The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-09-26

farmer roads are an absolute necessity
For nearly fftoen years the Snoho-
mish valley has been the chief center
OF tine logging business on the Sound
and nn:il this summer every other IL
terest was subordinate to il. l: is also
notes orthy fact that while few settle
ments TAD more money to exreud on
roads than this valley, in proportion to
t population, &c, in no other settlement
| of its age. size, &c. on the Sound were
| the roads in so poor O condition. Cen
orally speaking. the roads in the imme.
date vicinity Of Snohomish City were
in q worse condition than in any other
portion of that county; far inferior u
those on the Skykomish or Ssillaguam-
isb, where the farmers held the lead of
the loggers.
Many woulj-be settlers, who slw the
business enterprise Of Snohomish City.
and then saw the absence Of good roads
in its environment, came TO the corclu.
sion that it WAS impossible to ever have
good roads there. and left in disgust.
This one thing has driven more would
be agricultural settlers away from the
valley than all other things combined.
Within the past few years, coinc;dent
with the decadence OF the logging in
dustry aud the gradual increase of the
farming and other interests OF this val.
ley, more regard has been manifested
tor the construction Of roads, 50 that
now the means OF communication are
ahead of what they we're reputed to be
even among the settlers themselves.
Thus, when the extensive Improvements
now under way in this valley are com.
pleted. which they probably will be
next month. it will be easy to 20 on
horseback from Falls City to Snoho
mish City in one day by fordiug Tolt
river and swimming the Skykomish.
This trail is being cut out in excellent
shape on the north side of the Sno-
qualmie. most Of the way at the foot
Of the high land. just of the bottom.
With this completed. person on horse
back can 90 from Seattle to Falls City
in one day; one day more will suffice
for the examination of the beautiful
scenery around Snoqualmie Falls and
the Prairie; one day down the valley to
Snohomish City. and then by going
down the river three miles below Sno-
homish City. swimming the river there.
thence down the trail to Lowell. thence
from Lowell on the Lowell and Mukil.
too trail until Point Elliott and the
Seattle telegraph trail are reached, and
thence over the telegraph trail to Seat.
tie. The round trip can be made in
four days. allowing one day at the Falls
And giving an excellent view of the
whole Snohomish aud Snoquslmie val
leys.
From Lowell a person can 60 as
quickly on horseback to Seattle as he
can 60 from that point to Seattle by
steamer. This is not generally known;
hence I am particular in writing about
it. 1t is also not generally known that
from Snohomish City good trail exists
by which person can go on horseback
via the north bank Of Ebey Slough to
Priest Point; thence on the telegraph
trail to the Stillaguamish river; thence
over the Stillaguamish flats to the south
bank Of the Skagit.
The mail carrier is waiting for this
letter; therefore the remainder to be
written about this valley must be re-
served for another time. E. NJ.