The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-06
ROAD TO THE NORTH.
Country Along the New Lake
Shore Line Described.
THE BEAUTIES or ITS SCENERY.
Chanrs wrought in Tear In the NORTH
err Sound Country-Rfch Valleys
Opened to Settlement.

The opening for operation Of the Seattle,
Lake Shore Il Eastern railroad 20 the
BOUNDARY, which will take place in little
more than q week, will mark an epoch IN
the history Of the Sound country in gen.
eral and Seattle in particular. Until the
construction of that road began, the coun-
frv north of Seattle was forest broken
only by clearing at long intervals, where
some settler had penetrated through the
leafy gloom and taken up his solitary
habitation, or where logging camp had
been established on the banks of some
river. The shore of the Sound was dotted
with towns, a. were the banks OF the
rivers up to the head of navigation. But
between Lake Washington and the Sno-
homish, the Snohomish and the stilia-
euamish, the stillaguamish and the Skagit,
the Ekagit and the Nooksack were broad
stretches Of country where the voice OF
man never mingled its music with that OF
the rushing river and the signing Of the
mournful frs. The settlers lined the
shores Of the Sound and the rivers with
their cabins, but few advanced into the
Uncomfortable woods or climbed the tower
ing foothills.
Tho reason was plain-thcre were no
Yoads. The roads followed the streams,
and only left them TO cut across point
around which the water nieandered. At
Ynre intervals the trail led through the for
est from one valley TO another. bat few had
occasion to use them.
It can safely be said that there were
railroads as soon rs there were wagon roads
cutting across the country from one valley
into another. The Lake Shore road was
built TO Snohomish and put in operation
in 1855. and string of Furnishing towns
soon grew up along it. In 1900 construc-
ton was resumed from point six miles
beyond Snohomish, and has since beer
pushed with incessant energy, until now
steel rails stretch continuously from Sc
ettie to the boundary at Sumas. and only
four and one-haif miles of track remain to
be built in order TO connect the Canadian
Pacific with it,
Tho period of little over year occupied
IN the construction of the road has wit
messed a marvellous change along the
route, At the beginning of that period
there was not q town along the whole line
north of Snohomsh. The only signs of
human habifasion found by the locating
engineers were the cabins of settlers on
the hillsidcs or in the level valleys at wide
intervals. Some well-culivated ranches
we're found in the Skagit, Nooksack and
6umas valleys, but there was hardly set
Element in sight along the Stillaguamish
valley, for the road crosses that river
ADORE the head Of navigation. and thus
the easiest means of transport was not
available.
wv u r. 4 !.
length and breadth with prosperous little
towns, and the forest rings with the sound
Of axe and saw and the buzz ofthe saw
mill These towns are not mere collec-
lions of cabins, but are starting in life
with many of the resources of civilization.
They usually have commodious hotel. a
number Of comfortable frame buildings,
nicely painted and furnished, and the
main street and sidewalks planked. Every
station has a neat station-honse which
would be a credit to many OF the smaller
towns Of the Eastern states. and has a
oeretch of side track, while numerous spurs
run 70 logging camps aud saw mills. All
these towns industries will furnish good
local business to the road ct the outset.
eyen before a train has run over the
northern end for other than construction
purposes.
leaving the thriving city of Snohomish,
the road runs northward, up the Pilchuck,
one OF the tributaries OF the Snohonish.
through valley which is generally level,
though sometimes broken by knobs and
shut in by high, steep ridges, which some
times close IN and leave only narrow
level stretch of country between them, at
others retreat, allowing the valley to widen
out 70 respectable proportions. Wherever
the hills leave gap. view of the distant
peaks Of the Cascades can be obtained.
In this valley are the towns of Dubuque.
Machias and Hartford, all showing signs
Of active, vigorous life. On the summit.
between the Snohomish and Stillagiamish
valleys, twelve miles from Snohomish. is
the town of Getchell where, rs one invet-
crate punster said, "You stop TO gctchel-
lunch" Near this spot and on the divide
II Lake Cassidy. body OF clear water
which drains chiefly into the Stillaguam-
ish, though it also helps to feed the Sno-
hOnish.
Then comes the descent into the Stiila.
gramish valley. So gradual as TO be almost
tmperceptibie to the average traveller.
The train runs GA between thiekiy wooded
bluffs through valley probably two miles
wide at most parts, passing Edgcomb. a
large lumber camp. until the Stillaguamish
Is reached. Here is Arlington. town q,
good beginnings, which occupies A level
flat ON the east side of the road. and a tor.
race rising above il. little further ON.
nesting on the bank of the river. is Hal.
Ter City, rival of Arlington. The road
an Is L..
She view ON the east, while lower bur
equally abrupt ridge forms wall on the
west. Pilchuck creek is crossed, and then
Its east fork is followed until the chain O,
lakes where it has its source is reached.
These lakes are Of similar formation "a
the greater lakes nearer Seattle. and make
the name of the road apply with eonal tit.
ness To It's northern and eastern branches
Their great depth and the ahrnpt fall al
their beds short distance from the shore
show them 10 have formed in wide assures
IN the rocks which were deposited here nv
rrehiatoric commissions. First comes B,r.
gle lake, near which is BRYANT station
then Lake McMurray. fine body of wate,
one and one-half miles long. This lake i
- rather irregular shape and unknown
0fpih, having been sounded 10 a ,icpth a,
1u feet without hottom. Its on the sum.
nit, between the Skagit and Ssillaguamish
and drains both ways. On one side The
bills rise rather abruptly. but "a no srea,
height. while the other bank. which stones
gradually Is sktried closely i,y the railroad
The town Of McMarray lies ut one side with
3 sasmlil ah the bank and a rich store nj
stsndlag timber all around. Several
lilies further on is Big lake. so called he.
esNse u Is tile largest Of the chain. being
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