The Canal or Bust: Seattle Rallies to Buy Its Own Waterway

The citizens' meeting held yesterday afternoon for the purpose of forming some plan to insure the construction of the south canal and the filling of the tide flats of the lake was one of the most enthusiastic gatherings ever held in this city, and if the spirit displayed is followed up by deeds it leaves no doubt that the full amount will soon be secured. The room was filled almost to suffocation, standing room being denied to late comers, and before the close of the meeting arrangements were made for the holding of a grand mass meeting Thursday evening at the armory, in order that all the citizens may be accommodated and the proposition discussed in detail. It was expected that Henry Sample Ames of St. Louis, the representative of the Eastern capitalists who have agreed to furnish the money, would be present to address the meeting, but he was detained at his room at the Butler hotel with the grip and consequently could not be present. The meeting was called to order by Samuel L. Crawford, and Jacob Furth was immediately elected chairman and W. D. Wood secretary.

WHAT THE COMPANY IS FOR. Mr. Furth made a short address, in which he explained the object of the meeting, and pointed out the benefit that would come to Seattle generally by the filling in of the tide flats and the building of the canal. He said the amount of the subsidy was necessary to clinch the contract and secure the support of the St. Louis capitalists. The principal item to be covered by the subsidy is the locks, which will cost over $100,000; there were also trestles on one railroad and a traffic bridge at Grant street, one street railroad and traffic bridge in the Rainier avenue valley, and other necessary work, and lastly, for the canal, in some places as wide as 200 feet. All this work is estimated to cost not less than $75,000. He stated that the subsidies would not have to be paid or conveyed until the canal was first completed, and the deeds were to be placed in escrow to take effect only upon the completion of the canal. Mr. Furth called on Mr. Wood to state the substance of the interview between Mr. Ames and the committee invited to meet him last Friday.

THE MONEY IS ALL READY. Mr. Wood said that the committee consisted of E. A. Turner, T. Conover, F. H. Whitworth and himself, and that Mr. Ames stated to the committee that the party of St. Louis visitors who had been here were very much pleased with Seattle and its future prospects and the canal and the tide flat project. These men were really a committee sent out here by the trust company with whom negotiations have been pending for the money to do the work. Some time was consumed in the preparation of the report of the attorney, Judge William G. Boyle, and of the engineer, Col. Thaddeus Flad, who had accompanied the party. In a matter of so much magnitude many important questions, both of a legal and engineering character, presented themselves, but all these questions and difficulties had now been practically solved, and the only remaining contingency of any consequence was the subsidy required by the St. Louis investors to cover the estimated cost of locks, bridges and right-of-way. All financial arrangements for beginning the work had been made, so that work would begin as soon after the raising of the subsidy as the necessary machinery and material could be gotten on the ground, possibly within fifteen days and not more than a month.

TERMS OF THE SUBSIDY. Mr. Wood explained the conditions of the subsidy agreement as asked for by the tide lands people. He said this was not a new question at all; that a subsidy had been a condition of the enterprise from the beginning, but that no subsidy had been solicited for a month past because the waterway company preferred to wait for a final answer from the St. Louis party as to whether they would furnish the money to complete the work. Now that they had agreed to, it only remained for the citizens of Seattle to raise the subsidy in order to bring about the immediate commencement of the work. No money was to be paid or any property deeded to the company until the work was entirely completed and opened by the passage of ships through to the lake.

J. E. Friend, a Main street man, was very much in favor of the subsidy being raised, and said that it was a matter which personally concerned every man having the welfare of the city at heart. He believed the city would raise this subsidy in a very short time, giving $50 or $100 each; that all felt an interest, and all would be glad to help if given an opportunity. A motion by Mr. Friend then carried that there be a mass meeting of the citizens of Seattle at the armory in order to lay before the people the matter of helping the waterway company. Speakers urged that citizens come to the mass meeting not only to hear discussion but prepared to make their pledges, and that an effort be made to raise a large portion of the subsidy at that meeting. On motion of Samuel L. Crawford a general committee was appointed to take charge of the matter of raising the necessary subsidy, consisting of a long list of leading citizens, with an executive and other committees to be chosen among its members. A meeting of the central committee was held this afternoon at 3 o'clock at the Chamber of Commerce, and sub-committees were arranged for the mass meeting Thursday at the armory. Capt. J. A. Hatfield offered the use of the Armory free for that occasion.