Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1916-09-29
COUNCIL FAVORS
CANAL PROJECT
Promoters Claim F Federal Gov
eminent May Finance Canal
from Olympia to Harbor.
new BIDS FOR WATER TRUCK
Street Department is Without
Funds-Up to Finance Com
mittee to Keep Work Going

Just before adjournment of the city
council Wednesday evening, Mayor J.
NJ. Phillips read two letters he had
received during the week from the
offices of the Puget Sound Steel cor
poration at Chicago asking cooper
alton of the council, as we'll as all
other civil and commercial bodies,
not only in Aberdeen but throughout
the state, in the matter of inducing
the federal government to back and
finance the project Of cutting canal
from the south extremity of Puget
Sound near Olympia to Grays Harbor.
The council endorsed the proposition.
The letters will be turned over to
the Chamber of Commerce for fur
Their action.
AS near as can be determined from
the two communications, those be-
hind the project already have been as
sured that the government is inter-
ested in the canal, and that the naval
department favors the proposition, de-
claring that such canal would prove
of inestimable value from strategic
point of view were it ever necessary to
defend the Pacific coast in time Of
war.
OF course, it was pointed out by the
mayor and members of the council
that the digging of this canal has been
on the boards for the last 20 years,
but no harm can come from backing
the present movement. Such canal
would be great benefit to Grays
Harbor-there is no doubt of that.
According to the map submitted with
the letters and other data, the canal
would strike southeast from Olympia
and enter the Chehalis river at a
point about midway between Gate and
Elma.
The council meeting opened with a
rejection of all bids submitted for sale
of truck to the water department.
New bids will be called for, specify
ing a half ton, three-quarter ton and
one tone truck.
City Engineer Kelsey recommended
awarding the contract for the improve
ment of Morgan street to ]. M. Webb,
lowest bidder; but on protest of prop
erty owners along the street, the mat
ter was laid over one week pending
a reduction in the grade established
for the street. The cost of the i'm
provement will be considerably lower
ed if this is done, but new bids will
have to be advertised for.
A protest was filed against gravel
fill for Market street west of Division,
and the matter was referred to the
city engineer.
The water ordinance came up,
amended, but was laid over until next
week because of the absence Of men,
Der of the water committee.
During logging operations on Char
ley creek, the bridge was raised, and
when the loggers quit, the bridge was
left suspended, despite promises to
lower it to it's former position. The
city attorney was instructed to COM
mence a suit if necessary to have the
bridge lowered and placed in proper
repair.
The street committee reported that
by the time all current bills were
paid, the street fund would be de-
pleted, and asked whether the men
working on the streets should be laid
off the last of the month. There be-
ing no visible means of raising money
to continue the street work, the mat
ter as referred to the finance COM
mittee.