The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1914-08-21
OVER BLEWFT PASS
TO MTT|TAS COUNTY
Pronounce the Road Good and Fertil
Valley of KittitaS County Sight
Worth Seeing


purpose OF seeing what improvement
had been made in the road, to see the
county and to get in touch with our
neighbors and secure their cooperation
in securing still further road improve
ment and il possible convince them
that the Blewett road is at least as
good and some shorter than any other
route between Chelan and Kittitas
counties.
1t is nothing short Of the simple
truth to say that the public roads OF
Kittitas county are kept in better con-
dition than our own. The road over
the mountain was found in very fair
condition. The only fault that could
be found is that it is too steep. There
is much 20 per cent grade, and short
stretches where it is even more than
that. IfChelan county could see its way
clear to spend eight or ten thousand
dollars on this important road it could
be put in excellent condition for auto
travel. 1t would induce much travel
from the coast as soon as the Snoqual-
mic pass road is completed and would
make intercourse with Kittitas county
much closer. The Kittitas side also
needs to have the grade cut down and
if we would improve our road they
would follow suit out Of a spirit OF
emulation.
Mr.. Sylvester of the forestry depart
ment was in the party and is thoroly
familiar with the needs Of better roads.
Three thousand dollars was recently
spent on the Chelan side Of the noun
tain grade under his supervision.
There is evidence that the money
was we'll aud judiciously spent in the
improved condition. For scenic beau
ty this is one of the finest mountain
passes we have ever seen. There is
opportunity for thrills on the grade be-
tween Peshastin and the Blewett min
ing camp. With just barely enough
room for the wheels on mich cut out
of the mountain side and drop OF fully
a thousand feet to the bed Of Peshastin
creek, almost straight down, one can
immagine what would happen il the
auto went over. With good brake
and careful driver, such as we had,
there is no danger.
In driving thru the hay and grain
fields Of the magnificent valley between
Gle Ellum and Ellensburg, stretching
on either side for miles, with fine
homes and hundreds, yes thousands,
Of grain stacks in constant sight ones
memory goes back to Illinois and Iowa
where such scenes were common in
boyhood days. They can beat US on
hay grain and stock. but we have II
over them on fruit and orchards. We
made many pleasant acquaintances
on the trip and enjoyed every minute.
Mr.. patterson, of the Gle Elum Echo
was absent on the Sound when we
called. Kaynor, Of the Daily Ellens-
burg Record was right on the job,
busy as a bee and everything around
the Record looked good to newspa-
per man. Other newspaper men who
we met for the first time were Mr..
Stulfauth, OF the Ellensburg Capitol
and Mr.. Mathews Of the Democrat,
formerly the Ellensburg Dawn. They
report business fair but not up to
1918.
Ellensburg is handsome town, with
many brick and stone business blocks
and miles Of paved streets. The city
looked prosperous and the people
talked very optimistic about the future
outlook.
While in Ellensburg We met two Of
Chelan county's commissioners, Mr..
Mat Hickey and E. M. Gillette. and
County Engineer Warren, who were
there to attend a meeting Of the COM
missioners OF Kittitas county and talk
over road matters and other things oi
mutual interest.
The trip over the mountain was