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March, 191z From the south side of Lincoln avenue to the outer harbor line it is believed that the best results will be obtained by the construction of quay landings. Thus improved, this section of the Wapato waterway would ultimately become a most important terminal for large cargo steamers. In this connection it is desirable, be- fore giving any figures, to become fam- iliar with some details. The flats on which these waterways are proposed: to be located, are nearly level and are no- where more than a few feet above high tide. Outside the meander line, that is, northward therefrom, the tide flats fall away rapidly to the suggested pier head or outer harbor line, where they reach a level of about 30 ft. below low tide. 'The flats may, therefore, be considered in two parts, that first described being south. of the meander line, and generally somewhat above high tide, while that to the north of the meander line is subject to overflow during every tide. The ex- treme tidal range is about 18 ft., but the ordinary high tide reaches a level about 14 ft. above ordinary low tide. Provi- sion has been made for a turning basin at the south end of the south waterway. This turning basin to consist of the main channel and a wide slip on each side, where vessels can be turned without dif- ficulty, the slips themselves being used in the meantime for commercial pur- poses. Construction of turning basins for the Wapato and Hylebos waterways will be delayed until they are extended. The slopes of the sides of the water- ways are assumed at 2 to 1, this having been found sufficient on waterways that have thus far been built in other parts of the harbor. It is intended that the bulkheads and adjoining properties shall be brought to a level not less than 22 feet above datum by excavation from the waterways, slips, etc. The total construction cost of this project, including turn-. ing basin of south waterway is estimated to be........... $3,685,816 Turning basi... 2-5. eave . 173,907 Cost' of tanal proper... ....22- $3,511,909 Not less than 10 per cent should be added to these figures for administration, contingencies and engineering, and they then become: Cost, including turning basin.. $4,054,397 Turning basin. coo, 191,297 Net carial. te i $3,863,100 The aggregate area of right-of-way for these waterways, including the turn- ing basin of the south waterway, will be 399 acres. The cost of right-of-way is indeterminate and is not included in the estimate of cost. Prices named by men familiar with the property vary all the way from $1,000 to $2,500 per acre. Between the Milwaukee and Wapato waterways three short waterways are suggested, all below South Eleventh THE MARINE REVIEW street. The most westerly of these is located on the axis of Skagit avenue, with a width of 400 ft, and the third, between Snohomish and Nisqually ave- nues, with a width of 387 ft. These waterways are virtually large slips or basins, and will be improved with quay landings. Employment of Harbor Boats In connection with the port business, which these projected waterways and plans may ultimately serve, there will be employed a large number of harbor boats, lighters, etc., which will require accommodations. Undoubtedly most of these harbor vessels will be motor pro- pelled, so that motor boat landings are provided at all convenient points, name- ly, at shore ends of the waterways and basins and at points where. there are highway bridge crossings. Marginal streets will be located on each side of the waterways, as shown on the map, of ample width for at least three railway tracks. In addition to these marginal streets, several main ave- nues or arterial highways are necessary in order to properly connect the dif- ferent sections of the tidelands and make the district easily accessible from the retail and residential sections of the city. The principal highways in this district are South Eleventh street, Lin- coln avenue, Marshall avenue, Nisqually avenue, produced, and a proposed new street designated on the map as the Tacoma-Seattle highway. Lincoln ave- nue is the first through cross street south of the outer harbor line and is of great importance on account of its giv- ing direct connection with the retail section of the city, and for the reason that it will ultimately form part of an important highway extending northward along the westerly side of the ridge between White river valley and Puge Sound. * The City Waterway The city waterway, on account of its proximity to the retail center of the city, is much used for local city and freight business, although some large grain and cargo warehouses are now located thereon. It is likely, however, that ultimately this waterway will be given over almost entirely to coastwise Puget Sound and city business, and that the cargo shipping will be handled else- where. At South Twenty-first street a viaduct is proposed across the waterway, and while, for the time being, a sufficient opening may be left to permit the pass- age of logs and small boats, yet event- ually, it will probably be found ad- vantageous to fill the small portion of waterway south of this street. Between the Puyallup and middle waterways a slip and pier construction is considered most desirable. The slips should not be 'vided for these small boats. 87 less than 1,100 ft. in length, to insure accommodation for the largest vessels likely to enter the port. A proposition to lease a portion of the state property between the inner and outer harbor lines has been under consideration by the city. If this has been accomplished, as is reported, the property between the inner harbor line and Railroad avenue will be acquired, thereby providing for a complete ship- ping terminal with piers, warehouses and railway facilities necessary to a well balanced project. Between the mid- dle and city waterways three piers, 800 ft. long, are suggested, also a warehouse and industrial layout back of the piers. This property is owned by the Norther Pacific railway. Great Field for Power Boat Activities At first glance, it may appear that the motor boat hasbeen given. undue prominence in this plan. It must be borne in mind, however, that Puget Sound, with its thousand miles of land- locked bays and channels and its thou- sands of miles of tributary waters, in British Columbia and Alaska, all safe for motor boat navigation, presents prob-. | ably the greatest field for motor boat activities in the world. At the shore. ends of the waterways and larger slips, floats and other facilities will be pro- At the shore end of the middle waterway, where the city. owns some property, is a good location for small motor boats. . Between the smelter and the. present wharf and pavilion in Point Defiance Park is an important waterfront district suitable for recreation and pleasure pur- poses. It will probably also become the terminus for ferries plying to Vashon island and West passage points. These ferries will be the link to join the city boulevard system with the roadways and _ boulevards on Vashon island and the country west of the West passage. Suit- able ferry slips and recreation piers will be built at this point. A possible loca- tion for a dry dock would be at Cham- bers creek, near Stellacoom. Permanent improvement of the lower portion of the Puyallup river is pro- posed at a cost of $433,700, including riprap, levees and excavation to straight- en and widen the channel. In 1906, the White river, one of the streams arising -- in the mountains east of Tacoma and flowing in a general parallel direction to the Puyallup, overflowed its banks and cut a new channel forming a junc- tion with the Puyallup. This doubled the flow of the latter, making it during floods reach 34,000 second-feet. The river improvements mentioned above are designed to take care of this flood stage and prevent the damage to abutting property, which periodically occurs at present. ;