The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-26
GREAT NORTHERN SURVEYS.
Similkameen Pass Said to Be Most Feas-
ible-Work on Chillivhack Grade.

SUMAs, July 25.-lSpecial. THE depressed
state of the money market seems to have little
effect upon railway enterprises in the Lower
Sound and British Columbia region, il the pres
ence of right-of-way men and surveying parties
mean anything. A Whatcom paper last week
locally recorded the fact that Mr. r. Staight, who
is citizen of Lynden and an assistant of the
Great Northern in procuring its franchises, had
secured right-of-way from point on the Fair
haven Southern north of Ferndale to Lynden
aud thence TO the boundary east of sumas. An in
terview with Mr.. staight ELECTED the informa-
tion that right-of-way had been secured as far
as LINDEN and the line permanently located to
the Columbia valley east of Sumas Last year
three lines OF survey were made from Ferndale
to Sumas. +. A. Woods, OF the regular Great
Northern staff arrived here from Chilliwha hack
yesterday. He said there was no doubt of the
extension of the road to Sumas, but how soon
the work would be commenced he was unable
to say. He says grading at Chilliwhack had be-
gun and that full force would be at
work on the Chilliwhack Il sumas
railway by the end of the month.
Mr.. r. Green, one of the Central Pacific engi
neers, who was on board the the northbound
Central Pacific train yesterday, said he had re-
ceived orders from the management TO proceed
at once TO spence's bridge, at Cooks ferry, near
the Fraser river aud run line from there TO
the Nicola country, adjacent to the boundary
line, north of the okanogan country.
Ii has been well known here thar two Great
Northern parties have during the past winter
and spring been engaged in exploring and sur
yeying the mountainous region in Whatcom
county One OF the parties, on its return, passed
through here about month ago. The engineer
in charge expressed himself as being in favor of
the Similkameen pass, near the boundary line
He said: son the last 500 miles over the noun
tains to salt water through the Similkameen
pass double the number OF cars can be handled
by the same engine than by any other pass vet
discovered" He further stated that his grade
estimate corrssponded with those of the engi-
neer in charge of the other party, and that he
had confidence of this pass being accepted by
the company.
The route from the East to this pass would be
through the Okanogan mining and grazing
country, crossing ton the west side of the crest
OF the range) the skagit river where it runs in
southerly direction from its British Columbia
source, thence up Thunder creek around Mount
sheeksan, on the north side, down the valley OF
the north fork of the Nooksack, then by the Co
lumbia valley and the north pass to the main
valley which 10 near the tide-water level IL ID
well known that the Great Northern engineers
have met with extreme difficulties in all of the
southern passes which have been surveyed. II
ii be true that this pass is 100 per cent better
than any TO the south, IL is but reasonable 10
suppose that il viii be accepted, and especially
90 since lines have been run to the Columbia
valley.
In view OF the friendly relations existing be-
tween the Canadian Pacific and Great Northern
lines. the surveys being made and the examina-
ton OF the Chilliwhack and sumas prairie route
by Great Northern right-of-way men indicate
that British Columbia route is being seriously
considered road built over this route,
| though much longer, would traverse a vast
grazing and agricultural country the entire dis
| tance from the Columbia river to the sound
| The fact that thorough investigation OF the
possibilities of the northern country for a route
| for the main line is being made and that a
| Canadian Pacific connection will be established
M Sumas is beyond dispute.