The Effort to Drain Lake Washington
Local farmers and landowners organize to drain the lowlands of the Squak River and Lake Washington to create more agricultural territory.
The farmers and owners of land in the proposed drainage ditch from Lake Washington to Lake False have decided to move forward with their project. A committee reported that 2,456 acres in the Squak valley could be benefited by this project, and a new company, the Lake Washington Drainage and Canal Company, will be incorporated to oversee the work with a starting capital of $10,000.
“The committee acreage reported that 2,456 acres in the Squak valley could be benefited by this project.”
This story highlights the historic push to reshape Seattle's landscape through massive civil engineering, which would eventually lead to the lowering of Lake Washington for the construction of the ship canal. These early efforts demonstrate how local boosters and landowners viewed the natural landscape purely as an asset to be exploited for economic gain.
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