The Dream of a Gateway to the Lakes
In 1892, Senator Watson Squire made a bold pitch to Congress for a ship canal connecting Puget Sound to Lakes Union and Washington, arguing it would be a strategic marvel for the U.S. Navy and the region’s commercial might.
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Senator Watson Squire presented an exhaustive argument to the Congressional committee regarding a $500,000 appropriation for a ship canal to connect Lakes Union and Washington with Puget Sound. The proposed route, estimated to cost significantly less than previous plans, would feature locks and channels allowing deep-draft ships to move from the Sound into the fresh waters of the lakes.
Squire touted the project’s strategic importance for the U.S. Navy, citing the unique benefits of fresh water for iron and steel ship maintenance, which naturally kills off destructive marine barnacles. Lieutenant A.B. Wyckoff of the Puget Sound Naval Station added that the lake would provide a secure, fog-protected harbor for naval vessels, noting that the Sound itself was difficult to defend against modern steamships. Beyond naval utility, the canal promised to unlock vast regional wealth, including coal mines and timber resources, while positioning Seattle as a global maritime hub for the Pacific.
“I find from experience in iron ships that a few hours in fresh water kills off all the barnacles, causing them to drop off immediately, which is practically as good for the ship as docking and painting.”
Squire’s vision of a 'fresh water harbor' became reality with the opening of the Ballard Locks in 1917, forever altering the region's geography and ecology. Today, the canal remains a critical, and often contested, piece of Seattle infrastructure, balancing its role as a shipping route with modern environmental concerns about salmon migration and water quality.
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