White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1936-07-23
AN IMPORTANT PROJECT

Bv G. F. McAULAY, President, White Pass
White Bluffs Cross-State Highway Association
The state of Washington enjoys greater natural
advantages when all summed up, than any other
state in the Union We have the longest coast line
the LARGEST harbors, the highest mountain, the
greatest glaciers the greatest forests the afgest
water power the greatest irrigation projects, ana
the best wheat fields. In order that these may De
developed to their highest degree we need more
than any other thing transportation facilities,
both for people and for products.
The railroads, great as their service is, IN this
regard are inadequate They must be supple
mented by good highways. For various OBVIOUS
reasons a greater number of these highways must
be east and west across the state These highways
of necessity must the great back bone OF this
state namely the Cascade Mountains. This can
be done only where nature has provided suitable
passes The most important pass and consequently
the most important cross-state highway from east
to west is Snoqualmie Pass and the road known
as the Snoquamie Highway. The next most I'M
po1tant pass and consequently the road that
shodld now be constructed is the White Pass, ~
inc approximately IS miles south of Snoqualmle
The proposed White Pass-White Bluffs cross
state highway is important because:
l. IT will extend across the entire state from the
Pacific Ocean in the neighborhood of Grays far-
Dor and Willapa Harbor and the mouth OF the Cot
umbia River connecting it with points eastward
ing new route for the exchange OF the diversified
products Of these communities by the shortest and
most expeditions route
g. It will furnish route for both tourist and
commercial travel throughout the whole year. The
road is so laid out by the State Highway Depart
ment and the snowfall in this pass is SO light that
the pass can and will be kept open with very little
difficulty through the winter months.
g. In addition to it's service and value as a COM
mercial road, where it passes through the Cascade
Mountains it will open up some Of the grandest
scenery in the state It will also be another OPEN
ing into the Rainier Park at the southeast corner
at the place known as the Ohanapecosh There IS
q very growing demand throughout the State OF
Washington for more and better advertising Ill
the East of the scenic beauties Of this state with
the idea of attracting tourists to our state.
If we expect to attract tourists in increasing num-
bers and to hold that traffic year after year, we
must have suitable highway system over which
t,.ese tourists may travel. The Lolo Pass highway
crossing the northern part of the state of Idaho
md the central part Of the state of Montana and
on eastward to the greatest centers Of population
will make very close connection with this White
Tass-W White Bluffs highway at Pullman SO that
when that road is completed an additional tourist
traffic flow into this state will be routed over this
wonderful highway into Rainier National Park
and to the ocean beaches and other points OF IN
terest in the whole of Southwestern Washington
Nav +ho+ Snonnami Pass highway is in and com