The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-02
ON THE PALMER CUT OFF.
SHORT CUT To SEATTLE CONFLICT
ED EXCEPT THE BALLAsTING.
VIII Re Turned over To Operating
Department as soon rs Rcadbed
Is Settled, which VIII Not BE
Long Under Favorable Conditions.

Special Dispatch 10 the t-Intelligencer.
TACOMA. July The track on the
Palmer cutoff. making an almost direct
main line OF the Northern Pacific into
not yet been turned over by the con-
struction department to the operating de-
partment for the running OF regular
trains. c. 5. Bihler, engineer in charge
OF the Western divisions Of the road is
out of the city and not expected to
return for several days. M. Handsacker.
chief clerk OF the engineers department.
when asked when trains would be run
over the new line. said II would depend
some what upon the weather ana the
progress Of the work OF hallasting up the
track where necessary. If the weather
should remain fine, with no heavy rains
70 interfere with the work or no high
water 20 cause delay. the ballasting should
be completed within very short time,
Untn Mr. Blhler's return he could not say
how soon the work would be considered
complete.
W. G. Pearce. general superintendent OF
the Western divisions. who has just re-
turned from the East, has not yet been
advised by Mt Blher when the road viii
be ready for operation. Il have not seen
Mr. Bihler since my return said ne.
"and do not know Just how far they are
along with the work I understand, how
ever, that the track Is connected up
and about completed We shall not be
in a hurry about operating Il, however.
Not until the track is well ballasted and
well settled. II ls not Ike We were get
Il
was no train service. We can wait until
the track is in thoroughly good condi-
ton before we use II for taft trains
Meantime we have the old track, which
we can use n week or two longer. more
or loss. until the new line IS ready.
The Palmer cutoff was built ny Henry
& CO. Of Seattle, Nelson Bennett, or IA
coma who built the Northern Pacific tun-
mel through the Cascades being the
company" The work was originally in
tended 10 be completed in time 10 use the
h. M M
Coast limited train service was 70 be IN
stituted. but high water and unfavorable
conditions delayed the completion OF the
line somewhat The work has been very
well done, according 10 the statements Of
engineers who have been over the line
and will make flrst-class roadbed as
soon as ballasted and settled. The bridges
are all Of substantial make and the earth-
work and rockwork as good as on any OF
tho older portions Of the road. For the
accommodation Of the mills and coal
mines along the line Of the road. freight
cars have been switched for many weeks
past Covington Learys and Tenasket
are three new stations established along
the line of the road between Auburn.
whose the line connects with the Tacoma
Seattle line, and Palmer whore II branch
es of from the main line from tho East
The cutoff IL twenty-five miles in length
and runs down the Green river valley
cutting on nearly forty miles Of nc dis
lance between the mountains and Seat
tie. and nearly half that distance on the
ed II will become the main line, and the
present line over the RucllcY hill and
around by way Of the coal mines In Pierce
county. through Orting and IT, furalIup
junction. viii he used as a local line to
accommodate tho traffic Of Ortlng, Car
bonado. Wilkeson. Fairfax, South Prairie
and the other coal towns.
Trains for Tacoma and Portland, in
stead OF coming around by the old lna
will come down the cutoff to Auburn and
thence down the Stuck valley through
Sumner and Puyallup, Trains for Seat
tie will go direct into that city from Au-
burn instead Of running down to Puyal-
lup junction. as AT present and then back
again To the north To Seattle.
The Palmer cutoff has been talked
about moro or less for the last fifteen
years. but II was not until two years ago
that any effort was really made 20 build
IL. A person looking at the map of the
country between the Cascade tunnel and
Seattle would AT once see the large de-
tour made by the present line and also
the apparently easy line down the Green
river valley. or following the old narrow
gauge track down by way Of Renton. tho
two tracks being hardly three miles apart
at Palmer