The Canal That Would Turn Lake Washington Into a Harbor

THE LAKE WASHINGTON CANAL. The full text of the report of the House committee on interstate and foreign commerce, recommending an appropriation for the construction of the Lake Washington canal, is given in another column. The report is interesting reading and shows a proper appreciation of the importance of the work by the committee. In closing the report the committee says: “Thus, not only for economic reasons, but as a question of prudence and sound national policy, we believe that the proposed canal should be constructed and controlled by the government, and we therefore report favorably on the bill.” It is to be hoped that the bill will be reached and passed at the present session of Congress. This, however, is doubtful by reason of the short time still remaining. Senator Squire and Congressman Wilson are entitled to credit for their earnest efforts on behalf of the bill. Whether it is reached at the present session or not, the favorable report of the committee will go a long way toward ensuring its final passage.

The object of the proposed improvement is to enlarge and deepen the waterways sufficiently to enable ships to pass from the salt water of Puget Sound into a fresh-water harbor, and to provide an outlet for the surplus waters of the lake. Seattle is now a city of over 60,000 inhabitants, having a registered voting population of about 14,000. Its past growth indicates that it will become a much larger city, probably as large as any on the Pacific coast. Lake Washington, twenty-five miles in length and averaging three miles in width, lies only two miles east of the city. Sheltered by a border of mountains, with bold shores, its waters are always safe and of ample depth. Nowhere else in the world does there exist another similar body of fresh water lying within two miles of a noble ocean roadstead, to which it can so readily be joined. The opening of these waters to commerce is no new project; it was first advocated by Gen. George B. McClellan.