The $300,000 Push to Dig Seattle's Canal

Subscription to the $300,000 subsidy for the Lake Washington Waterway is coming in rapidly. The committee reported $16,070 for the day yesterday, and the grand total was expected to reach the $300,000 mark before Saturday night next.

William D. Wood, secretary of the executive committee, reports that responses from subscribers and persons interested are most encouraging. Everybody thoroughly believes that the required subsidy will be raised. He declares there will be no cessation of effort until the mark is passed. In fact, the confidence of the people in the raising of the subsidy is so general and firm that it somewhat retards subscribing: nearly all people are willing to subscribe rather than actually put money down and bind themselves. Nearly all subscriptions have come in without solicitation, and many are for amounts lower than they would have been had the subscribers taken time to consider deliberately. While this over-confidence assures the final result, it prolongs the time consumed in raising the subsidy. The executive committee therefore urges prompt decision and immediate work by all citizens. They would have the subscription entirely closed up this week except for the real estate subsidies, which will require longer because they must be signed by both husband and wife and acknowledged before a notary, with a careful description of the property. The committee believes that if people act as earnestly as they feel, subscriptions would be coming in at the rate of $40,000 a day. From present indications they fully expect to reach the $300,000 mark before Saturday night next.

Wednesday was the best subscription day so far. The number of people assisting in the departments of work has never been larger. A first canvass was held yesterday by the committee, with workers assigned out of town and in the city. A committee of German citizens met at the committee rooms at 2 o'clock, with Andrew Hemrich in the chair. Sub-committees were appointed to begin work at 6 o'clock the next morning, dividing the city: north from Yesler Avenue including Front Street and the water front; all south of Yesler Avenue; Second, Third and Fourth streets north from Yesler; all east from Fourth between Pike and Yesler; and from Pike Street north and east, including Lake Union. Prof. Wilson's business college sent over four volunteer clerks. Stewart E. Smith was placed in charge of the committee on non-resident property owners, sending out descriptive literature and maps of the canal. The committee's office in the Bailey Building would remain open evenings, and the Sunset Telephone Company donated the use of a telephone until May 31.