The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1912-08-02
LEFT SUNDAY MORNING TO
INSPECT SCENIC HIGHWAY
Found Old ROadbed in Good Condition.
Route Perfectly Practicable

joined here last Sunday morning al
2:30 a. m. by fifteen others from We
natchee, Cashmere, and other places
along the line to make the pilgrimage
on foot over the old Great Northern
switchback across the Cascade noun
tains from the east portal Of the tunnel
to Tye, at the west portal.
! So that our readers may know just
what is proposed by the road enthu-
siasts Of Chelan, Snohomish and King
counties we will state here that it is
proposed to obviate the cost Of building
that expensive link in the road across
the mountains by using the old road
bed of the Great Northern railway
which was abandoned when the three
mile tunnel was completed in 1900,
some six miles in length, which the
railroad proposes to donate to the pub
lie to further the improvement. To
connect the Chelan county public road
system with the old Great Northern
right of way at the east portal OF the
tunnel will require the building OF ap-
proximately twelve miles OF new road
from Merritt, which County Engineer
Berry, who accompanied the party,
says will not prove very expensive as
an easy grade can be found. On the
west side, to connect the King and
Snohomish county public roads will re-
quire the building of from twenty
eight to thirty miles Of road, from Index
to the west portal.
The good roads contingent reached
the tunnel shortly after day began to
dawn. and the weather being ideal the
twelve mile walk over the summit on
the right of way proved interesting and
enjoyable rather than irksome. The
route is truly scenic and the view from
the Stevens pass summit fine and in
spring. At no point does the grade
exceed four and half per cent. Alter
reaching the east portal and inspecting
every part OF the route the party walked
four miles farther, to Scenic Hot
Springs hotel, where Manager Prosser,
who had been apprised OF their com
ing, had prepared most appetising
and enjoyable noon day luncheon for
the entire party.
The following Statistical account
was furnished by Engineer Berry:
THE switchback is approximately IL
miles long. There are or was at one
time 26 trestle bridges running in
length from 100 to 800 feet. OF the
II miles of the switchback only 8
miles would be OF use for public road;
the other four miles being where the
use Of the switchback is discontinued
on account OF two legs of the switch
back coming close together and the
road going from one to the other leg
of the switchback without continuing
on to the end. The lower mile on the
King County side would not be of use
as wagon road on account of cross
ing of railroad tracks and other bad
features.
OF the bridges on the switchback,
bridges /, Q, 8, 4, II, 13, 10 and 1S
are in good or fair condition.
Bridges 8, IA, IS, II, l9, 20, %,
"a, 25 and 26 are not necessary for
the use OF the road as they are either
at the extreme end Of each swithback
or are at the lower end on the Snohom-
ish county side.
Bridges S, 6, 7, 9, 10, II, 81 and ID
will have to be replaced with side hill
road. The cost Of replacing these
trestles with road and repairing those
now in place would be in the neigh
borhood of $500 to $4,000.
To clear the trees, brush, rocks and
railroad ties from the roadbed would
take in the neighborhood Of $400 a
mile making $4,000 for the eight miles.
This with the $500 or $4,000 would
make $500 or $4,000 for the eight
miles over the .switchback.
The one big surprise Of the trip and
the one that impressed all that went
over the road was the fact that aftel
this roadbed has lain without any re-
pair, on the summit Of the Cascade: