Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1878-08-30
NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD.
survey Of the Route over Cowlitz Pass.

In 1868, Gen. Tilton as chief engi-
neer of the Northern Pacific survey ex-
plorations for railroad route to Puget
Sound, organized party with Mr.. Carl
ton as chief, to examine and survey the
Cowlitz Pass, which was accomplished
according to instructions, and the notes.
maps, ETC., are on file in the engineer
department of this division. As the OBJ
ject of those having the railroad project
in charge at that time was to carry the
terminus toward Bellingham Bay, the
Carlton survey through the Cowlitz Pass
held but secondary position in their
attention, and it soon ceased to be a
topic in N. p. railroad circles But
when the crisis Of 1878 rendered it po-
little to shorten the line toward the
Sound, and Tacoma became the termi.
nus, the Cowlitz Pass became conjoined
with this point as factor 10 future ex-
tension of the line; but as the financial
phase was not tending to revive railroad
investments till recently, the Carlton
survey had almost passed out Of rccollec-
ton SO far as regarded its objective
characteristics.
In June 1877, Col. Sam'l A. Black
took charge of the Pacific Division as
Superintendent, and his attention in due
time became directed to Carleton's report
The Col. at once opened correspondence
on the subject with the officials of the
company at the east, which resulted in
verifying reconnaissance of the Carl
ton survey being ordered, which was ac-
complished in March last, D. d. Clark
chief division engineer, being in charge
of the party, with results detailed in
Col. Blacks letter to Gen. Geo. Stark
Vice President of the N. p. r. X. Co,
together with synopsis of Mr.. Clark 8
report, both included below and follow
ings ~
Col. Blacks revival of attention to
this route was further supplemented by
the Board of Directors. at their meeting
of June last, deciding to have definite
investigation and survey of this line per-
fected under the personal supervision of
the Chief Engineer Of the Company, W.
Minor Roberts, Esq, who arrived here
on the 18th Of July, and started party
Of about twenty or more at work on the
line, 10 charge Of Mr.. D. d. Clark, c.
III, commencing at Orting Station on
the Puyallup Branch, twenty miles from
Tacoma-the progress of which survey
is detailed on first page, so far as it is
proper to detail in advance of results.
Below is an extract from Col. Black
letter referred to:
Col. BLACKS LETTER.
AA Mr. elark's chief attention was to bt
given tostie country lying between Bea'
river and the summit of the range; Al
by universal conception, there are Mt
dihicnlties in respect of work or grades
on the eastern slope, and none as we hat
previously found between the PuyalluI
Branch Road and the Bear river.
You. will note on the map tho lin
y makes more Of a "southing," and is
little less direct than had previousl,
reported it between Orting aud the Mis-
qually; but this will probably be rectiti
ed in part by future and fuller surveys
Youawill also note, that Mr.. Clarl
makes the elevation Of Bear prairie t
be. $500 feet, whereas, in Mr.. Tilton'
survey 1t is put down at Ito feet, an
in Hazard Stevens account of his al
cent of Mt. Tacoma, in the Atlanti
Monthly, for November 1876, it is r.
corded at $3.50.
We are justified in believing Nj
= Stevens used but single baromete
and without any rectiication for refra,
tion;s and we know, upon the testimon
Of Mr.. Longmire and Mr.. Pack wood
guides for Mr.. Tilton's party in 1861
confirmed also by Mr.. Carlton himssl
chief Of that party. that the altitude
Ito was an assumed height.
In our survey Mr.. Clark used tv
barometers, and We kept third simu
taneously in Tacoma; the temperatu'
carefully rated at both places, and Il
observations corrected by the temper
ture. We may therefore assert in mut
confidence, that $500 feet is the CORE
altitude.
In nothing the general alignment
given by Mr.. Clark, aud collating
notes, it will be observed as worthy
special remark, how closely the line fl
the ground, and how nicely the lilo
professional apprehensions have conju
ed up in the pathway of a railway acre
the Cascade range are all dispelled.
There are no engineering difiiculti
in the way. For mountain work, it "
be cheap construction. As mou
tain line it will be when built, east
maintained and easily worked, unls
professional infdeiity or incompetent
shall abort its final location
Other noticeable features win be t
fewnoss of its through cuttings, bridg,
and high banks, and almost total absen
OF necessary tunnelings.
One OF the strangest things to be not
will be, the meteorological fact of t
It. n N