The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-02
BICYCLE TO TACOMA.
Rapid Transit Road to Be Built
This Summer.
RIeHT-oF-wAY ALL src,,vr,
IT VIII Run Along the Ridre-M.,,o,
OF CONFERENCE.-The whisky on
Great Northern Line.

The Washingier construct,on o.
which was Incorporated q few d.v. ann pa ....'
Organized ior the purpose of buildins, the ea.,,
tic, Tacoma & Portland railroad ~, -, 1,S -
bicycle system. The right-of-wav TO- ~ IN
from the head OF the bay to Tacoma ba. III 49,
sscuIea, ana tne hnai location will be made
aDou. ,ne middle OF April. Tho work of con.
siructon will begin early in june ana ~ - ~ y.
completed in one year -
The line has not yet been located ,b-o,,,x,, 81,
city ana plans have not been definitely ndopted.
but II Is proposed to run on elevated trscr,
through alleys, gradually descend 10 the street
level on the tide flats and run eue sonthwsrs
over route west OF Commercial street To the
head oil the bay. There either of t,vo cut,
may be adopted for a few rni,es-on. , acro.s
both kinnear's and Relloee's islands. and
across the river and up its west benk
the other across Kellogg's island. I'm the cast
oanK OF the river and across II at the first bend
AFTER ioiiowing one OF these routes. tho road
VIII ascend to the summit OF the ridge between
tne river and the Sound, and run along it in al
most a straight line through sunnvdaIe valley
about mile east OF Des Moines ana ncst stecle,s
lake 1t will descend from the heights to the
Fuyallup reservation near the Indian school.
cross the Northern Pacific road on a high bridge
near tho Indian mission. and then run west into
Tacoma. The total length of the road will be
between Twenty-Five ana thirty miles, and the
1AiihuAi sI"oe WIZ DC ia per cent, while
along the ridge it will be a dead Amos. the
whole distance
There VIII be two tracks, each OF single line
OIL steel rails. timber will be laid on tho
ground across the width OF both tracks at inter
walls Of twenty feet, and across these. lcngthwise
oil the track, l0xi2 inch stringers will
DO laid, to which the rails will DO
spiked. To each end OF the sils Will
be bolted upright timbers axIS inches and
eighteen feet high. with Axe inch braces These
uprights VIII be connected overhead by cap,
which VIII support Axe inch wooden guide
rail-, directly above each limo of rails. The cars
viii run on wheels under their center on the
single line OF rails and, when running on
straight track. viii be held upright by their own
impetus When rounding curves, however tho
cars will be held upright by two rubber wheels
affixed TO their roofs and running one on each
side OF the gnide-rail, while third rubber
wheel viii rcyolve against the under side of this
rail, pressing against IL and keeping i. in posi-
ticn. II is intended in the course OF few years
TO replace the timbers with steel superstructure
Steam power will be used, but ultimately cleo
tricity will be the motive power
II is intended to run mt least ten passenger
number will be increased TO twenty Local
trains will make the trip between the two cities
in an hour TO begin with. These trains Will not
run right through but train viii start stimuli
taneously from each end of the road. The two
will meet midway, transfer their through pass
engers and return. Fast trains will run right
through without stopping and make the trip in
forty minutes
Another road on the bicycle system is being
built from Chicago to Aurora, ILL.,, distance of
twenty three miles.