The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-18
THE ANGELES ROAD.
Subsidy Nearly Raised and Con-
struction Soon to Begin
WHAT THE FERRY WILL SAVE.


the Fort Angeles ralifOaG ana Terry. was
in the city yesterday. In outlining the
plans of the syndicate headed by John F.
Plummer, Of New York, which ID project
ing the road. he said:
The bonus 10 we'll advanced and with due de-
auctions for exaggerated values the probable
smount already raised II about $275,oo0 1t 10
b completed within ten days and that work
viii b commenced within thirty dsys after.
The bonds for the subsidy are taken IN such
way thst they do mot tie mp the land, but - re-
ceiyed they are placed In escrow, conditioned
upon the company fulfilling the agreements.
These bonds com pei the company to begin work
before July l. 1893, and 10 complete the road
ready for operation BY April l, 1894
The ferry feature 10 . necessity forced upon M
BY the conditions, being the alternative Of
building line down Hood canal Tho actual
distance by ferry IL twenty miles Our estimate
Of the cost OF its operation and maintenance,
based upon figures furnished ua BY railroads
actually operating ferries, 10 about 10 cents .
ton for transfer across the Sound. II the traffic
allows rs to carry loaded cars both ways with
daily trips Small business, however, incident
upon the undsveloped condition Of the country
10 expected at frst and the cost IL therefore es-
timsted higher accordingly. But the unlimited
amount OF shingles, lumber. fish, coal and other
products Of the country give the company Q
basis for figuring upon future profit
"What is the object Of hauling freight
forty-fve miles by rail and twenty miles
by ferry" Mr.. Barnes was asked. when
the distance which these products would
have to be carried by steamer direct from
Port Angeles is so little more than the dis
lance by ferry7" He replied:
The actual distance by steamer IL about
ninety. five miles, much of which 10 through the
rough water of the Straits, as compared with our
total distance oil sixsy-fve miles. BY our road
We take short cut and effect saving in time
and cost OF transportation. The present fast
steamer makes the trip in nine hours, while our
total time win be two and one-half hours, a saw
ing Of six and one half hourA We do not pro-
pose TO ferry passenger cars across the Sound,
but shall run n separate fast steamer for passen.
gers In addition to the saving of time il must
De remembered that steamers are frequently I'M
able u run ON the Straits on account OF rough
weather. and passengers are at nearly all times
subject to seasiekness. This faster time also as.
sures Us the mail contract, amounting to about
10000 year at present.
The belt of country through which we run
averages twelve miles wide, besides the great
extent OF timber aud mineral lands stretching
sotibward into the mountains. The best lands
Tor timber and minerals lie well inland and it
IL Impossible to develop these resources except
by railroad such as ours running back through
them. We touch salt water only at the head OF
the deep bays which indent the Coast line. But
most oil ALL the ability to load these products ON
cara which eau be transferred to transconti.
mental tracks without rehandiing is absolutely
necessary Tor their development, ~ the principal
saving will be in the avoidance of breaking
bulk for transfer from steamer 20 railroad Tho
present necessity for rehandiing makes il i'm
possible Tor tho cedar of the country 70 be
at.4 xrxs<tE A~s AAx.t
Angeles to Everett for the amount per ton of
the present wharfage charges. namely, IS to IS
cents. The fish from Cape Fiattery Is ut present
transferred from fishing schooners TO steamers
at figures depending upon tho mercy of the
brokers and taken by them chiefly to Tacoma,
where II il shipped East In cold storage We
will handle that whole business a. Port Ange-
les, the schoonsrs coming there with their catch
aud the fishermen being sbis to ship East with
out the Intervention Of broker. Forty to fifty
fshing boats 80 out to the cape In the season
and the business would amount to several car.
loads . day.
BY means OF this ferry. also. We can transfer
from Seattle or Everett empty cars to the great
mill rorts Of Blakeey. Gamble. Utsaiady aud 9TH
ers lying upon the west side of the Sound aud
transfer thcss cars loaded with lumber ana
shingles back again, thus giving them slso en-
trance In, the Eastern market
"A criticism have heard" said the re-
porter. rs that with the high tides of the
Sound you will require an extraordinarily
long apron to connect with the Terry
boat" TO this Mr.. Barnes said:
The tides Of tho Sound are no, so great as
those OF the Dozen or more ferries OF the samo
character on Eastern coasta
Would it not be cheaper" it was asked.
ito build scows with railroad tracks on
them aud tow them across the Sound
than to have regular ferry boat2" The
answer Was:
We have figured upon both methods and IND
that steamer transfer Is cheaper 70 operate and
easier To handle We do not intend To build n
costly ferry boat. such rs that oil the Northern
Pacific on the Columbia river, because IL is in
tended Simply for freight and not for passen-
gers IL VAL be merely a strong, servlccaele
scow or barge. with propeliing power, the pas.
senesrs being transferred to fss. steamers which
Will carry no freight
The road will ultimately DO extended in a
westerly direction Inland through the rich and
extensive Quillaya,e country to tue ocean. de.
yeioping section cut of by mountain ranres
from toe straits aud dehcient OF any port upon
the Pacific ocean.
In reply to a question as to what coal
had been found on the straits, Mr. Barnes
said:
We have carefully rrospected the coal 70.
sources oi tho country aud as a result hsyn
bonded TIVE extensive properties which We VIII
develop. Upon Que Of these properties there Ia
hve-iooi vein outcropping Ola the surface for a
distance OF mile. la quality it is a bard, clean
coal suitable 10; steam aud manufacturers mr.
poses We eau hsai iAis coal 10 Everett with
cut breaking bulk much cheaper than any other
coat can b. laid down there, thus supplying the
manufacturing establishments and the Great
Northern railroad. There ara also nron the
line of the road immense quantities of COPPER
iron. plumbagc, slate, other building stone and
possibility ei gold aud silver III paying GUAM
titles.
''lt has been alleged by some parties :"
said the reporter. that the road was only
a townsite booming scheme" To this Mr..
Barnes replied;
We have bonded aud, as soon IS the snhs,.ir 4.
complete will complete the purchase OF soyna
NECESSARY terminals. some timber and coal
laad. Other than sais the conpsay ucs she In.
dtyidnai members OF Il. do NOT own foo; OF
land upon the peninsula The company sxsst
Tor railroad purposes alone.
THE SLOW ALASKA MAIL
Juneau Paper fnterestteg Itaeif ia the