The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-02
STUCK VALLEY FLOODS.
Committee From Tacoma Chamber
of Commerce Go to Seek For
some Remedy.

special Dispatch TO the PoSt-tnteHigencef.
TACOMA March L--F. G. Fisher,
Henry Mohr and Henry Hewitt. jr.. spec
ial committee appointed by the chamber
of commerce, leave tomorrow morning TO
make a personal examination of the
Stuck valley flood proposition.
The matter was brought up at the
chamber of commerce by delegation
dent k. y. Mcdonald 10 Mr.. Fishers
committee. Capt. j. T., Noel. u. >. N,
official county surveyor. viii accompany
They will go to Sumner and thence
drive up the valley road TO Auburn and
up to the junction of the. White, river
on the Muckleshoot reservation and back
again on the other side OF the valley.
About 1000 acres OF land in the lower
waste nv the hoods Mnch of This land
was formerly held at from 500 to $500
per acre, and was considered the most
fertile land In the state.
One farm upon which over eight miles
of till drain has been laid and which was
all In splendid culture and valued at
$4,000 is a fair sample of the condition OF
the entire tract in the lower valley, with
buildings and fences gone to ruin and
decay, and where were once fertile fields
of hops and gardens IL now wastes of
marsh and mud, grown up with bushes
and wild grass scanned with sloughs.
mud rivers and covered with ponds OF
stagnant water and Wild stretches OF mud
and drift.
Heretofore the entire energy of the few
farmers left i'm the Stuck valley has been
water into White river. In which they
have signally failed because of the dill
gence Of the White river valley farmers.
who greatly outnumber them, and where
many thousands of acres of land and
vast amount OF property is affected,
The claim Is made by the stuck valley
men that the natural flow of the water
has been unlawfully diverted by the
White river men: but the Indians say
have come down this way. sometimes the
great volume of water running In the
White river for term of years. and
then going the other way. down the
Stuck just as the conditions changed.
Stuck valley never was free from water
until twelve or fifteen years ago, when
Joe Derringer, one of the first settlers i'm
the valley. cleared out the White river
channel and closed the Stuck channel.
and even then there were three seasons
when the valley was Hooded
Since the forests are being cut OFF more
and more the floods in the river are more
sudden, and more destructive, and Will
for the relief OF the long suffering
farmers.
The plan which would solve the entire
Capt. Noel. In which Capt. Harry Taylor
concufs, Is the opening OF the old Hylebos
slough, which would give direct outlet
10 the Spune and drain the entire valley.
nv this plan cut would have TO be
made from the puyallup or stuck near
the point o. junction. through 20 Wapato
slough, and thence 10 Hylehas slough.
which would need some cleaning out Also.
This would give II fall Of thirty-four
feet To tide water in a distance OF about
sis miles. whereas the present outlet Is
nearly thirty miles. wandering through
the lowlandS OF the PuyRllup valley.
which has been raised UP By the silt
washed down the stream until la the
vicinity Of the river bed the land Is ten
or fifteen feet higher than parts NJ the
valley half mile OF a mile away.
with this channel opened aud a straight
channel cut up through the center OF
Stuck valley as far as Auburn. or at least
as far aa Derringer, 90 carry the water
instead Of leaving Il 70 run IN the eS-
tremolY t0rtuous and ever changing chan
mel OF the present II Is believed the prob
lem would he salsaa.
Politicians here say King county would
assist In getting q measure through con-
grcsS for this work but the people have
been slow about taking any action par
ticuiaFly since Senator Foster announced
that there would be no money Tor river
and harbor improvements this year"
The parties Interested however are
satisfied With this, and say that they are
entitled 10 relief under some other head
as Il IS not matter pertaining % naVi-
cation bat 70 the preservation OF their
farms. and unless the present delegation
make some effort 10 secure az least the
preliminary work they will have few
frlen3S in the valley.