The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-12
Highest of all Leavenng Pow--Laet Govt Report
R3>!aa!!! Rs'aR$
ABSOLUTELY PURE
arlv PARTY. The latter in their reply to

Early party The latter in their reply 10
Mr.. Donovan say.
in going up the North Fork and Ruth
creek we found a good trail running ior
distance of twenty miles, built py the
states commissioners last year, and we
could discover no reasons why tney
should not have continued the trail, as
farther along the route is as practicable
as that over which they have built. AS
regards the snow, the gentleman refers
US to the commissioners reports made
last year. We can place no reliance on
those reports. and We do not believe That
any one could who will go over the route
and see for himself. There is snow at the
flanagan pass. A camera can ne placed
there SO as to make picture or nothing
but snow. And again not moving IL one
yard from the spot, IL can be turned so
as to make a picture OF Gods green earth,
covered with large trees and other vege-
tation, in all appearances as though the
snow had been off for weeks, and along
there any sane person would locate the
trail so what the snow was last, or any
previous summer, we have no true knowl-
edge. We do know that ii is no lmpedi-
ment TO travel this season and what ii
will be next season or at any future
time, yoE we or any one else. have
as much knowledge of as those OF more
assumed Importance. What induced them
TO make report that the route was not
practicable we cannot conceive, unless
perhaps they saw the bear and had not
courage TO shoot il out of the way. 1t
has been openly remarked by numerous
ones that Whatcom had been sold out in
this trail matter We will not row say.
as much, but will say that If we were to
make a report SO erroneous as the one in
question, We would want to be paid we'll
for 1t. Again, the gentleman refers us
TO the elevation where the Great North
ern and Northern Pacific railroads cross
the range, and gives the elevation of the
roadhed and not of the summit, as one
reading would infer; however, that is
perhaps immaterial, as il is no more mis-
leading than others of his reports or
statements. The question is frequently
asked: What is there worth building
the trail for? Among others, the follow
ing answers may be given: That there
are good valley lands along the route
suitable for ranching: large amount of
fine timber such as fir. spruce, hemlock,
pine. cedar and the famous Alaska or
yellow cedar good mining prospects all
along, for If there are good mines in
Skagit county and in British Columbia
on the north, then why should there not
be mines between Skagit and British CO.
lumbia in this country? And II Will give
us a direct opening to the Okanogan
country and a four days journey to Ruby
and Slate creek mines by way of Hanne-
gan and Whatcom passes"
Mr. Donovan SAYS he does not care to
make any reply to the personal reflections
contained in the communication, and so
far as he is individually concerned he
dismsses the subject with the following
brief statement
THE photographs in the commissioners
report on the Hannegan pass are suffic-
tently numerous to refute the intirnation
that they are not fair, and examination
of any railroad or state map Will show
that the elevations | gave of other passes
are of the crest line exactly as stated.
Most of our people are familiar with the
railroad crossings of the mountains Few
have been in flanagan and Whatcom
passes. They will realize one phase of
the situation by comparison, remember
ing that flanagan pass is much nearer
tide water, and therefore has sharper as
cent and more snow than the others. the
elevations of which are as follows:
stampede pass Northern Pacific, 3,e93
feet: Stampede tunnel. Northern Pacific,
ESQ feet: Stevens pass, Great Northern.
1850 feet (no tunnel at present.: Selkirk
summit 1900 feet; Snoqualmie wagon
road, $40 feet.
Now the recent party to the Skagit
crossed flanagan pass at an elevation or
$500 feet then descended at least $500
feet, then climbed up again to an eleva-
ton Of $500 feet and then down Little
Beaver to the Skagit. The road commits
sion found the elevations slightly greater.
recommended a cutoff over a 4.0o0-foot
summit to Big Beaver. and its members
and cruisers. eleven men in all. were as
unanimous in condemnation as this sum-
mer's party is in approval of the route.
Comparisons with the roads and ele-
lions In Nevada. Montana and Colorado
where the mountains rise from great pla-
teaus and where the Coast range has .ak-
en- the moisture from the atmosphere. are
not in point. The passes given and the
various reports VIII enable persons inter-
ested to compare and judge as to the
facts"
The insinuation that "Whatcom has been
sold out in this trail matter is absurd.
unless. perchance. reference is made to
the appropriation OF 5000 made by the
county commissioners on the basis OF the
Austin report After all. there is no es-
santial difference between the report of
the Early party and that of Mr.. Root
only a wide difference OF opinion as 10 the
question Of practicablity. II may be ad-
visable TO build summer trail to the
Skagit for the benefit Of hunters, tourists
and prospectors, and very likely that will
be done with the aid of public spirited
business men.
TOILING UP RAINIER.