Mount Vernon Chamber Backs Lake Washington Canal

The Chamber of Commerce last evening had up for discussion the subject of the Lake Washington canal, and although no vote was finally taken, it was found that Mount Vernon is almost unanimously in favor of the project. Some two weeks ago, a communication from the Aberdeen Board of Trade was received, asking the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce to enter its objection to the canal project. A regular meeting occurred a day or two afterward, and on account of another meeting the same night it was very thinly attended, no quorum being present. Anticipating favorable action upon the request, the president and secretary signed the blank protest enclosed and forwarded it to the Aberdeen board. Last night the action came up for ratification, but the sentiment was very strong the other way and the chamber refused to act upon it. Dr. D. M. J. Garlin, Major August M. Moore, E. C. Million and others of this city spoke for the canal, and Jesse W. George, of the Great Northern railway, of Seattle, also made a strong defense of the measure proposed in congress. He said: 'Seattle has never asked for a dollar toward river and harbor improvements in its neighborhood other than the Duwamish river, which has had steamboats on it for many years, and yet the government has never spent a cent in improving it. It is conceded that the Lake Washington canal will be of great value, not only to Seattle, but to the inland country, and Mount Vernon certainly cannot afford to put itself against it.' Mr. George's speech was roundly applauded, and his sentiments were indorsed by a vote. The objections to the canal scheme came from the feeling, almost universal in Skagit county, that Skagit river has been neglected by the government. A parsimonious appropriation is allowed by congress occasionally, always coupled with the Snohomish and Stillaguamish river appropriations. Captain Jefferson, who runs the government snag boat, which is expected to expend the appropriation, rarely visits the Skagit river, and he never does it any appreciable good whatever.