The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1914-07-10
THE SCENIC HIGHWAY
WAITS ON CHELAN co.
J. B. Adams Believes That $4,000 Could
Be Raised in Upper Wenatchee Val
ley for Construction of Road

The contract for the construction Of
King county's 81 miles OF the Cascade
Scenic Highway was let Tuesday by
the commissioners of that county, the
contract price being $141, ITO, which
is a cost Of about SIS, ,228 a mile. Net
Teton & Eschbaugh were the success
full bidders and they have until Sept
ember 1915 to complete the work.
The maximum grade will be 7%. The
work will probably commence this year
although there is probability that it
will be delayed until King county Off
cials are assured that Chelan and Sno-
homish counties will do their part.
Now the survey has been made, and
the county engineer is ready to begin
construction this month. Before doing
so, there is strong disposition on the
part OF real Seattle friends OF good roads
to make Chelan and Snohomish coun-
ties make good their often expressed
friendship for the project, according to
the Wenatchee World. The $165, 900
cannot be diverted to anything else or
to any other road. The law compels
expenditure on this particular stretch
of highway as described in the election
call. But it is believed that prose-
cution of the work can and will be long
delayed unless Chelan and Snohomish
counties do their share at once.
Recent reports to the Seattle organi-
zation are that Snohomish county road
boosters are about to unite in a pro-
gram by which that county will pro-
ceed to do its expensive improvement
work on the five to seven miles OF
highway from Index to the county line.
This leaves only the Chelan county
portion on the Great Northern switch
back route from the summit OF Stevens
Pass to Merritt. 1t is not expensive
work, more in the nature Of repairing
than actual highway construction, for
the grading was done by Jim Hills
men 25 years ago. The largest ex-
penditure will be required for bridge
While President Ed. S. Russell was
in Seattle last week he was in confer
ence with King county good roads
boosters, and he returns with mes
sage to local champions of the Stew
ems Pass route. He tells them that
showing must be made when the King
county delegation comes over this
month, or somebody residing in these
parts will be laid liable to the charge
of being four Ausher.'
John B. Adams, while at Wenatchee
last week, reported that he would stand
sponsor for $4,000 contribution from
Leavenworth and vicinity. If this is
any indication of how the whole We
natchee valley will contribute, the en-
terprise can quickly be consummated.
The plan of forming an improve
ment district from Merritt to the sum-
nit in order that a ten mill levy could
be voted, thus giving the Great North
ern a chance to be the principal con-
tributor to the fund by an annual tax
OF SIS, 900, seems to be slow in ma
terializing. The actions of H. B.
Smith, former leader of the movement
in that end of the county, have con-
siderably dampened enthusiasm, but
new leader may arise and gather the
forces to push over the highway, which
will benefit that section more than any
other; for it will bring hundreds of
autos across the mountains in the sum-
mer to Lake Wenatchee, advertise the
country and boost values.
Joe Mooney and John Gellatly are
in favor of reviving the old Scenic
Highway association. Times are not
favorable for starting another public
subscription, but it is believed that a
crises has arisen in this matter and that
some definite action must be taken at
once.
A reward Of $3.50 is offered by the
Follow and McClelland Carnival Co.,
for the capture OF 25-foot boa con-
strictor that escaped from the show at