, 1869-10-16
the sNoQUALMIE ROAD.


ED1roR INrELLIeEEckR Per request
will briefly and hurriedly describe my
recent trip from the Dalles, Oregon, to
Seattle, Vio the Snoqualmie Pass. Four
years ago, l came from the Columbia
river, up the Yakima, and over the Cas-
cade Mountains, on the Cedar river trall. !.
Then there was no wagon road through
the truly magnificent Snoqualmie Pass.
Then there were no come-on sticks, and
no risk of life or limb in crossing the
1899 mire holes, or eorduroys, or swim.
ming of the deen, rocky, swift, foaming
thirteen or fourteen crossings Of the SE.
fork of the Snoqualmie riyerl
On the llth day of September. 1869,
left the Dalles sojourned on the 18th
in Klickitat Valley camped the 18th
on the humbug Canyon Road from
Klickitat Valley to Satass and Topnass
Valley-lost by taking said road about
one days travel. On the l4th, feasted
at the hospitable residence of Mr.. Lind
sey, on Yakima river; evening of the
18th, camped in Kititsss Valley; dined
at Mr.. Glttis' new residence and beauti>
full farm site on the road through the
valley, from which point was happy
to have the company of DIR. Wheeler
and Mr.. Murray-the latter having just
started from the valley with five pack
animals to load at Seattle. DR.. Wheeler
was returning, from professional visits,
to his prospecting camp near the Sum.
nit. Camped the 10th at the first cross
ing of the Yakima; 18th, reached DR..
Wheeler's, Mr.. Engbloom's and Mr..
Harris prospecting camp, two or three
miles Sc. of the Summit-a small, low
prairie, ovetgrown with rank sour grass,
quarter of mile N. of the road. 18th
laid by at the camp; 10th, ate O'Clock
at night, in rain and darkness, camped
on the backbone, seven or eight miles
from the Snoqualmie Prairie. goth and
2lst, sojOurned at the residence of our
friend, Mr.. jeremiah Borsl. 22d, on
Black river, at Mr.. E. NJ. Smithers
farm and residence. 23d-came to Els
liott's Bay to find Seattle. Alas the
dear old scenery of the town site was
gone, perhaps forever. A young city
now graces the locality, with crowded
streets, crowded hotels and crowded
dwellings; with many hundreds of
buildings, brilliant with their newness,
truly indicating that Seattle will soon
rank in wealth, population and inhu-
ence with the great cities of the earth.
But Seattle, although the centre and
hope of many near and distan; farms
ing district, is not alone improving
The rich valleys Of Yakima, Antah>
nUm, Natchess, Weenas, and many 9TH
ers, are rapidly being settled. Green
fields, large enclosures, young orch,
ards, new dwellings and barns, and
large and numerous focks and herds,
mark their progress. Beautiful Kiutass
Valley, with thirty new prairie farms,
bids fair before the end of the coming
year to count its population by hun
dreds. One dark tortuous line mars
the prospect-our Snoqualmie Wagon
road-the way of the weary traveller to
the land of promise-a retrograde, draw
back, foul mpediment to the interests
of Puget Sound. Already cursed by
every passing traveller for its bad loca,
tion and tiimsy construction, aud par.
ticularly for its crossing the Snoqual,
mie river thirteen or fourteen times,
when all crossings were unnecessary.
For this road the citizens of King and
adjoining counties have paid by vol
untary subscription at different times,
as | have been Informed, over s G,O00
King County, in scrip, about 1900
Appropriated by Territorial
Legislature, lst, s., ,GOOj af.
terwards, 81, 800 .... 4,500