The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1880-12-02
WAGON ROADS.

seattle and King county need wagon
roads quite as badly ~ they DO rail
roads This poiut should b. made the
center Of system Of great roads. One
Of these should run south. through
White and Stuck river valleys. into the
Puysllnp, connecting there with ths
fine roads Of Pierce aud Tharstou
counties. Another should go ess.. via
the Snoquaimis, into the Yakima coun-
try, while Q third should extend north,
through Snohomish and Whatcom
counties, 10 the British Columbia line,
there to join the famous roads leading
into Cariboo. The people Of Yakima
long ago offered to meet ours at the
line-the summit Of the mountains
they opening a road east therefrom If
people here would open one west to the
Sound. The people Of Pierce county
will meet us at our southern line. and
the people of Snohomish at our north
ern. These things have been talked
over and agreed upon years ago. These
great roads could have branches leading
east and west and north and south into
all the valleys and settlements that may
be desirable. There is hardly doubt
thatif we had bad wagon road ten
years ago over the Snoqualmie as good
ss the wagon roads OF British Colon
bia. that we would have had ere this q
railroad also. Wagon roads will always
be necessary. and il seems idle to argue
in their favor. Here is something par
TALLY ON this subject from the Yakima
Record that is we'll worth reprinting aud
reading:
Sesttleites are everlas.ingly. like
Micawber. waiting for something to
turn mp. Ripe cherries do not fall into
ones mouth. II our trade Is not worth
struggling for by the people of Seattle
a point which is one of our natural
outlets to Underwater We can go
10 those who do appreciate Its benefits.
The people of the Dalles seek by every
means In their power To further their
interests in this section. In times past
they subscribed literally towards the
construction OF road To this county
Its merchants upon more than one oc-
casion have advertised their wares in
our columns, and generally speaking its
people are the warm advocates Of the
development Of this country. On the
contrary what has Seattle ever per-
formed that would justify claim upon
US. Upon one occasion. we believe. a
great hnliabsloo was raised over build
ing a wagon road across the mountains.
Speeches were made, resolutions passed
and. II We recolect right. a COMMITTEES
was appointed TO raise funds. But il
all ended IN SNAKE, Then our people
stood ready to literally aid them in
means and labor necessary elements
Of success 10 the construction of road
Now we ara in that happy condition OF
mind that We don't care continental
cuss word whether Tacoma or The
Dalles secures our futurs trade. At
present the latter pls1e. and through
the energy aad eltr. prisa of its people.
eRjoysa raonoe5iy OF il. The compile
ton. however. Of the Mort bern Pacific
Railroad would tend to divert q great
portion Of our trade to Tacoma, and
thus would Seattle be forever loft out
IN the cold. We say this ID likely to BE-
the future status of affairs. ,udx,ns
from present indications. and the peo-
pie Of Seattle have no one to blame for
it but themselvcs. Possessing really
the best natural outlet for the trade OF
this whole Northwest. its people have
laid supinely ON their backs till more
energetic neighbors. possessing not a
1.-THE OF its advantages. are likely to
beat her in the race. God helps those
who help themselves. is an old saying
aud one which the people OF Seattle can
yet profit by. 1t is not yet too late.
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