The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-03
Railroad Projects.

The tendencies Of railroad extension in
this state ali point 70 the northeastern sec
ton as The immediate. field OF activity n
construction The development going on
through okanogan and Stevens counties
has already demonstrated the existence o.
such immense mineral and timber wealth.,
and such rapid strides have already been
made in the production Of this wealth tAat
that section is looked upon as a pargica-
larry inviting field for new railroad enter
prise. The construction and opening OF
the Red Mountain road TO Rossiand IS
only the beginning o. extensions through
the greatest gold fields Of the Northwest,
and surveys have already been made for
lire up Kettle river closely following
the boundary. and opening UP 20 further
development both The Boundary Creek dis
trici OF British Columbia and the newly
opened northern half OF the Colvilie In
dian reservation.
A New Trans-state Road.
The severing Of the Central Washington
railroad from the Northern Pacific system
is only one step in a plan OF extension OF
the Central washington from It's present
terminus at Coules City across the Big
Bend by way OF Watervire 70 the Column
bia river. and thence by one OF the valleys
TO the Cascade summit over one OF the
northern passes 10 connection with the
network Of roads in the Puget sound
at Hamilton in the splendidly fruitful
Skagi, valley.
At present the Central Washington Is
purely a granger road, so closely paral-
leled by the Great Northern that X can
scarcely secure enough freight in its pres
ent tributary country TO pay fixed charges
much less dividends Such an extension
as is outlined above would make il not
only a part OF through line to the Sound.
hauling all It's wheat and stock TO tide
water over its own tracks, but would also
make IL a mineral road with the endless
possibilities of profitable traffic offered by
a rich and extensive mining country
The Great Northern will probably ex-
pend large sum in Spokane In building
q depot. which is to be located at the rear
of the Sisters hospital. and in laying
tracks to run into it. Ever since the road
was built II has come into the city over
the tracks of the Oregon Railway & Navi-
CATION Company. and has occupied the
Union depot jointly with that company.
Now 1t proposes TO have its own tracks
and depot II is also stated that the COM
pany viii build a road from Bonners
Ferry TO Kootenay lake. which will enable
1t to have. all the year round. direct COM
munication by steamer with the haslo <
SLOGAN railway and draw the traffic OF the
mines of the Kootenai district of British
Columbia.
Into the Cascade Valleys.
In Western Washington the natural
course of events would lead the Seattle &
International 10 build branches up the
principal streams flowing from the Cas-
cade SUBMITS. to tap the mineral belt
awaiting Just such development at the
head of each of those streams and along
the mountain ridges on each side OF their
valleys. Should the Central Washington
not be extended 70 connection with the
Seattle & Northern, il is within the bounds
Of probability that the latter road will be
bought by the Seattle & International and
extended 10 within a short distance OF the
headwaters of the Skagit and up the Cas-
cade river in search of traffic. Another
extension of this system is quite likely to
the headwaters of the Snoqualmie 10 the
Summit mining district and yet another
across the divide to Cedar river. But the
construction of the latter branch may be
anticipated by the extension OF the Co
lurnhia g. Puget Sound up Cedar river. In
either case Seattle would reap the benefit.
A Line to Silver Creek.
The probable development OF the Trout
creek Silver creek and Troublesome creek
mines will doubtless ere long prove an in
ducement 10 the Great Northern to build
a branch up the north fork OF the Sky
komish and Silver creek TO Mineral City.
with short spur TO the mouth Of Trou-
blesome creek. two miles beyond. and an
other four miles up to Trout creek.
The development OF the Silverton dis
trict has so increased the traffic receipts or
the Everett & Monte Cristo road as to
open the eyes of railroad men TO the pos
siblities Of railroad enterprise In that dis
trtct and a branch OF the Monte Cristo
road has already been surveyed from Bar
lab