The daily morning Alaskan., 1901-10-17

City Engineer Ruud finished his sur voy of Che conditions along Che river. late yesterday afternoon. and last night said that thc current is cutting Into Che bank towards Che city. and that Che course is changing westward It H an almost safe prediction that the next nood if prevented by thcl railroad from flowing over thc yards win cut in over Eight ccnth Go sixteenth street and probably blow a wotcy pathway through Che city.
 ln cutting through, Che water would flow in southcastcrv direction. and thc river bed ls higher than Che city. thc nn Co Che foot of Broadway would bc about forty feet which would give Che rushing waters % terrific diagonal force.
 ln hts report Go Che council tonight Mr. Buud win recommend Che removal of au Che snogs on Che west side of Che river. which have caused the formation of Che sand bars and thls win force Che currcnt Of Che river eastward The snags should then bc dragged over Go thc east side. where they win bc as useful as they arc now harmful The hydraulic force of Che river win then create straight cur rent down Che west bank of Che stream. The railroad company is going Co cone struct ao Ictty from Che Bracket wagon rold north and west of their shops down Co Che railroad bridge. They win also construct scmi-cIrcul1r jctty on Che west side of Che river thus connniug Che river within two walls. leaving a spacc of about l21 feet. The railroad win not put ln their pile bridge but win build a single span trusa bridge. i2o feet lone thus lSevcnting snogs and roots from catching In Che piles and dammIng Che river 1t that point 10 is then for Che city Go continue Che work and run Che east cmhonkmcnt down Go where thc Sixteenth street hr.dec formerly crossed thc river
 The break water should hc built in Che following manner A row or 70 foot piles Co Ac driven aboue 70 feet apart, feet .u thc ground. and Co hc faced with three Inch plauking. commencing about foot below Che surface of Che ground. in or- dor to prevent Che water from digginc un- dor t. The pling Go bc reinforced at Che back with logs. roots. houlders. and gravel. held together with cribbing There .s now plenty material in Che river both for pllng and cribhing This first cm- bankmcnt Go be c0 feet long. extending from the east obutment of Che old wagon bridge Co a small island. that win serve ls icontlnuatlon of Che jctty for 2n f.rt further By removing oll obstruc- tions from thc west bank below this is- land. Che river win naturally take a straight shoot Co Che sixteenth street bridge. This would also eliminate thc uttc branches that make Che approach to the sixteenth street bridge so difficult and expensive Go maintain during thc spring ovcr10ws. Since Che last flood Che river. below the Sixteenth street bridge Inns taken an clstcrly course on account of Che tremendous mass Of trees and roots that have lodged on Che west bank lnd when these urc removed Che river win make a straight shoot for its old bed at thc east bank. and f ln future that part of Che river is kept clear of slmilnr instructions. no harm can possibly come to Che city from that source.
 By tonight Mr. Ruud win have finished figuring up Che approximate cost of Che work he considers necessary Co Doe done
 So flr. uoO cash has been promised, and thc council win osk Che Mayor Go select committee of representative cit- zens to prosecute Che matter or raising sumclent funds and Invoke Che assistance of an Che citizens or Skagway in this vital cause. Those who cannot anord Co contribute cash should volunteer their personal services In any manner that cln bc or assistance lu fortifying proper v against thc ravagcs of another flood.
 About 1000 yards Of gravel win hc re- ouircd for auing. and thls can bc shovcled from the bars with volunteer labor. A number of teams win bc necessary Co ierl, Che snaEs and roots out of the river For constructing Che facink on thc piling about i5.00O feet Of lumber win be used'
 The preliminary work Co hc done VIII include thc clearing of Che west side of Che river of snags. also gathering the material for pnlng. and saving it Into proper lengths Tho work must bc done before the frcezc-up. os the roots and snags cannot then be pulled from their positions.