The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-02
THE SLATE CREEK ROUTE.
etrongiy Approved by j. i. Donovan
tho Weii-knOwn Contractor.

the Weii-Known Contractor.
whascom. March ]. - SpeciaL-"The
acknowledgements representation OF the
difsculties that must be encountered
mould the legislature adopt the route out
lnsd By the Hutchinson bill for the pso-
posed state road across the Cascades Is
entirety correct said Engineer J. j. Dom
cvan. Il do not believe the disadvantages
OF the Cascade pass route have been TN
TIC least degree exaggerated by the sup
por.ers OF the Harpsr-conner bill have
stated that the Cascade pass Is feasible
for railroad. and IL fs. by the cousrruc-
tiea OF a tunnel about two miles long.
bat IT Ii entirely impraeticabie for any
sort Of road over the summit, There
are nos only dangerous rock slides on the
steep and tagged slopes but there ere
glaciers ana vast snow banks which are
i serious menace to life and limb at all
seasons OF the year. Even the Boston
mine. the best known mineral property
in the Cascade district. and close to the
present trail. lies mt the very edge of
glacier. And IL Is true. also, thai stiii
greater obstacles would nc encountered
on the east side should an attempt be
made to build TO the Methow by crossing
The great wall of rugged mountains IN
tfrvening between that stream and the
Rtehekin. which heads In the Cascade pass
and flows into Lake Cheian.''
MIR. Donoyan's statements are fully sub
uantiated not only by the reports OF the
tnginerrs who surveyed the Cascade pass
rnder his Instructions but also BY The
report of the expedition of Lieut. Pierce.
rsferred to In the Post -fnteIligencef. and
As siiii later report OF Lieut.. James A.
Ikyden of the exploration made by him
10 jane. 1883. by order of the general COM
haniing the department of the Columbia
OF shs legged pass from the Methow
70 shs Ssshekiu river. by way of the
Txii2R llfnt. LesdeD says: ut Is DIFF
fssat 10 imagine how animals were taken
deg re mountain from the top OF the
pass 10 the head OF Lake chelan. The
sanzansal distance from the top to the
tdss Of the lake Is barely two miles, yet
as there Is a difference OF more than a
nils n altitude. some idea OF the steep
ness OF The trait can be gained. The trail
ssgsaxs down this blur for distance OF
nns miles TO overcome the height The
dimealties that attended the descent were
sery great Jagged and slipry rock, wind
hiifh timber. dust filled with sharp frag-
nshss Of stone. prccipsces that could not
avoided. were so mixed together that
re adequate description can be given
me route Is not a practicable one. and
shiie the present trail Gag be improved,
WEI never have any Significance as a
Ahe OF communication To the head of the
lake"
VI the Cascade pass across the main
ts5ge the same report says: THE fass
not impossible at the present time
uane N: II Ii dangerous and impracti-
saeie' much cutting Is required on the
sAseaae side, aud the absence of grass
= she most serious obstacle From capt.
isetess report and from the description
tsssh n4e by MIR. Rouse. who had been
ever The trail To the Skagit several times
ieAfned that there Is no grass in the
Ahoie distance from the PASS TO the
tass. The Mr.. Rouse referred TO Is
PROBABLY ere Of the Rouse Bros. who
fssseed ihe Boston mine. which was a.
eae tine bonded TO ~. l.. Downs, now
p'ssiden' of The Blue Canyon coaa co,sl-
fany here.
Ake eohclasiens reached by Lieut. l.,y-
go are strongly confirmed by the diary
ifip fvaught with much hardship
aa'''s asross the Cascade pass and the
aN3tSH trail So the Methew in July last
asssVilie Curtis. now mayor OF Ana.
ssFSeS. Numerous extracts frpnl this
su'fs' shaving The utter tmpracttcahlity
y senator Ila;eh,nsea's proposition, were
.~"''Saet 10 tAe Anacoyies American of
sf"'aafy = The statement that .sSsss 600
N0ad make The present Cascade pass
''a's Il good Wagon yoaa that would a..
eOsano3aie a slx-hosse team Is utterly
s'sfps'erous. II Il extremeIy doubtful
81 expenditure 81 that amount would
asaAe : possible for a six-horse team 10
cav an empty wagon over the summit
+ s,i}sumn,sr
soe dthculteS 10 he encountered upon
sae route outlined in the Hai-eer- CopAer
~ ere clearly st forth in aEc final re-
5s asft q ihe state road commission. which
reviewed A. considerable length liz
- feE5'ln'el. gencer spuse tiFle ago.
.Ss lap1'aiion that'the Slate creek route
1Fgsa in ;bc Interest OF the newly
seo'FFea Siaie creek mining claims il
s''esS uHVasTaased. whereas IL Is very
W. Known here that there waula be
.a'ese iasiAry1tioa FOR such a statement
ss's reference - the Cascade and che
.As Project. The slate creek discoveries
.s'e ho' iafjusrced iB any manner the
N'A's's''''Aai}o's as 20 that PORTION OF
1e route T1sete is already a GOOD out
- "Sm 'hcnce Jo the Mefhow. ard be-
~ any discoveries ~ consequence were
tsaes sasre the reports % engineers aa.i
ss@aSeys had fatty demonstrated the 81.
.Vs"f4iY ~ taas route over any other
s'a ne na7ath - Ruby creek. at the
s~~ OF Sk3elt S3nynr 70 she NatAax