The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1913-03-14
SCENIC HIGHWAY OPEN
INSIDE OF TWO YEARS
II B. Smith of Merritt Believes Road
VIII be Open for Travel in the
Summer of 1914

mere is no reason why the summer
OF 1914 should not see travel over the
Cascade Scenic Highway. said H. B.
Smith of Merritt, who is in the city
this week. There is fourteen miles OF
road to be built, which will cost about
50, 900 mile and with the $4,000
already available from the special ten
mill road tax, the promoters do not
look for much trouble in raising about
$10,0 more which will be necessary
to complete the road. After the road
is finished, stated Mr.. Smith, there will
be about $4,000 year available from
the regular 4 mill tax levy on the Mer-
ritt district which will insure mainten-
ance for Chelan county's portion OF
the road.
The appropriation Of S165, 900 made
by King county to be used in the build
ing OF their share OF the road is now
ready for use, and it is expected that
work will commence in few weeks.
Snohomish county will spend about
$50, 900 on the road and they have
also announced that they would do
their portion Of the work this summer.
The tools and other necessary material
which will be used in building the IA
miles in this county will be ordered
Immediately and it is planned to start
the work by the first Of May.
Mr. Smith. who is one Of the chief
boosters for the highway, has spent the
week here circulating a petition, the
money thus raised will be used towards
the construction of the road and al
ready has several hundred dollars
signed up. He expects to raise $1,000
in this city.
At a meeting of the Commercial club
Monday he was assured that the organi-
zation would cooperate with him in
every way possible and assist him in
getting outside aid. Following is an
extract of his talk to the club.
The object of my coming here to-
day is in regard to the Scenic Highway.
We have under consideration propo-
sition to inaugerate campaign to raise
money by popular subscription in our
county, Douglas, Grant and Spokane,
and also from the principle automobile
manufacturers, and we want to solicit
your good will and help to start this
campaign a going.
Merritt was granted road district
Monday by the commissioners court,
which gives this district an assessment
valuation of approximately 1,500, 900
by voting ten mill levy our district
can raise about IS, 1000 to be available
next spring, this would build the
Scenic Highway in three years, but
King county and in fact every one in
terrested in this highway is desirious
to see it completed next year. This
would give US big percentage of the
travel to and from the Panama Expo
sition to be held in Frisco in 1915.
AS you perhaps all know the Snow
qualimie Pass route by the way of
Ellensburg has practically collapsed on
account of our Governor vetoing the
IL mill road levy.
The Merritt district will have about
$4,000 available this spring and if
IS, 900 more could be raised by sub
scription we could open up the road to
the summit where it would connect
with King county, and surface the
same in 1914, and in this way we
think we can have considerable travel
over this road in the later part Of 1914,
thereby advertising the road some for
the big tourist year in 1915.