The Fresh Water Fortress: Why Seattle Was Built to Save Ships from the Sea

Captain U.H. Hall, of the well-known shipbuilding firm of Hall Bros., Port Blakeley, returned on Monday from his two months' trip to Washington, D.C., whither he had gone in the interest of his shipyards. Captain Hall came over from Fort Steilacoom yesterday, and being seen by a reporter, narrated his impressions of the important topics that are just now of very great interest to the people of Seattle and Puget Sound.

"There is much interest manifested by leading shipping men of San Francisco for the result of the intended visit of the government navy commission to the Northwest," said Capt. Hall, "and the universal opinion amongst those who are acquainted with the conditions is that Lake Washington is the most eligible location for a navy yard."

The important factor in bringing about this general conclusion is the fact that Lake Washington is fresh water, and that the teredo does not ply his destructive occupation therein. The location is regarded as geographically the most accessible that can be chosen, and the requirements of the commission regarding natural advantages, eligibility to coal, iron and other supplies, railroad communication from the East, shelter from storms and from possible attack, good anchorage, plenty of sea room, etc., I am quite certain cannot be at any other place on the Pacific coast. It would seem to me that nature had provided in Lake Washington a basin for the especial purpose of building a navy yard, for there is not a single element of need wanting, and as much can be said for no other place.

"The construction of a canal that Lake Washington may be reached from Salmon Bay would be comparatively inexpensive. There are no natural obstructions to be overcome, and no difficult feats of engineering to be accomplished. The canal could be conducted to Lake Union from Salmon Bay on a level until within a very short distance of the lake, and then a simple system of locks would lead the channel directly into Lake Union, thence across the lake and through the old canal, into Union Bay in Lake Washington. The present canal could be enlarged with an ordinary amount of dredging. The channel to Lake Washington should, I think, be at least 100 feet wide and sufficiently deep to render its navigation easy to the largest vessels of the navy.

"A simple process of dredging would do the whole work with the exception of the locks. It is my judgment that the cost of the channel would be entirely paid for in a few years by the saving made in the preserving of the yard plant from the action of the teredo—a consideration that cannot be ignored.

"I hear that Port Townsend is urging the claims of Port Angeles as the site for the navy yard. It is possible that the people of Port Townsend have not considered that a British gun boat could lie in British waters and utterly ruin by shelling a shipyard plant that might be constructed on any point in the port. I understand that Tacoma is making an effort in behalf of Quart Master Bay. The necessity of maintenance of heavy fortifications is one fatal objection to that point. Olympia wants the yard, but the same serious facts can be found with that location. Port Washington, behind Bainbridge Island, or several places in the Sound, would be better than any of these. But all except Lake Washington have the insuperable objections of the necessity of fortifications and the disadvantage of teredo and barnacle thriving water.

"My interest in Lake Washington is not entirely selfish," said Captain Hall. "I am anxious for the construction of that canal whether the Navy Yard is built or to establish our entire shipbuilding plant on the lake. We appreciate the great value of fresh water in preserving our wharves, ways, piers and piles and we want to take advantage of it. We remember also the well known fact that a ship whose bottoms extend with barnacles will be cleaned by simply lying for a short time in Washington waters—an other fresh-water advantage that is highly important."