Seattle Passed the Hat to Dig Its Canal

The work of securing the subsidy for the Lake Washington waterway was completed yesterday with a final rush which carried the total beyond the required mark. About 4 p.m., when the committee still needed over $1,000, the solicitors went out in different directions determined to secure the balance before evening. The response to this last effort was cordial and generous. As the workers returned to the committee office between 4 and 5 o'clock, each was surprised at the success of the others. One thousand dollars had come in from the Police Relief Association; then $2,500 came in from the Union Electric Company and $1,500 from the Seattle Gas and Electric Light Company. Following these a land subsidy came in from the Kirkland Land and Improvement Company valued at $6,000, and other smaller sums, till the total had passed the required mark. The total subscriptions for the day were $12,100.

Everyone about the committee office was highly pleased at the splendid result, and the enthusiasts' spirit in which the final mark had been reached was much praised. With the last gap closed, the only preliminary remaining was action on the subsidy, and work was to begin at the time set.

In speaking of the work which had just been brought to a happy conclusion, Mr. Wood said to a Post-Intelligencer reporter: “While the work of gathering in the subsidy has been an arduous task for a large number of persons, and has consumed more time than was expected, the subsidy itself is nevertheless a pleasant experience to look back to. The sons of assistance have given their help entirely without selfishness, and no set of salaried men in the city have been more punctual or faithful than the volunteers in the office during the six weeks of subsidy work. The friends of the canal project have been numerous, industrious and enthusiastic, and it was impossible for the effort to fail. It has been a voluntary movement of the people. The list of subscribers represents all classes and business interests of the community. It is in fact entirely cosmopolitan, even containing the names of many Chinese and Japanese trusted men of the city. To see how fully and thoroughly the people of small means have done their duty it is only necessary to note the average size of the subscriptions, which is about $12. The subscribers range in amount from $1 to $1,000. It is estimated that nearly 1,000 subscriptions were secured. The small percentage of the public who hold property was assessed by the appraisement committee, but since the appraisement committee examined the information which had been secured, they found that nearly all of the subscribers, and the larger ones, were owners of real estate in the city, some of them owning so much as to make their support of the enterprise a duty. The subsidy is therefore not only good, but very good, being backed by energy.”