Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1919-05-16
MAKE PLANS FOR
SURVEY OF CANAL
SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON CLUBS
- WILL GATHER DATAON
BIG PROJECT

PlanS TO arouse the cOmmerclal or
gAnizations of the cities of Southwest
Washington in particular and the
whole state to the possibilities and
advantages OF the proposed Puget
Sound-Grays Harbor canal, and OBJ
tain the survey for it, were consid-
cred at meeting Of representatives
OF the clubs OF FIVE cities in Olympia
Tuesday, at the instance of the local
Chamber of Commerce.
AS the first step in this program,
the conferees formally organized the
Associated Committees of Southwest
Washington Commercial Organiza-
tions. with Walter J. Thompson, Ia
coma, chairman; A. c. McNeill, Mon
tesano. vice chairman. and H. B.
Fultz. Olympia, secretary.
The meeting developed unani-
nous belief that, though the Puget
S6und-Grays Harbor project is the
one of immediate interest, It is but
the beginning OF big waterway de-
velopment program. on this coast.
which sooner or later Will embrace q
system Of inland waterways on the
Pacific coast comparing favorably
with those along the Atlantic sea-
board. ~ ss@
Attending this meeting were Messrs.
Thomp1on and Chester Sumner, from
Tacoma: J. j. Anderson, A. p. Le-
Roye. w. L. Boomer. r. L. Bricker.
and w. Nj Harding, from ElmaS A. C.
McNeill. from Montesano; L. g. Mon
roe, from HoQuiam; H. b. Fultz. Sec
Setary Of the local Chamber Of Com
merce. and George Talcott.
The appropriation allowed for the
survey makes the money available II
the United States engineers ofIica Tor
this district thinks It advisable. and
Colonel c. l.. Sturdevant Of Seattle
has charge OF making the preliminary
report. This hinges on the resources
OF the district through which the
canal would pass. the commerce that
would In all probability use it,, and
the strategic value Of the canal for
the use of the army and navy, in the
event OF war. i
Consequently. the first thing that
the Associated Committees propose to
do will be to solicit the aid Of ARMY
and navy oficials in obtaining infor-
nation as to the strategic value of
such canal. Also. the department
of agriculture will be asked to fur
nish statistics as to the advantages of
the canal in the reclamation of swamp
lands along It's route. 4
Already large amount Of material
relative to the, commercial phases Of
the project has been placed in the
hands Of Colonel sturdevant by secre-
tary H. b. Fultz OF. the local Chamber
OF Commerce. r,f
Discussion at Tuesdays meeting re-
vealed the fact that the resources of
the communities through which the
canal would pass are considerably
larger than had been at hrst antici-
rated, az deposits OF iron ore and OF
opal we're found to exist in places
shsretofore uadeveloped. but which at
the present time are In the course Of
development.
interest in the project is becoming
more general over the southwest and
with the organization Of special
body to boost the work results will
undoubtedly be forthcoming.
The plan not only contemplates the
coupling OF the Sound with Grays
Harbor. but comprises the larger
scheme of connecting the Chehalis
river with Willapa Harbor and then
Willapa Harbor with the Columbia.
although at the present time the en-
xineer's Office has instructions to re-
port only on the Grays Harbor-Puget
Sound end Of the scheme.