Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-07-22
THE sNoQUALMaE WAGON ROAD.
OLYMPIA. July IL, 1884.

OLYMPIA, July IL, 1854.
EDITOR PosT-IsrELLIoKNcER:
Ii may seem at first sight little out
of line for q man OF my calling 10
talk to the people of your city on any
business matter. Every Puget Sounder
knows that the property owners and
hasiness men of Seattle do not need
instruction in that which pertains to
their financial interests. Bat even "a
travelling missionary" may sometimes
find out facts which only need to be
known by such men as those who have
made Seattle the commercial metropo-
lis Of this new Northwest. to be utilized
for the great advantage of all who NAV
have any connection with them.
The foregoing il introductory to
few hints and facts connected With the
SuoQualmIs wagon road. Take map
of the Territory, and yen will see that
Lake kitchelass, cut of which hows the
Yakima river, lies within three or four
miles OF the summit OF Snoqualmie
Pass. From this lake to Ellensburg. a
distance of sixty miles, there Is fine
wagon road. Between forty and fifty
miles of the King county end of the
road, terminating in Seattle, is Also
quite respectable thoroughfare.
though not averaging as good as the
eastern end. This leaves only from
fifteen to twenty miles of the road An
unfinished trail Wagons have passed
over even this part of the way, but how
they did it / cannot understand. The
broken wheels, seats, etc, scattered
along the trail indicate that ssme wag-
ons have not been able to endure the
trials of the trip. In the building Of
bridges, clearing and grading the hn-
ished portions of their highway, the
Snoqualmie Wagon Road Conpanv
have already spent over $4,000,
and they have force OF men
now at work, costing them
fifty dollars per day, more or less. The
probability 10 that their funds will run
ont and the worst part OF this road be
left unfinished. unless the people OF Sc
attle and King county take hold OF the
enterprise.
might give many reasons Why your
business men should take an interest
in the matter. Ii will suffice. however,
to say that the beautiful valley OF kitti-
tas, With the town of Ellensburg. and q
population of over $500 souls, are within
about 100 miles, little mere or less, OF
Seattle. The trade Of those people and
of valley capable of sustaining 5000
souls in now going TO The Dalles, $50
miles, more or less, and TO Portland. ~
miles further. The Ssauk Peshastin
and other gold mining districts are at
tracsinE sRarchers for the precious met
ais. BY looking again at the map you
will see that a ride Of 30 miles from
Ellensburg. only $50 miles or there
ahou,s fro "a Seattle, will take you 10 the
| Columbia river. The trade of that river
! for 100 miles above the rapids can be
directed te your city, IL not by the wa
gcn road being properly opened ana
| graded. certsinly by a narrow gage rail-
road, which can be built and equipped
| for about 5000 per mile, and operated
| for less than half the expense OF run
ming q standard gage. Part OF this
road, a. far a. Newcastle, IL already
built. The fev thousand dollars need
ed to finish a good wagon read will
open YOU trade which may more than
douely repay the outlay in a very short
time. I am not talking at random IN
this matter. / have ridden over the
line, and | know that no trade can be
opened between Ellensburg and Seattle
until this road is finished IN asod
shape. But once that Is done see no
reason why the supplies OF merchandise,
etc, fer all that fertile valley should
not be furnished by Seattle. The burn
inc question Of the day in Ellensburg
is, "Mhat are you going 70 do about tF
J. R. THoxPsox.