The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-07-28
INSPECTED BY MIR. HILL.
Tho Great President Goes Over
the W0Ktarn Extanninn.

The Great N0rthern's Preside ont Goes Over
the Western Extension.
President James Hill of tho Great North
ern railway arrived in Seattle last Satur.
day. having accomplished quite a phsnom-
email trip over the Cascade ranRe for = man
Of his years. On his way westward from
st. Paul. he determined to personally in
speot the route of his ret enterprise, the
methods actually employed in penetrating
the wilderness of mountains and to satisfy
himself the progress of the construction
WIS all that had been reported.
In company with Z. II. Beoklsr. chief
engineer. and Peter Sims, Of Shepard. Sims
d Co., who have tho contract for construo-
ton from HAVE west to the Summit, Mr..
Hill set out for E%llensburgh. leaving his
private car to proceed to Seattle over the
three found its way to Wenatchee OH the
Columbia river. where the road CROSSES that
waterway.
Track laying is progressing from Spokane
wost at the present time at tho rate of two
and one-half miles a day, and when tho
the present force employed will lay four
miles of track daily. This will bring the
-oad to the river at Wenatchee in the first
week of September. The transfer boat
bridge is completed is now there ready for
seryice.
Mounting three hardy animals, the in.
psction party left tho river behind them
I four a. m. last Wednesday to face a jour
aey of IT'S miles through mountain pass
taken when the roadbed was not passable.
the wagon road was utilized where conven-
lent and the marrow avenues followed by
miners to the diRgines were resortsd to in
order to keep as CLOSELY US possible to the
route of the roadbed. Until eight O'Clock
that AvAninO thA riHnfp nr0rQo6A6 IN THAR
romantic but lonesome way. Sixteen hours
ride, which would have to be taken to be
fully appreciated for its lack of boulevard
smoothness, brought them to an engineers
camp y he,o they tented for the night. a-
shortly after dayb. esk Thursday. with a
breakfast of bread, bacon and beans to
cheer their courage into forgetting the soft
places the saddles had made, they set out
afresh. repeating. Practically the expsr-
fences of the previous day and riding until
light to reach the second camp.
Friday morning found the travellers on
their way down the west slope Of the mount
ain barrier, heading for Sultan City. which
was reached at $3.50 in the afternoon.
Woo President and General Manager
Shelby had gone to Snohomish Friday to
meet M. Hill. having received word from
him that he wOnld arrive there that after
noon. But after calculating the distance
from Wenatchee and the terrible character
OIL tu0 VTlp, u WHICH ne WUb INFORMED DY u
gentleman who had made the journey, be
made up his mind that Saturday afternoon
would be a mo!e probable time to expect
the president. 10 his great surprise. how
ever. Mr.. Hill M his fellow travellers rode
up to the hotel at eight O'Clock in the even
ing, q tritle weary. but ready to push on BY
boat to Everett, whach was accordingly
done.
At the whalebaok town tho presidents
special train was waiting, having found its
way to that point while its principal usual
occupant was picking his steps across the
range. Much of the distance was made on
foot by Nh. Hill, in order to give closer
scrutiny to particular places and at times
avoiding = header down deolivities in the
trail.
Mr.. Hill was thoroughly satisfied with
the result of his inspection. He remarked
that he encountered timber tho like of
which he had never seen, and az for seem
cry he pronounced it surprisingly rich in
grandeur, which will add an inviting at
traction to the road for tourists. Every
whore along the route the work 10 being
pushed with all speed, there being bat fonr
miles of the whole line whore work has not
commenced.
I'm 100 days." said President Hill. '!he
Great Northern will be running trains
from Lake Superior to Seattle over a line
that will. transport the products of this
state to the eastern markets at rates that
will enable the producers to trade at CUT
rent pricss."