The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-01-01
EXTENSION.
1 Year Of Large RaiIIDad
Development
All Lines Heading TBEafd
Elliltt Bar.
Ndlu6S DSlFIdlGG fuI
Soon at Hand.
Plans of thp (" Iskp ShOFp !"
Company.
Extension Of Roads Through
- Al, Tl,rr.t,rxv
Extension Of Roads Through.
ont the Territory.

Washington Territory j. acquiring q
railroad system 81 great magnitude
and q national importance. Owing
to its remoteness from the great CEN
tiers OF population and wealth. and to
the consequent slowness Of it, earlier
development. but listIe progress was
made in railroad building during the
first half Of our fhirty-six years Of ter
ritorial experience. In fact, only Eve
miles Of road were actually constructed
and in operation Is years ago. These
Eve miles belonged to the old Oregon
Steam Navigation Company. They
were al the Cascades, and they formed
a valuable link Of the company's Co
iumbia river transportation system.
This little piece Of road, which made 4
mint Of money for is owners, went
cut 81 all but local use seven year,
ago, when the Oregon Railway & Nav
igation Company, xhich succeeded
the O. s. n. Co, built its liHe OF road
on The south side 81 the Columbia
from Portland 70 Waliula The North
ern Pacific Company, which had been
chartered in 1864, and given a grant OF
1905, 90 acres Of land. began TO oper-
ate in the territory IN 1870. Its agents
entered the field and began 20 lag
pias for the future The country was
written up. 10 assist in the sale OF
bonds, and surveyors we're put at
work locating route. The following
year definite beginning was
made az kalama, on the Columbia
river, and construction inaugurated
q twenty-five-inil section 81 road up
the COwlitz valley being built. heading
for the east shore Of Puget Sound
This was followed, In ls72, by a forty
mile section through the ChehAlis
country, terminating al Tenino.
Another forty mile section was begun
in 1873 This led through the counties
OF Thnrston and Pierce, and ended IN
FuyalIup valley. The failure OF Jay
Cooke and succeeding embarrassment
OF the company. compelled the latter
to alter its Intention. and 10 seek an
immediate terminus on Puget Sound.
The nearest and most convenient point
was at the town Of Tacoma. and there
the company went with its road, COM.
December, Just in time 10 saTe break
ing one OF the terms Of its charter
The company was required 20 build
Is miles the first year and 40 miles
each subsequent year towards IFS wet
ern terminus on Paget Sound. The
forty-mi section 81 is78 would have
carried the road h Seattle This was
looked upon as the terminal point.
and IL h safe 10 assert that had the
Cooke failure been delayed q few
months longer Seattle would have been
tbs terminus and Seattle would TO-DAY
have been city Of 100 ep0inhahitants.
and thu great business center o. the
vast North Pacific region. II was not
10 be. however, aRd the people.
after partial recovery from the shock,
set about repairing the drainage. Com
panies were Organized in Seattle Olym.
pia and Walla Wslla 10 build railroads.
and after stupendOus efforts ID these
weak communities the roads we're
built. The Northern Pacific and o. II.
& n. companies alse built later. fol
lowed by other roads, until nos IN the
the Territory there are i40D miles 81
railway. Forty years ago none Of the
states had SO many miles OF railroad
as Washington has nov. and so years
ago only four Of the states had 50 great
a mileage. Ten years hence bat few .
Of the states will have SO many miles 1
rs Washington will then have
In California and Oregon the build F.
ing and ownership OF railroad Is CON (
fined 10 a few persons and companies:
in Washington. on the contrary. they /
are the work and the property OF
many. This Is certainly better and
much more satisfactory a. the people.
insuring competition and more
healthy condition OF trade, There are
n number OF sub-systems OF road, in
the Territory. and the territorial sys-
tenn. as whole. will tee considered IN
this article in sections. each section de-
noting one OF these sub svstems.
Chief among these, OF course. l.