The Grand Coulee Ship Canal Dream
Promoters rally behind an ambitious proposal to connect the Columbia River through a series of lakes and rivers, hoping to transform Washington's inland geography into a global shipping hub.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The Grand Coulee ship canal scheme is progressing favorably. In less than two weeks, Mr. Goodin and Mr. Scott expect to establish its practicability beyond a doubt. Engineer J. H. Seeley, who has had considerable experience in canals, will commence the preliminary survey this week, and within ten days it is hoped to have sufficient knowledge of the elevations of the country to prove that this idea is feasible. 'The Grand Coulee will have to be dug a distance of about five miles from a point in section 28, township 32,' said Dr. Elmer, 'to a small lake, and from there a series of lakes and rivers connect with the Columbia.' Mr. Goodin, Mr. Scott and the doctor all agree that $1,000,000 will be ready when the engineers' report is turned in; that much is necessary to improve it. With one-tenth of the water of the Columbia river it is proposed to make the finest ship canal in the world. A number of prominent men in the state have been seen and it is believed that when the scheme is proved to be a practicable one, and after work has been begun, that an appropriation of at least half enough to improve it can be obtained from the state and government. The projectors of the new enterprise are more enthusiastic than ever, and steps are taken to purchase a large quantity of land that will become valuable as soon as water is turned on it.
“With one-tenth of the water of the Columbia river it is proposed to make the finest ship canal in the world.”
The late 19th-century 'booster' culture in Eastern Washington frequently saw grandiose infrastructure schemes as the key to instant prosperity. While the Grand Coulee would eventually be dammed for irrigation and power rather than a ship canal, the speculation over land values following planned water projects remains a familiar engine of regional growth.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.