The Log Jam in Lake Union

Some time since, Wm. Cochrane found himself with two and a half million feet of logs in Lake Union, with no market for them, owing to the Western mills being practically shut down. But as there was no practical way to get his lumber out of the lake at that time, Mr. Cochrane hardly knew what to do. Fortunately, he met Mr. J.W. Garry, of Michigan, an old experienced lumber man, who came out here to work for the Seattle Lumber Company, to whom he explained the difficulty under which he was laboring. Mr. Garry suggested that with some expense the outlet—then take logs to Salmon Bay, one mile in length—might be put in shape to run them through to salt water. At the request of Mr. Cochrane, Mr. Garry took charge of the job, and he has been most successful. By the construction of three locks, all logs are floated to salt water without difficulty. The logs rushing through the outlet, driven by the strong current behind them, cut a deep channel, and Mr. Garry says that now, any light draft steamer will be enabled to run from Seattle into Lake Union by way of Salmon Bay. Both Mr. Cochrane and Mr. Garry unite in the opinion that the time is not far distant when the tide will ebb and flow into Lake Union, the same as it does in salt water.