Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-07-25
A TRIP up THE ROAD,
items OF Interest Along the Line of
the Columbia and Puget sound
Railroad.

- sntcfet At9uZ t8e Line o
the Columbia and Puget souns
Railroad.
In company With party of Califor.
mans, We boarded the Seattle and PuQef
Sound train on Monday for trip TO il,
terminus. Though this section Of Kins
county has been well favored by the
press, still there is always something
that new eyes may discover that nay
attract closer observation from those
who view it again.
As our train left the depot at Seattle
at Up. m, and wound around the edge
of Elliott Bay in southerly direction,
the tide was out and the fats were visi-
BILE. The members of onr party dis
cussed the future use Of them and
judging from the rapid growth of Sc
attie, the idea suggested itself tina; the
time was not far off when these would
be filed in, and on them the future
business portion of the city built. And,
indeed, We can almost picture in our
imagination wharve5 stretching north
ward into the bay, and back of them
rows of fine blocks of buildings and
beautiful residences, lines of street cars,
shops, factories, warehouses. etc, and
the hustle attending the meeting of COM
merce from the Orient and Occident,
all on this present waste tract.
On entering the belt of woods to the
south. our vision of the future was dis
PEELED by our admiration of nature as
We found it. The symmetrical pines
and frs towering heavenward with their
outspreading branches seemed beckon-
ing to the underbresh and ferns to imi-
tate them.
Pretty cottages appear here and there
through the clearings. The race course
with its buildings and whitewashed
fences; then neat and comfortable farm
houses, green fields and well stocked
pasture lands are seen as the train
winds around a curve or dashes across
some marshy tract. For a while we
skirt the river, and then we hug the
ridge. our view constantly changing;
and then, before arriving at Bear River
station, we pass party of surveyors at
work. Their stakes, cutting nice po-
tato field III two, were on a piece of
ground that mus: have taken a great
deal of time and labor to clear. The
river is again approached, and large
camp of Cinnamon and the completed
piling of the Tacoma and Seattle ex-
tension are seen.
Leaving Bear river station our route
il nearly due east. The valley seems TO
broaden, is higher and under cultiva-
sion. And the coal shutes of the Rel
ton mine are seen 10 the south of Us,
across the valley. just before the whistle
is blown for Renton, which we reach
about p. m.
Renton has very pretty location on
level tract of timbered land, on the
south side of Cedar river. 1t has four
hotels, five OF six saloons, three stores
carrying large stocks of general mer-
chandise, a church, school house and
butcher-shop, etc., and has 4 population
of two or three hundred. Renton is
noted for the beautiful residence and
grounds of MIR. Smith, n pioneer of this
section. His residence is about quar-
ter of mile northwest of the station,
across Cedar river. Rev. Mr.. Fair and
party of friends preceded our arrival
at Mr.. Smiths, and after brief sojourn
returned to Seattle. Not SO. however,
with our party; having found so delight.
ful a retreat, away from the hurry and
hustle of city life, we resolved to pass
the night here.
There are many people in Seattle, es-
pecially new arrivals, who, are tired of
milk that's ''got the blues" of eating
butter "made in a lard can,r or even of
mouldy bread. We can sympathize with
them. A change of horses makes long
journey short. Now, il you are tired
and weary, and are longing for home
comforts, rest and quietude, we know of
no place more acceptable TO you than
Mr.. Smiths, at Renton. Those rich and
juicy cherries. raspberries, fresh butter
and cream, will captiyate hearts of the
bravest.
Taking the up bound train for New
castle at 9:t5, we roll up a steep grade
that in some places, we are told. is ITO
feet to the mile, across several high
bridges tone of which is lbs feet from
the bed Of the rayine to the track },
alsng the side of heavily -timbered
ridge, obtaining now aud then beauti-
ful view of the southern end of Lake
Washington; and we reach Newcastle,
six miles above Renton, at 1850.
Newcastle is located partly in a culch
and side hill at the mouth of the tun-
nels to the mines, which are n mile and
a half under ground. There about 800
men employed in and about the mines.
and there is considerable stir in and on
the ground. The company has large
store. coal-shute, saw-mill and board
ing g-houses. There Is also a church..
butcher shop, and three saiooi.s, aud a
hundred or more cottages scattered here
and there. Considerable trade from
neiehboring settlements csnters here.
Well paid for our trip we boarded the
Seattle train at ILLS for return trip.
Il. +. NJ.