The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-08
rusnING MONTE CRIsTo ROAD

efsding Forces Rapidly Extending-A
scenic Route Surpassed by Mono.
Work on the Everett & Monte Cristo
abroad is being pushed as fast as the en-
6neezs make the final location and the
. now will allow. The party under Chief
Ixngineer Barlow was, when last heard
| kom few days ago, encamped about five
lniles this side of the summit. between the
puth fork of the Stillaguamish and the
ruth fork of the Sank, and at that point
men are opening up the trail through
NOW four to six feet deep. It will be two
! 8 four weeks before the surveyors can
complete the new preliminary survey to
ne Monte Cristo camp. They are being
SLOWED closely by the locating party and
| tie latter by the gang of workmen who
sre building the ''tolt" road, that is. q
road of split cedar planks. This road il
being built very solidly, as If it were in
tended to be used for all time, instead Of
during the two or three months during
(which it will be needed for hauling IL :Sap-
Eplies A regular stage line Is running
Sser it.
] The road runs from Hartford, on the
Lake Shore road. across the ridge between
the Pilchuck and the south fork of the
edllaguamish to the valley of the latter
6nResm. 1t then runs up the south fork
(lynst Granite Falls, which is seven miles
nom Getchell, through q series Of canyons
until it reaches the summit of the ridge
btveen the south fork of the Stilla.
euamish and the south fork of the Sank,
bur miles along the mountain side over
boxing the south fork of the Sank to the
Monte Cristo mines. Through the cam
ypns there is some heavy rockwork and
tunneling. the roadbed having to be cut
through the spurs running to the river
nd bridged across the intervening ravines.
Where the valley broadens out at its lower
md there is rich agricultural and timber
Ind. which will be developed by the road.
1hs summit will probably have to be
crossed BY tunnel, though the road may
uoss over the ridge without one. From
that point up the Sank 20 the mines the
line will wind along the mountain side.
The wagon road is completed from
SGetchell to Gold Basin, distance Of
Itventy-seven miles. and along that point
d the line large forces of men are grading
h the earth work and blasting rock and
tunneIing in the canyons. Smith Bros.
have the contract from the summit to the
mines, and their work il very heavy.
They are encamped at the summit with
large force of men ready to 60 to work a.
soon as the surveying party reaches
them from the Stillagaumish side. They
have to cut road through the rock along
the side of the mountain and their work is
alternate stretches of cutting through
ridges of rock and trestling over the inter-
vening gullies. They sent up thirty-fivsN
men yesterday.
The road will rival the Canadian Pacific
Through the Selkirks or the Denver & Rio
Grande through the Rockies in the grand
sur of its scenery. From the summit
lpown to the StilIaguamish valley there
will be series of surprises to the traveller
|-sbrupt turns in the road, waterfalls
|dsshing into spray from towering cliffs,
|sudden plunges into tunnels. At inter.
sals the old mountain trail will be visible.
where pack-trains wound up steep ascents.
At one point it crosses the river on
pant fir tree which was felled across the
hnyon and forms bridge sixty feet long
etween the walls.
The railroad forces are advancing up the
me as fast as the wagon road is built, and
Don will be at work for the whole distance.