylor is on record as having
saih thar he believes the continuing CON
tract system to be the only practicable
WAY In which To carry on this work II
can be done under that system for very
much less expense and In very much
shorter time than In any other way
The deed to the rtght-of-way was sent
by the chief Of engineers to Cant Tay-
Tor FOR record In King county about the
18th OF last month. Capt. Taylor re-
ported that the auditor said Il would be
nearly two weeks before it could be re-
turned TO him. Then II must come back
70 this city, when Capt Taylor viii re-
celve notification that the money already
appropriated is available. In the usual
course Of such matters 1t viii probably
be close up 20 the Arst Of August before
such notice is received by Capt Tavlor.
Then he must apply for and obtain from
the treasury some OF the money appro-
pristed with which to begin the work
Thus Il will be seen that not any too
much time Is left In which 20 do the
large amount Of preliminary work neces-
sary 80 obtain the data upon which 20
base an estimate FOR a work 50 important
as the Seattle waterway
Pend d'oreiiic River.
The chief Of engineers. al the request
% Representative Jones'. some time ago
requested from Capt Taylor tuforma-
uau regarding the status % the work Of
improving the Pend d'Oreille river from
Albany fails 90 Mctalline The repIy ~
the latter foreshadoWinF his annual re-
p'rt In brief Is as follows.
The original estimated cost % the
work referred 90 within was Ss1e0 OF
Tho appropriation ~ SIC oD6 heretafors
made there remains s. 20 - The work
ls Incomplete. To complete "a viii re-
qUirc the difference between she amount
already Appropriated ana the original %
t4mAied cost namely 81 30 IL viii not
hr advantageous 60 DO any more work