The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-11-08

of the officials. ana the intefSS on WIT
rants OF which there are ABOUT $.se.ss"
outstanding has been allowed TO go by
defau1, Under these circumstances ex-
tensions of the road system have been out
of the question and any steps TO open new
country have been in the way of cutting
trails as necessity required During the
present year she road along the Methow.
from Gold creek TO the mouth OF the
Trts;. has been made by subscriptions Of
labor and supplies from the farmers. min
ers and Seattle merchants. but the orig
nal plan OF completing il through 10 Met
how City has fallen short OF execution
IL this gap were closed. the connections
between the Eastern Washington road
system and the state trail would De COM
pleted. and as soon as the state trall IS
wr1ened into a road wagons could go
through from Hamilton. west OF the sum-
nit 10 wenatchee. east of the summit
A road from Bridge creek, where IL would
conect with the state trail, down the Ste
hekin to the head of Lake Cnelan would
make that beautiful body of water Access
sible by team from the Sound and would
make the mineral on its mountains which
Is being developed by Seattle capital, tribu-
tary to the Sound The mines of Red hill.
at the head of the Chew all river. are also
being opened. largely by Seattle men. and
the extension of the road from Leaven-
worth into that district would hasten
stream of mineral TO the Sornd cities over
the Great Northern railroad.
The people of Okanogan county are par
ticuariy friendly to Seattle and would
gladly do a larger trade with this city.
They formerly dealt with Spokane. but
since that city became wrapped up In Its
investments In Trail creek, II has turned
the cold shoulder to Oklnogan and met
efforts 10 enlist capital in Okanogan
mines not merely with no encouragement.
but with positive disbursement This
has begotten a deep-rootel feeling of hos
tility to Spokane. Seattle. on the other
hand. has always been ready to lend
helping hand to promote the progress OF
the big county. The Post-Intelligencer's
enterprise in sending the writer through
the state to make known its mineral
wealth to the world met with general
commendation: the readiness with which
Seattle merchants subscribed Tor the
building of the Methow road was the sub
ject of favorable comment, as also were
the large investments of Seattle capital In
the mines of the Methow and Chelan dis
tricts. In almost every store IN tnat coun-
try the goods have the brands OF Seat
tie firms and the people were ready to
swear by Seattle as the greatest and most
enterprising city of the state. ITS place as
the metropolis being considered beyond
question. Such friend is worth tying TO.
for the trade. small as 1t may be now, Is
destined TO grow to great proportions as
Okanogan county strides forward 10 It's
proper place as one of the most populous
In the state. and one of the richest. not
merely In possibilities. but in actual
wealth. There are neglected opportunities
of trade. even under present conditions.
for at several points which were centers OF
population and Quitting points for the
mines the e were either no stores. or stores
which had a stock too limited even FOR the
limited needs Of the people The people of
these remote settlements have accustomed
themselves to doing without many OF the
comforts of life not from choice or neces-
sity. but from sheer inability to procure
them without sending specially TO some
place hundreds of miles distant. 1t these
articles were put within their reach the
people would gladly buy them Such towns
are fast growing up. and the merchant
who wishes to extend his trade and fully
occupy his field needs to follow the march
of settlement as ii advances into new ter
ritories.
What Kittitas Needs.
Kittitas county Is In somewhat better
financial condition than Okanogan and
has taken one good step in building the
thirty miles of road from Cle-Elum to the
head of the Cle-Elum river. This was
done only after persistent EFFORT m the
part of the people of Cle-Elum and Ros-
lyn. and its wisdom is proved by the activ-
ity which prevails all along the valley and
its tributaries and on the mountains to
right and left. A good road runs from Gle
Elum by way of Teanaway and Liberty to
Blewett but the outlet from there to Pc
shastin on the Great Northern Is blocked
to wagons by four miles of trail. some of II
very steep and rough along the Peshastin
canyon. If Kittitas county would cut the
road through. 1t would have thorough
fare TO its northern boundary on the We
natchee and a branch Of four miles up
Negro creek would furnish an outlet for
the copper and nickel ores Of that dis
trict
A Railroad for Okanogan.
A study Of the condition of affairs pre-
vaiing in Okanogan county would con-
vince any man that railroad could be
constructed through 1t at moderate cost
and would within a few years secure am
pie traffic to pay operating expenses and
fixed charges. The steamer City of Ell
iensburg runs from Wenatchee up the Co.
lumbia river to Virginia City near the
mouth of the Okanogan, and at high water
goes up the latter stream to Johnson's
landing, sixteen miles below Ruby From
this farthest point north reached by the
steamer II Is twenty-five miles TO Concon-
uliy. forty-four miles TO Loomiston. fifty
six miles TO Golden. sixty miles TO the
Wyandotte mines. siNty-six miles IN ORC
on the boundary. With this long haul TO
handicap development the Triune mine
and mill are in profitable operation.
great main tunnel is being run into Palmer
mountain Spokane capital has underta
ken the thorough development of ,he
Ivanhoe mine and cyanide plant has
been erected at the Wyandotte The facts
that the freight on this plant amounted to
81 e0o and that hauling cost cents !,
pound will give some conception OF what
II means TO start a large enterprise sixtv
miles from steam transportation IF men
will do so much under such disadvantages
what might not be accomplished with
quick transportation 1t is safe tn saw
that for every mine now In opera ton there
would he ten from the time construction
OF a railroad began.
Such a railroad could be built from, Wa.
natchee up the Columbia and oksnogs,
rivers. up Salmon river 10 RUBY ana ,,o,-
conuiiy. up Wagon Road coulse ana
down the Sinlehekin TO Loomiston. ard
along Palmer lake and the Sjmiikar,ean
TO the boundary. This road wo,,ia raSe
through the heart OF the farming ana min
ing district. having mineral bearing noun
tains on each side Of It's route from, R,hv
northward. A branch from Cheian Eai,x
10 Lake Cheian would put IL In connections
with the steamers on that lake and nrohs
bly, secure TO II the ores Of Meadow crock
Horse Shoe basin. Doubtful lake CORN
pany creek. Bridge creek and Park creek
Another branch up the Methow would Sc
cure the ore Of that and the Twts, d,s-
tricss. together with that OF slate a-s
Goat creeks. Whatever mineral sh,,-rs
be produced on the western slora ~ H.
Eonaparte range I'm the CoIviUs rsssrva.
tion would also come out by this r,ute