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

Of the Everett & Monte cristo. Built to
haul the ore OF the Monte Cristo mines IL
passes through the Sflverton district and
now derives as much. IL not more revenue
from the latter as from the former source.
The proximity of Goat lake TO this road
has also induced the extensive develop
rnsnt now in progress there and the road
operating expenses.
Seattle and Everett are vitality interested
in the opening OF the Okancgan country
by branch of the Great Northern rail-
road. for there is another project which
would turn the trade of that county to
Spokane. The Central Washington rail-
read has been cut of from the Northern
Pacific system and will doubtless be
bought in by the bondholders at the fore
closure sale. Its only hope of paying traf-
nc IL an extension from Coulee City the
present terminus. by way OF Watervfiie to
the Columbia river and up that stream
into the Methow district This would give
II share Of and. in the absence OF
competitor. all of the coveted mineral
trafhc and would place /, in a position TO
capture that of the Twisp. Goat creek and
Slate creek by further extensions Unless
some other road should occupy Northern
Okanogan. this road would follow develop
ment In that direction also. The difficulty
and cost of extending across the Cascade
summit may prevent its extension to a
connection with any of the Puget sound
roads for some time, and therefore 1t
would remain a Spokane railroad and
would draw the trade of Okanogan away
from Seattle to that city. On the other
hand the distance by the Great Northern
Is so much less that an extension OF that
system would draw the Okanogan trade
westward to Seattle and Everett.
The Skagit valley Road.
The Skagit valley also furnishes fine
opportunity for railroad extension into
great mineral belt. which might be seized
by the Seattle & Northern. The difficult
ties IN the way OF an extension to Marble
Mount are insignificant and a line from
there up the Cascade and the main Skagit
would prompt the development OF the
Cascade. Ruby. Thunder and Slate creek
districts Another line UP the Sank
would gather In traffic from a mineral belt
a description of which has not been given
for lack of time. II practicable route
could be found through the Cascade pass
this road could divert from the Lake Che
Ian route the ores of Doubtful lake,
Horseshoe basin. the Stehekin and its
tributaries
1t is possible that the Central Washing
toh. pdht W AAS the ocdttics 1<oAS otOA0
4 Eastern. may be bought by the Seattle
& International, the successor of that
company. This would be a step towards
out the original plan of the Lake
Shores projectors to connect Seattle and
Spokane by an independent route. The
Seattle & International line to the bound
airy is so situated that il could occupy
much mining country by buying the Seat
tie q Northern and extending 1t up the
Skagit. and, If a practicable route can be
found. across the summit to the head
waters of the Methow. down that stream
and the Columbia TO an extension of the
Central Washington across the Big Bend.
There is ample mineral tributary to
the north fork of the Skykomish to war
rant branch from Index on the Great
Northern TO Mineral City. on Silver creek.
and another up Trout creek. Mineral City
is so located that the ore from the princi-
pal properties on the mountains further
up both forks of the creek could be tram
med hither by gravity and it has a large
enough area of comparatively level
ground to be made the central camp of the
district
The Snoqualmie valley is already oc-
cupied by the Seattle & international.
which is now in strong and independent
hands capable OF extending feeders whsr-
ever the early prospect of development
may warrant. Thus an extension of the
main line up the middle fork TO the mines
in Snoqualmie pass. branch 10 the cop
per deposits on the north fork and an
other branch across the divide to Cedar
river are within the range of early prob
abilities.
An Opening for Trade.
The Boundary creek district. in British
Columbia offers an opening to the enter
prise of Seattle merchants which is grow
Ing to large dimensions now that Eastern
and English capital has undertaken the
mining of ore on large scale. Until re-
cent years this was an almost inacces-
sible district. not having even a wagon
road to- connect 1t with the rest of he
world. Even now all supplies have to be
hauled from Pentictcn. If they come over
the Canadian Pacific. a distance of ninety
three miles to Greenwood. the center OF
the district or from Marcus. II thy come
from Spokane. distance OF sixty-two
miles The lack of enterprise OF the Can
adam merchants. their desire for large
profits and their slowness in filling orders
have allowed the trade of this district to
get into the hands of the Spokane mer-
chants. The latter by accepting smaller
profits. can ship goods into Boundary
creek at lower prices than their vancou-
yer competitors. even after paying the
Canadian import tariff. and their greater
promptness in filing orders secures them
the preference at the same price. The
only commodities in which Vancouver can
successfully compete are tea and sugar.
when bought in large quantities. and then
the difference is but slight against Spo-
kane.
An illustration of the primitive condi-
tons in regard to transportation which
prevail I'm districts far removed from rail-
roads was encountered al Greenwood. A
farmer drove a wagon loaded with dairy
and farm produce ur to the store for sale
having brought II all the way from the
Big Bend. journey of 10 miles. which
had occupied seventeen DAYS. He sold
the whole load TO the storekeeper and next
day started to return. his whole trip TO
market and back occupying over month.
These conditions viii he changed when
the Columbia & Western railroad is ex-
tended from Rossland TO Penticton, a
work for which surveys have been COM
pIeted.
There Is every reason to believe that the
renewed interest in Washington mines viii
bring large amount of Eastern and Eng
lish capital TO this state with the election
of Mckinley as president. One of
the chief considerations with an in
tending investor is the cost OF transporta-
tion 10 the claims he contemplates pur-
chasing. II the commissioners of the
different counties. spurred on by their
constituents. will extend the roads into
NE new districts there is every reason TO
hope that another year will see the soil
tudes OF the Cascade mountains occupied
by number OF hives Of industry and that
this state will take the rank TO which II
is entitled among the foremost mining
states OF the Union.
l. X. HODGES.
lndtgested Food
In the stomach develops an acid which