The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-03-08
PROPOSES NEW TUNNEL
General HI. M. Chittenden Army Engineer, Argues
- Mile Hole Is Practica-Esfimates Cost at
$4,000, OOO-- Should Be Built Jointly
by All Railroads to Coast
By Brig. Gen. III. Nj. Chittenden, RID.


In June, 1909, issued anonymous
ly a pamphlet designed to call atten
ton to a possible solution of the
great transportation problem of the
Cascade mountains. 1t was cast in
the form of prophecy, or rather &
looking backward from future view.
point upon something already accom-
plished. The identity of the author
was concealed with the hope that the
scheme might be considered and dis.
cussed on it's merits without regard
to the personality of the individual
who proposed it. The result was in
this respect disappointment, the
only notices by the press in the COM
munity most directly interested be-
ing those of Iidicule of the project
as at best the coinage of some vision
airy brain. But, as it often happens.
that important measures are allowed
to drift, seemingly from a dread of
graphing with them because of their
magnitude, until some startling dis
aster awakens the public mind, so in
this case, the picture of those passen-
ger cars, with their helpless victims.
hurled by pitiless avalanche down
precipitous mountain sides to bodily
wreckage and death, may arouse pub
lie thought to the study of a problem
which has too long been allowed to
pass unconsidered.
As Good as Columbia.
Brushing into the waste basket.
then, the fanciful trappings in which
the project, as presented, was clothed,
l will point out as clearly as pos
sible in the brief space allotted to
me it's essential features, referring
those who care to investigate further
to the pamphlet itself, which discuss
es the subject in sufficient detail, with
maps, profiles, tables of distances and
gradients, to form an intelligent COM
parison between present conditions
and those proposed. No one, as
sumo, will deny that it would be of
inestimable advantage to the Puget
Sound country and all sections COM
mercially connected Herewith if there
were an opening through the noun
tains equal as transportation route
to that of the Columbia river, where
it breaks through the range. I as
sumo that Puget Sound interests, par
ticularly the railroads, would pay a
great deal for such an opening. In
my discussion of the subject I under
take to prove that this great result is
within the range of practical engin-
eering and practical finance.
Skykomish to LeavenwOrth.
Look at the map ana you will see
that all railroads coming from the
east to Puget Sound by anything like
direct route must cross the Column
bia river somewhere on the stretch
where it flows practically south along
the eastern base of the Cascades. This
includes the Canadian Pacific, on the
north, and the Union Pacific, on the
south. The upper portion of this
stretch of the river flows somewhat
southwest and the lower portion
somewhat southeast, the two portions
forming an angle whose vertex is al
Wenatchee, where the river comes
closer to Puget Sound than at any
other place. From this point the We.
natchee valley extends on direct line
25 miles into the mountains, or with.
in 70 miles in a straight line from
tidewater. Across the range, direct
ly opposite, is another stream flowing
westerly into Puget Sound. Between
the town of Skykomish in this valley
and that of Leavenworth in the We
natchee valley lies nearly the whole
obstacle of the Cascade range.
Thirty-Two Miles Long.
The project is to carry double
track tunnel from one valley to the
other. From Leavenworth to Sky
komish, the two ideal terminals, the
distance is 80 miles. BY the sacri-
fee of some advantages it could be
shortened to % miles and still avoid
the worst portion of the mountains.
1t is, of course, a very great under
taking, but perhaps not so great as
the mere length of the tunnel would
indicate. The work presents no un-
usual features, but certain advantages
compared with many examples of that
class of work. Both portals would be
accessible from the start by an es-
tablished railroad. A work of such
magnitude would justify a plant
which would give the highest eff
cheney and economy of which modern
mechanical progress is capable. II
the work should be prosecuted from
the two ends only, ana not also from
intermediate points, as the pamphlet
proposes, and II a central summit
were adopted so that water would
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