Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-10-08
SEATTLE.
TIE Railroad System. Present and
Prospective. Of she City.

S&s1 as8s
ne Railroad system. Present and
Prospective. Of the city.
Few, IL any. subjects engross more Of
the attention Of our citizens than the
extension and development Of oar rail-
road system. II the use of the term
railroad system be objected 70 be-
cause our present facilities and advan-
tages are restricted in that direction,
we shall take no offence, being ready
70 admi. that We stand only upon the
threshold of what We aim at, and what
ve intend TO accomplish in spite Of the
msers OF self constituted rivals, and the
frequently reiterated predictions that,
in any event. Ne shall only be way
station on n side track. the suburban
depot of a feeder TO a trunk line.
A SHALL EEoISNYyo,
Made BY our citizens in 1875, although
tne preliminary steps were taken IN
1873. Was the FIRST direct movement.
which brought Seattle u the front as n
commercial center. A few public spir-
tied citizens, weary of the delays at
,endant upon ths construction of the
Northern Pacific Railroad. and realizing
the fact that those who help themselves
are suress 10 bs helped by others, re-
solved 70 build a narrow-gage railroad
to the RsntOn coal mines, reserving, of
course, by the terms Of the charter of
the company, the right 10 extend the
road % the grain fields of Eastern Ore
10n, and beyond, az such time ~ they
might elect.
THE SEATTLE AND wALLA vALLA
Railroad Company was organized in
1873, with the following Board Of Direc-
tors: A. A. Denny. John Leary. j. n.
Colman, James McNaught, John Col
Inns. A. Macintosh aud IL. l.. Yesler.
A. A. Denny Was elected President; j..
II. Co!inan, Manager; Il. Scott, Score
tary. and Is. z. Briggs, Treasurer. The
immediate objective points were the
coal fields at kenton, and at Newcastle,
seven miles beyond. The enterprise
met with derisive opposition from the
mart, and. is must be admitted, Ian
guished for about two years. In 1873
the first thirteen miles Of the road we're
completed, and the coal fields Of Kenton
became tributary TO the growth Of &c.
attic. Two years later the road was OK
tended seven miles, and
THE NEWCASTLE MINES
At once took their place "a factors ir
what has since beeu the constantly in
creasinR growth and prosperity Of this
city. II would seem eminently proper
here to present statement of the area
and extent of ths coal fields alluded to.
Bat opportunity to personally inspect
these hidden sources Of wealth already
developed has not been afforded the
writer of this article; and he will await
the opportunity before giving his views
on this subject. Suffice II To say, that
during tho rive years which have passed
since the road Was completed to New
Castle 4
GRAND TOTAL
or seven hundred and fifty thousand
tons of coal Is a 70 .,sonable estim ate vi
the product of the kenton and Nswoas-
tia districts. all Of which has found it,
way over the narrow gage. road to home
and foreign markets. In addition ~
the coal Traits. the road has done fine
business in return frsishts, and its pas
senger traffic may le esticiated at from
80 to 60 per day.
THE ORIGINAL COST
OF the twenty miles of road between Sc
attic and Newcastle was $:EO,UUO. In
1880 Mr.. Henry Willard, now President
OF the N. Z. Il. X. Co.. being then en-
gagged in psrfectIng tue preliminary de-
tails of tho vast system uf transyOrta-
ton, which, in great measure, he has
created, acting upon the advice and rep
reservations Of General Thomas Il. Tan.
matt, his confidential agent, purchased
the Seattle and Walla Waila Railroad,
| and its franchise, paying the first cost
price, $35O,O00, for it. and about the
same time purchased the Newcastle
mining property from the Seattle Coal
Transportation Company, paying there
for. il is understood, tho large sum of
$4,000. Since that time, 1t may be
remarked in passing, an extension of
the road. one and ono-half miles in
length, has been built to Coal Creek.
INCLUDED IN THE PURCHASE
BY Mr.. Willard Of the Newcastle mining
property, were several sailing ships, up
to that time used i'll tho transportation
OF the products of the mine to San
Francisco aud other ports. These ships
we're very soon disposed Of, and a
FLEET OF IRON CoLLIERs
Consisting of the ZOO ton propellorr,
Willamette, Umatilis, Walia Walia ana
Mississippi, substituted for them. With
these vessels an average Of five trips per
month 10 San Francisco IL made. except
when temporary depression of the
market relieves one or more Of Thorn for
use in the constantly increasing extra
service made necessary by the phenom-
email growth Of the Northwest.
BEFORE ADvKRTINo
TO the proposed extension Of this initial
section Of our railroad system, It may he
we'll to glance at some Of the results
which have been effected through its
agency. Its influence upon the growth
of Seattle has bcen suggested TO every
intelligent mind by u mere recital Of
the amount Of coal which has found its
outlet at its wharves. 1t has been pO-
tent factor in developing the outlying
resources Of King County. 1t has slim
ulated uroduction in the noricni tuPal