The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-06
LAST OF THE SNITCHBAGk.
RAILWAY MOUNTAIN CLIMBING IN
WASHINGTON SOON TO END.
Completion of Cascade Tunnel, Ex-
pected Next Month. VIII Occasion
Abandonment Of Picturesque and
Exhflnrating Feature of Travel.

with the near approach to completion
of the great tunnel through the CASCADE
mountains on the line of the Great North
ern railway, the attention Of the trans
portation world and the travelling pubic
generally is revived In what at one time
appeared a well-nfgh impossible project
of engineering. But short distance now
remains between the two crews OF exca-
vators approaching the center from either
end. and It is thought that the last drill
will pierce an opening about September 30
and that within three months from now
trains win be running through the COM
pleted tunnel
Work on the approaches to the tunnel.
at Wellington on the west and Cascade on
the east. began In January. 1897. but II was
late IN the summer OF that year before the
workmen got fairly under cover and had
the compressor plants installed. About 500
men have been constantly employed since
then In and about the tunnel, the work
going forward from both ands simultsn-
eously. Most OF the WORK II done by ma
chfnery. The fhirty-two rock drills driven
by compressed air. are used 10, bore large
and deep holes in the rock at ne end Of
the workings. Charges of dynamite are
then inserted and fired and the rekultinr
blocks of granite. broken into sn ailer
pieces, are loaded on electric cars ana
taken out at each end of the tunnel
outside the tunnel the rock Is deliverAd
70 large crushers with q capacity OF for
" tons an hour which reduce II to fray
ments. These are mixed with sand and
cement, taken back into the tunnel by she
electric railway and used to line the inside
with substantial wall Of concrete four
feet In thickness.
inlength--lS.2 300 feet-runnIna in a strairn-
line from the head OF one canyon 10 thar
OF another. with slope of about ninety
zee, 20 the mile At one place In the heart
vxrIlI n. q
piece OF granite. $3.50 feet thick. The eas.
portal cf the tunnel is at an elevation az
aoou' 500 rect above sea level while the
west portal is about ais above the same
base. 'o
The completed tunnel VIII be twenty
snree Iees nigh hv sixteen feet wide. Huge
EXHAUST rams, driven by ~t~~ -'ettv and a
system OF pipes. now keep the air pure
and after completion the system win he
perfected Tor permanent use. Electric
trains through. ohvfatfng the annoyanee
from smoke and gas. The interior will be
Kept constantly alight with electricity.
- VINE u VIII effect a material reduction
~ une and distance. the completion Of
the tunnel will be the occasion for The
abandonment OF the most picturesque and
exniiaratins event of the trip-the ascen.
ann crescent or the famous switchhsck
This novel and wonderful method OF noun
tain climbing was first employed on tho
Hne OF the Northern Pacific until the cora
pietIon OF the stampede tunnel made 1t 40
longer necessary. Now, when the Great
Northerns behring's have ended, railroad
mountain climbing In Washington win be
over until some other transcontinental
road builders. fastening toward the West
ern coast and striking the mighty barrier
OF the Cascades. find the 'switchback" tn,
most quickly available method OF reach
ing their destination
The approach from the east to the pres
ent switchback Is through tremendous
gorges. notably Tumwater canyon of the
Wenatchee river. which is followed for
ten miles. At Mason creek the road pushes
deeply into the mountains. climbing higher
and higher until reaching the foot of th.
east side switchback at Cascade tuuuat
$50 feet above the level Of the sea- Thcr,
the real climb begins. first on one 'ieg''
and then the other until the summit N
attained. 4.027 feet In altitude. The line
then follows around the side of the noun
tain and begins the descent of the west
slope down four legs" TO wellington
The climbing Is ended and the route lies
westward fo~n the beautiful and fertile
valley OF the Skykomish.