The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-10
ANOTHER SHORT CUT.
Proposed Belt Line for the
Great Northern.
TO ENTER BY LAKE WASHINGTON.
Lips BY the Msdssen street Draw and
Through Beacon HflI-Nsw Onion
Pacific Prosldont.

A scheme il being quietly worked in the
interest OF the Great Northern for the con-
struction of . belt line through the eastern
part of the city and by tunnel under
Beacon hill to the termina. grounds on the
tide fats.
This line 10 projected n part Of the Seat
tie 4 Northeastern, Of which John Leary
and Judge Thomas Burke are the fathers
and which is generally understood to be
intended ~ . Great Northern cutoff. 1t
would branch of from the proposed new
lire north OF the portage between Lakes
Washington and Union, cross the Lake
Washington outlet by a bridge and, after
running along tho lake shore for short
distance, would pass almost due south
along the low draw which is crossed by
the long trestle on the Madison street
cable road. After crossing Jackson street
IL would swerve westward rs far rs the old
McAleer ranch near the Hill brick yard
and then would pass through Beacon hill
by either tunnel or an open cut to the
terminal grounds on the tide flats.
1t 10 understood that the projectors OF
the line have for some time been quietly
acquiring right-of-way through the prop
erty to be traversed, which includes the
forty-acre tract of the Leary-Collins Land
Company north of Madison street. They
have also been buying adjoining property.
either for the road or for themselves in
dividually.
The route Of this line is the one sug-
ges,ed by Lieut.. A. B. Wyckof, OF the
navy, as a good one for new railroad av-
enue, which would meet the many objec-
tons TO the location of all the railroad
tracks on the water front. All through
trains could enter and leave the city by
this line without blocking the way to the
wharves, and the cost of maintenance
would be much less than for a road over
pile trcstle exposed TO the ravages Of the
teredo. 1t would also make a consider
able saving in time. for it would be several
miles shorter than the line around Lake
Union to Ballard and then down the
water front. and trains could run at full
speed. as there would be no grade eros
sings of streets. such as would cause
constant interruptions to traffic on Rail-
road avenue. The cost OF the tunnel
would be to a large extent offset by its
affording material for filling in The piling
under the terminal tracks and ware
houses. The road would allow the carry
ing Of passengers residing in the eastern
part Of the city to point very near their
homes, would build mp a suburban traffic
and would give the Great Northern access
to Lake Washington close to the outlet of
the proposed ship canal. While this line
would be used for through business and
passenger trains. the four tDacks on Rail-
road avenue would serve for the delivery
of freight to the wharves and warehouses
along the water front and for transferring
it to other roads.
Preliminary surveys have already been
made along the shore of Union bay, and
every preparation is being made for the
letting of contracts a. soon as the right-of-
way and franchise are secured.