The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-09-20
County Engineer After His Re-
turn from Mountain Trip
Declares 1t Can Be Done
SENATOR JONES WILL
HELP PROJECT ALONG
He Favors Building Government
and State Highway Across the
Mountains, Connecting Pierce
With Yakima County

H f. Marble, the county engin ser,
was at work again Saturday morning.
none the worse for wear as the result
of his trip from Tacoma to the big
mountain ard over the summit Of the
Cascades. He was eager to deny tile
sensational stories sent from the
Sound, stating that the party had been
lost in the mountains and that some of
its members were incapaCiated from
proceeding on their way.
While they did undergo some Iii
ncultcs they suffered nothing more
serious than a wettins and having 20
sleep out over night without protn>-
ZION because the pack train failed to
stop where they expected to find il,
In telling of the trip Mr.. Marble sad
the reason fot their slow movements
was because the members of the patty
wanted to observe the country
through which they were gong Ia or
der to better report on the conditions
to be met in building a road through
there.
Preparing Map
Mr.. Marble, who looked at the
whole matter from the standpoint or
u practical road builder and not as
an automobile enthusiast. is really en-
thusiastic over the idea of construct
ing a road through this wonderful
country. The Yakima county engln-
Ger is preparing a map for tho Taco
ma Commercial club. showing the
most feasible route for a road. con
meeting the government highway end
Ing in Paradise valley, on the south
side of Mount Rainier Tacoma, to the
Yakima county line, whore it would
connect with the state road now par
TALLY finished, but on which consider
able work Is to be done.
senator Jones Enthusiastic
Speaking of the road, Mr., Marble
said; THE stretch of "A miles nee
essary to connect the government
road near Narada Falls with the state
highway running up near the line be-
tween Pierce and Yakima counties,
could be made on grade not t. en-,
coed Ave per cent and much of it on
"a 4 l-2 cent gradient. This would b.
at an estimated cost of about $l0,-
600 per mile. United States senator
Jones. with whom We talked while at
the mountain last week, was enthus-
astiC over the project and said he
would take the matter of extending
the government road to the eastern
end of he park at tho next session of
congress.
The government Is stll working on
the road leading into Paradise valley,
and it would not he difficult to con
tinuc this to the eastern confines OF
the park The "tatc and the two couu-
ties could completa this Should such
a road be built it could he made safe
so the most timid would have no
fear When this highway IL COM
pleted, running from the Sound into
the Yakima valley and leading to all
parts Of eastern Washington, 1t would
be lined constantly during the four
months of travel with automobiles
from all over the northwest.
Few to Compare
There are probably few scenic
routes in the whole country that
would compare with this one around
the mountain and through the two
counties, for the grandeur and beau
| ty of the scenery is beyond compare.
I When built this route VIII surely be
one pf the scenic routes Of the world.
When we left Tacoma we came across
a party of % automobiles filled with
travellers from one place on the
Sound. Just think what would be
the number making use Of the road
built through, from Sound to eastern
Washington, with road houses where
travellers could stop for refreshments
and rest