Seattle's Canal Backers Turn Up the Pressure—and the Cash

RAISED IT A NOTCH.

The canal subsidy was raised another notch yesterday by the addition of $8,000. The amount collected was $8,115, making the grand total $324,750. The amount collected yesterday was much smaller than anticipated by the committee, but it is hoped subscriptions will come in more freely today. It is said that some visionary people imagined that the banks would put up $100,000 or more, and when it was ascertained that the pledges of eight of the banks only aggregated $17,000 they seemed to think something was wrong, but the subsidy will be raised just the same. Some of the best business houses in the city have not yet been heard from, and their pledges should aggregate a large amount.

In connection with the enterprise it should be borne in mind that the opportunities for a gravity water supply will be the finest in the world. From the head of the canal on the lake to the level of high tide on the bay there is a fall of sixteen feet, and to the level of low tide, thirty-two feet. Thus it can be seen that the mere laying of pipes along the edge of the canal will afford a gravity supply of fresh water for the whole of the reclaimed area of the flats, as well as for the docks along the present water front. The improvement will simply necessitate the first cost of pipe and the laying of the same, and it will last for several generations with hardly a dollar's additional cost, giving water sufficient to supply a city of many times Seattle's present population. All the water used for locomotives, steamers and ordinary purposes will be thus obtained. Enterprises like Moran's foundry could use the water and by their own machinery raise what they need to a higher level for such manufacturing purposes as may be desired.

It requires no stretch of the imagination to understand the immense benefit that would thus accrue to the property holders, for water for all ordinary uses in an inexhaustible supply would thus be at hand at a nominal figure. The present system of water works, with the expensive pumping stations and corps of engineers and workmen, could be done away with to some extent, although, of course, for the hill district there would still have to be pumping to a reservoir and there maintained as a head of supply.

A well-known engineer said yesterday that with the completion of the canal the city should by all means make arrangements to establish a water system on the lines mentioned, and maintain it for the benefit of shipping and commerce generally. It would be an important factor in making Seattle the finest and most complete harbor on the coast. The savings in water rates would of itself be a great inducement to vessels to come here. He said that were the city of Seattle to give a subsidy of $500,000 it would be doing no more than should be done; that it would be a paying investment, and when the innumerable advantages of the canal are considered it is impossible to understand how it is that so many people have not yet considered themselves fully interested in assuring the completion of the great work by seeing that the subsidy is secured.

The canal proposition has become the subject of discussion among engineering publications all over the country. The Seattle Trade, which represents the mercantile interests, has the following remarks on the subject: 'That will raise the $500,000 subsidy required by the St. Louis capitalists who propose to take the Seattle tide flats and build the south canal to Lake Washington, no one doubts for a moment. The subsidy proposition is a fair one in every way, and we would like to see the amount raised before the week closes. We believe it will. If Seattle cannot show that much faith in her own ability, and understand how every citizen will profit far more than he will be disposed to subscribe on such fair terms, how could we expect capitalists who have all the risk to run to come forward and by expending millions show their faith in the undertaking? It is a straight business proposition. It is an opportunity that many cities would gladly give twice as much to have the chance to secure, realizing as they do the advantages and future profits bound to result from such a work. Let every citizen of Seattle contribute morally, and feel it a duty to hasten the completion of the bonus and early commencement of the work. To do otherwise is not to be thought of, and the failure of the project would do much injury to our future prospects. Subscribers subscribe liberally, and do so without delay.'