The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-06-30
ROADS TO THE MINES.


There never was such clear evidence Of
the need of activity in building roads in
the state of Washington as at the pres
ent time. The inaction Of the commits
sioners of some OF the counties at the
present time Is particularly noticeable.
The people OF the whole state are bend
ing their energies to the development OF
it's mineral wealth. They have already
proved that one of the chief sources Of
the states prosperity will be the ores 20
be dug from the mountains. The dis
tricts where this wealth lies must be
made accessible by means of good roads.
or it will remain unavaila ble because the
cost of transportation Will constitute a
prohibitive tariff on its production. BY
roads is not meant mere mud tracks
cleared through the forests. That is only
the preliminary to the building of a
road. What We need is good. solid roads
over which heavy loads can be hauled
without danger OF miring wagon and
team.
What is being done TO supply this need?
Last fall che commissioners OF King coun-
~ let contract for the construction of
road up Miller river With due dill
gence this work could have been COM
pleted long ago. but the work drags along
most exasperatingly. Meanwhile ore lies
at the mines at the headwaters of Miller
river waiting for the completion of this
road. 1t is wealth running TO waste be-
skA L.
Several years ago the commissioners
built a road part way up Cedar river be-
yond Cedar lake. and then stopped They
have been illy-dallying over the extern
sion OF this road for months. Ore is wait
ing TO be brought TO market for lack OF
this six miles of road.
1t is eight years since the first ore was
shipped from the head OF Money creek
and shipments have been made at inter-
walls since, over a trail cut by the pros
pectors. The cost of packing is so high
as to be equivalent to a tax on the pro-
duction of the ore. IL a good road were
made up that stream, there is every rea-
son TO believe that in a year it would be
lined with producing mines But nothing
has been done 10 enable miners TO bring
out their ore at reasonable cost
Years ago the prospectors on Silver
creek cut road part OF the way up The
Skykomish north fork to Galena, at the
mouth OF the former stream. and then
turned IL over to Snohomish county. whose
commissioners completed it. Since then
they have not attempted to keep il open.
and It is blocked in places by windfaus;
in other places it is washed out. bridges
have been broken down and II has de-
generated into a wide tran. Recently a
franchise for a narrow gauge railroad
over this route was granted on such
easy terms that il need not be completed
for two years. Thus the Silver creek
people have neither road nor an early
prospect Of "a railroad.
The people interested In the Sultan
river mines have vainly petitio1ed the
Snohomish county commissioners 10 build
4 road up Sultan river. that those mines
might be made productive. bat have been
met with a rat refusal The Sultan VAL
icy is the only practicable route for
summer. Such a road would not only OPP
en- the way % the mines but render ac-
cess.ble one of the finest bodies OF tim
Der IN the state.
The plea Of economy viii not serve in
this case. TIE people Of The cities have
turned 70 mining as a means OF raising
them from the Impoverished condition In
TO which the years OF depression have
cast them They are spending their sean.
resources in Wrestling wealth from the
!nhosp.tahie mountains Let the county
commissioners aid them ny judiclously
spending part % the public funds In
/ opening roads into The mountains. I.
they 10 so. stream az wealth VIII rour
over those roads, which VIII ere long au
the depleted rockets % ,he citizens and
the depleted treasury q the state. coun-
~ ard city A fair lberal;y in such
matter would be the wlses: economy.