, 1889-03-14
A GREAT COUNTRY
Traversed by the Seattle, Lake
Shore Il Eastern.
Chain Of Pretty Lakes that Chal-
lenge Comparison.
rhs snoauslmis Falls which Mako .
Plunge Downward of27a Fest-On
to spokane Falls.

The Seattle correspondent of the San
Francisco Chronicle writes TO that paper:
A few miles east OF Seattle are three ex.
tremey pretty and picturesque lakes, by
name Union, Washington and Squak.
These lakes are all connt ctd, making
chain of water nearly fifty miles In length.
Along the shores of these lakes, in and
out. around sharp curves and over trestles
runs the Seattle, Lake Shore Il Eastern
railway, a finely equipped road which will
in Che near future tap the Northern Pacific
at Spokane Falls. The workmanship on
this road has been of the finest, and the
roadbed and rolling stock are equal TO any
this road is completed 10 the Cascade
mountains, and the round trip from Seat
tie can be made very nicely in a day.
Leaving Seattle small engine pulls the
train over a three-mile trestle to Smiths
cove. where large locomotive takes the
place of the liliputian, which is only used
in crossing the trestle. AS the train skirts
the shore Of the sound beautiful view is
presented to the eye. The various milling
ports and Indian villages are plainly seen,
while in the background the snowcapped
Olympic range of mountains rise up
maiesticaliy, and as the morning sun
breaks upon them the scene Is SIMPLY in
describable.
At Smiths cove are situated the round
house and machine shop OF the railroad
company. From the cove the road runs
through a three.mile stretch of thick tim
ber untilFremont, situated on the Lake
Union is reached. Here Is shown the in
domitablc pluck and uuceasing courage OF
the Westerner, for but eight months ago
this was but wilderness with trail lead.
l. - A In ,a
thriving village Of over one hundred build.
ings.
Leaving Lake Union the road runs
through pretty country. At short
intervals clearings are seen, where young
healthy farms are springing up. The soil
is very rich and specially adapted to the
raising of fruit. In few minutes the
road reaches the shores of Lake Washing
ton, which it follows up for thirty miles.
This lake is a grand body of inland water.
the surrounding scenery having no equal
on the coast. At one point the snow
covered
CASCADE RANGE
is seen, but only for moment, as the
foreground is soon obscured by dense for
ests.
After leaving Lake Washington the
road runs through very extensive tim mber
utlJ. ut supply VI sptuCCt CCodI anu III
is said to be inexhaustible. In the center
Of this Delt is located Windsor, a large
lumber camp. The mill is kept running
constantly day and night. A few miles
above Windsor is Snohomish junction.
Here the traveller changes cars for Sno-
homish City, u thriving young town six.
teen miles to the n-rth, containing about
1000 inhabitants.
The Snohomish branch was built about
year ago by an Eastern syndicate to con-
meet with the Canadian Pacific, but was
Shore & Eastern bought Il for 81 and as
sumed all liabilities. With this purchase
also went the right of way to a connection
with the Canadian Pacific. Ii is now
good paying branch Of the main line.
Within a year when the gap is finished
between the eastern and western divisions
of the Seattle, Lake Shore a. Eastern
Railway and the branch line is COM
pleted from Snohomish to the Canadian
Pacific, the work of which is now going
on. two means of communication will be
open between st. Paul and the East and
Seattle. 1t is now rumored that the Ore.
troll this road, but the rumor has not been
verified as yet.
Leaving Snohomish junction the road
runs through
sQUAK VALLEY,
an exceedingly rich valley about eight
miles long. and then reaches Squak lake,
which it follows up for a dozen miles.
The shore of the lake Is lined with saw
mills. This lake is peculiarly situated.
forming perfect letter IS" A prettier
and much more appropriate name for this
lake would be Mirror lake, as it is per-
fectly mirror-like in appearance. Squak
lake is connected with Lake Washington
by Squak slough. thus forming long
stretch of water, as Lake Union is con.
nected with Lake Washington by a canal
ene-quarter of mile.
In Squak valley hop.raising is carried
on quite extensively, also wOol-growing.
At the head of the valley is situated the
town of Gilman, tie largest town on the
main line, forty-three miles from Seattle,
and containing 600 inhabitants and only q
year old.
Here are situated the coal mines of the
Seattle Coal Il Iron Company. They are
exceedingly rich and inexhaustible Four
veins are being worked with daily output
Of go tons; 240 miners are employed here.
all of whom have homes at Gilman. This
company also have one vein at Grand
vein was opened last October. and
has been worked With good results ever
since.
From Gilman to Fall City the road is up
a steady grade of 100 feet 10 the mile. and
here begins the ascent of the Cascade
mountain. Fall City ia the present termi.
nus OF the road, and is four miles from
Snoqualmie Falls. These falls are the
erandest in Washington territory. They
are 272 feet high. and are gaining very
enviable reputation. The road win be
completed to the falls this summer, when
a great number of tourists are expected.